Happy 2018! This year marks 10 years of the USA National P
henology Network, and the 10th year of data collection with Nature's Notebook!
We will be celebrating this milestone all year, via
highlights of dedicated observers and Local Phenology Programs, a look back on our 10-year history, and a special anniversary poster.
Thank you so much for being part of our Network!
Sincerely,
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What your data are telling us
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Will spring arrive early or late in your area?
The USA-NPN's Spring Index maps predict when early spring plant and animal activity will occur in your area. This year, spring is arriving early in the west and late in the east, compared to a long-term average (1981-2010). See if spring has arrived where you live, and how this year compares to normal.
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Photo: Katja Schulz, Wikimedia Commons |
Phenology of parasitic plants and their hosts
Mistletoes, a group of parasitic plants comprising over 1,500 species, have intricate relationships with different host species, pollinators, and seed dispersers to carry out their life cycle. The authors from a new study in
Oecologia used data from the USA-NPN's National Phenology Database from Arizona and California to look for consistencies in the leafing, flowering, and fruiting phenology between desert mistletoe and their host plants. The authors found that mistletoes are not constrained by their hosts when it comes to phenology,
and use diverse strategies to maintain reproductive success.
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What's new at Nature's Notebook and USA-NPN
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Cathie Bird, 10-year
Nature's Notebook observer |
Celebrating 10 years of Nature's Notebook
Throughout this year, we are celebrating 10 years of USA National Phenology Network and
Nature's Notebook.
This month we celebrate one of our long-time observers. Cathie Bird has been submitting observations to
Nature's Notebook
for all 10 years of the program! At her home in Tennessee, she tracks the phenology of Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, and more! Cathie has created a rich, long-term dataset that can show changes in phenology over time. Check out Cathie's blog to learn about her findings.
Learn more »
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See what we accomplished together in 2017
Thanks to your efforts, we sailed past our goal of 2.5 million records submitted to
Nature's Notebook
in 2017. Our observers logged a total of 2.9 million records, and we reached the 12 million record mark in the National Phenology Database. Take a look at some of the other things we accomplished together last year in our 2017 summary.
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Help us collect 3.5 million records this year
Each year, we set a goal for the number of observations we hope to collect via
Nature's Notebook. These observations add to the long-term dataset used by
researchers, managers, and decision makers. This year, we hope to collect 3.5 million records. You can help us get there!
Learn more »
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Recent happenings in the field
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Photo: Ellen G Denny |
New tool predicts spring months in advance
USA-NPN collaborators Drs. Toby Ault and Carlos Carrillo at Cornell University recently released a new tool to forecast spring. The team uses long-term weather forecasts to predict when spring will arrive a whole season in advance.
This tool is a great compliment to the USA-NPN's Status of Spring maps, which use real-time weather data to show short-term forecasts, spring's actual arrival date, and how the arrival compares to normal.
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| Nature's Notebook Nuggets |
Get ready to report initial growth!
Soon,
fresh leaves will sprout out of snow patches,
newly germinating sprouts will emerge from the soil, and new green growth will initiate on previously dormant and resting plants. Get ready to record observations for "Initial growth"!
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More ways to get involved
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Walk with Wildflowers on the PCT this summer
Planning a trip to the western high country this year? You can help researchers better understand phenology of high-elevation wildflowers! Observers are needed to collect data on the Pacific Crest Trail in the vicinity of Yosemite and North Cascades National Parks. Your observations will
shine light on which species are most vulnerable to changing growing seasons.
Learn more »
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Celebrate National Citizen Science Day!
April 14th is National Citizen Science Day! This year will mark the third year of this major celebration. Find out about events planned across the country, or learn how to plan your own event.
Learn more »
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