Our 2022 Annual Report is here! See highlights from last year, including new research by Dr. Lin Meng and coauthors on the impact of artificial light on phenology and by Dr. Dan Katz and colleagues on promising results using Nature's Notebook flowering data to inform pollen forecasts! We also highlight 2021 PhenoChampions, the Tree Spotters, based at Arnold Arboretum, as well as collaborations around Indigenous data sovereignty with Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Read the 2022 Annual Report »

We have two new Pheno Forecasts to share this spring. The first is a new forecast for red brome, an invasive grass that impacts rangelands and native desert plant and animal communities in the Western US. The second is an improved forecast for emerald ash borer (EAB) from our partners at Oregon State University. This forecast provides both a long-range forecast of when we predict EAB adults will emerge and when egg laying will begin as well as a look back at past EAB activity earlier in the year. You can take our new module on how to observe phenology of EAB at learning.usanpn.org.

View the Red Brome Pheno Forecast »

View the Emerald Ash Borer Pheno Forecast »

With the help of Carla Arreguín, a visiting researcher from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México who interned with us last year, we have added five species of firefly to the Nature’s Notebook species list for you to observe this year. Fireflies spend only a few weeks as adults, displaying their signature mating display light patterns. If you plan on observing fireflies, keep in mind that flashlights can disrupt them, and catching them for too long can take away precious time needed for reproduction. They have important things to do, too!

View the species list »

Several USA-NPN staff and colleagues are authors on a new paper that reflects on our experiences in knowledge coproduction, in which both creators and users of information work together to produce actionable science. We found that who is at the table and how involved and invested they are is key to success. We offer suggestions that may help other scientists seeking to support decision-making.

Read the article »

A new study focuses on the creation of litter – the patterns by which trees contribute to the rich layer of decomposing material that is the foundation of the forest. A better understanding of litter creation helps fill out our understanding of the carbon cycle. With this work we are learning that your observations of fruit and leaf fall have more potential than we realized.

Learn more »

See all Highlighted Publications »

We are thrilled to announce that Washington Square Park Eco Projects is our 2022 Pheno Champion! Since 2019, students in NYU’s Ecological Field Methods class have participated in the WSP Eco Projects, led by Dr. Georgia Silvera-Seamans. Following a lecture about tree identification and a walking tour of the park, students are assigned a tree to monitor weekly throughout the Fall semester using the Nature’s Notebook App. The students sketch the leaves and bark and research their species. Visiting their trees every week, the students become attached to their tree as they watch it change. WSP Eco Projects is an exemplary program that engages both with their students and community. Congratulations!

Learn more about WSP Eco Projects »

This year we had a great response rate to the LPP Annual Survey - thank you! We learned a lot from your feedback. The Visualization Tool and LPP Dashboards continue to be top-used resources. Your satisfaction with our website navigation was not as high as other resources we offer, which makes us extra eager to launch our new website this spring! And the area that you want more support is still understanding your data - we hear you! We can't wait to share resources for data analysis guidance later this year. You can see more results from the Survey on this lovely infographic created by Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Samantha Brewer.

View the infographic »

The USFS's CitSci Competitive Fund is back, with grants up to $20,000. Read the Proposal, RFP, and Evaluation Rubric. This Request for Proposals seeks projects that take a collaborative approach to resource management. The competition is open to all Forest Service units along with their partners. The deadline is Friday, April 7th.

Learn more and apply »

The Macrosystems Ecology For All Research Coordination Network (MEFA RCN) is a diverse and welcoming community for faculty in teaching-focused positions to gain the training necessary to become full participants in macrosystems science. At their upcoming event on April 4th, four macrosystems ecologists will share their projects and details about useful datasets, engage in thinking about what types of datasets may be most appropriate for your research topics of interest, and learn all about the MEFA RCN and upcoming events!

Learn more and register »

Just four inches long and very active, Lucy’s Warblers (Leiothlypis luciae) have been known in the past as Mesquite Warblers due to their close ties to these trees. After collecting data on nest box preferences, Tucson Audubon developed a nest box that is ideal for providing nesting space for this species. They are now looking for volunteers to help us learn more about the relationship between Lucy’s Warblers and mesquite trees.

View an info sheet on how to participate »

Watch a recorded training for this project »