miguel_oliveras's Journal

Went for a walk on Wednesday, September 28, late afternoon to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir and the surrounding forests or wildlife. I walked from 6:01 pm to 6:47, but to be honest, I lost track of time and fully enjoyed the walk. I was surprised at how busy the reservoir was at this time. Many people took a walk, ran around the reservoir, or talked with a companion. At the beginning of the walk, the afternoon was beautiful. The sky was blue, and there were nice white clouds. The temperature was very cool and refreshing at 66°F, but the breeze made it feel slightly colder than it actually was. Thus, I wore a jacket because I'm from Puerto Rico and am used to temperatures being in the 90°F range.

The reservoir is a very special place for me because the first walk I had when I came to BC freshman year was walking around the reservoir. However, I had never taken a good look or taken the time to carefully observe the plants and animals that abound in the reservoir. To tell you the truth, I was amazed at the biodiversity found in this area. There were many different types of plants and trees that caught my attention. Most of my pictures and observations were of the plants and vegetation found in the reservoir and the nearby forests. However, my favorite observations were those of the animals, especially the squirrels and geese. The squirrel I took a picture of was climbing and moving through the trees. I was surprised at how fast it was going and jumping from branch to branch. I was a little worried that the squirrel would fall from high up, but he handled it like a pro and proved me wrong. I also loved the geese because they all ate together in grassy areas. They look so cute eating together! The sun started to set as time passed, and the sky had a beautiful orange color. The temperature was getting colder, but I was having such a good time that I wasn't even paying attention to it.

Watching the biodiversity and the people walking in the reservoir made me think of the Ecosystem Services that we studied in class. The Chestnut Hill Reservoir supports many animals by providing them with a habitat; the countless plants in the area also regulate and serve as a filter for the carbon emissions that we humans leave behind as they do the process of photosynthesis. Additionally, the reservoir provides recreational and cultural uses, including activities like walking, jogging, or enjoying its aesthetics. And how can I not also include the educational benefit that the reservoir provides to students like us, where we use it to apply what we learn in class to real life. In fine, the Chestnut Hill Reservoir has always been a very cool place for me, but this class and the nature walk have made me appreciate it much more. I would definitely recommend others to do this because it is not only a lot of fun but also very therapeutic!