  Unlike the shorter interpretive trail, this scenic hiking trail has been left relatively undisturbed by human influence. Most of us have so few opportunities to behold nature without the contrivances of a busy civilization that here we have attempted to minimize signs, rails and other artificial hiking aides. Therefore, the following pages are included as a brief guide for this trail. Walking through this field, you may see a yellow canary-like bird called the yellow warbler. The male warbler is brilliantly marked ... its yellow body with striped red breast is like a flash of sunlight as the bird darts in and out of the greenery. yellow warbler There are over one hundred different kinds of warblers in the United States and they are all four to six inches long. Because of their great variety and the brilliance of their coloring, they have been called the “butterflies of the bird world.” By now, you have probably seen the red-winged blackbirds. These birds are found commonly on Burton Island. Red-wings love marshes and wet fields. They make their nest close to the ground where it is hidden by reeds, grasses and shrubs. The birds will sit on branches of small trees and watch intently as you walk by. The red-wings call out many interesting sounds, from a raspy “oka-fleek, oka-fleek” to a warning “chuk, chuk.” The black birds, with their fiery shoulders, let us know that we are trespassing on their territory. (red-winged blackbird) As you enter the forest of young elms, you will notice how the atmosphere changes. Light is dim. The importance of sunlight is obvious, for no plants are to be found growing on the forest floor. Sixty yards beyond the entrance to the elm forest, a circular growth of young plants reach for sunlight. An opening in the forest canopy allows these plants to live. The area of direct sunlight is shown by the size and shape of the growing vegetation. These openings provide food for browsing animals such as deer. (deer) Look upon the shady, almost plantless floor, you may see mushrooms and indian pipes popping up through the dead leaves. Unlike green plants which need sunlight to manufacture their own food, these saprophytes obtain food from the dead plants they grow on. Some mushrooms grow upon fallen logs and branches. Some grow in the soil using the dead plant matter there for food. Indian pipes are one of the few flowering plants that are saprophytes. Indian Pipes and mushrooms As you continue along the trail, keep your eyes open for vines which have wrapped themselves around tall trees to reach the sun. This adaptation allows a green plant to be rooted in the darkness of the forest, but to grow in the sunny upper reaches of the forest canopy. This vine is called bittersweet (nightshade). Bittersweet (Nightshade) A stone fence runs across the trail. This old fence once restricted the range of sheep on (building a stone fence) An old, dead tree stands by the wall. This tree is important for it offers shelter to thousands of insects and provides a source of food for hungry birds. The shelf fungi growing on the tree extract nutrients from the decaying wood. As you walk along the lakeshore, look at some of the larger trees growing there. Two common trees you will see are basswood and red oak. Basswood Red Oak The American Basswood grows 70-80 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter. In addition to the valuable timber which it produces, the basswood is highly prized in certain localities for its honey. The Iroquois Indians made rope from the bark by soaking it in water for several weeks or months to allow the nonfibrous portions to rot. Then it was twisted into desired cords. The northern red oak is one of the largest oaks, occasionally 125 feet high. Its close-grained, reddish-brown wood is regarded as one of the most important of the red oak family. As you hike you will see blown down trees. These rotting trees show us that nature wastes nothing. Fungi, bacteria, insects and weather are helping to decay these blowdowns. The resulting humus is a natural soil fertilizer readily available to growing plants. During the last ice age, a huge body of water called Lake Vermont spread from the Green Mountains to the Adirondacks and from Canada to Rutland, Vermont. Mud and stones from the lake have been compressed for thousands of years since, forming great rock beds. Along the shoreline of Burton Island, sheets of rock and flat stones are numerous. Once the shore and bottom of Lake Vermont, these huge beds of shale and sandstone are now eroding. On the southern tip of Burton Island, old and gnarled cedar trees reach out. The roots of these trees hold firm against the erosive action of wind, rain and ice. Landscape Looking out toward the horizon, the expansive views bring the ocean to mind. Ball Island stands out in front of the jagged peaks of the Adirondacks and the flats of Sandbar. Do you know the islands around you? KEY MAP We at Burton Island State Park hope you have enjoyed this short hike. To return to the start, you can follow the park road or follow the hiking trail back. * * * * * * * * This trail is part of the Vermont State Parks’ Nature Interpretation Program. The program is intended to spark awareness, concern and an appreciation for the works of nature. All life is unified through the cycles and interrelationships of nature. People have the responsibility to act in a life-supporting manner toward their environment. Hopefully, through understanding, people will strive to respect and protect the delicate balances which make the earth our healthy home. * * * * * * * STATE OF VERMONT July 1975 |
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