Phenology & Citizen Science
This week we continued our study of seasonal events - from vernal pools to the local alewife fish runs! We started to look at the bigger picture of our studies - what sort of science are we practicing in our daily nature journals? What is the point of going out into nature and documenting what we find?
Phenology, the study of seasonal and cyclical phenomena, is nature’s calendar - creating markers in time when the fish run upstream in the spring, when the first frog eggs are laid in vernal pools, when the leaves turn color in the fall, etc. Gathering this data is more important than ever - the effects of global warming ripple through all levels of the ecosystem as organisms shift their seasonal patterns with the climate. As a personal practice, making these phenological observations can be grounding, bringing one into connection with changes in the natural world.
To further our inquiry, we learned about two citizen science apps that can facilitate these seasonal observations through species identification, and through mapping individual observations.
iNaturalist - Upload photos of plants, animals or fungi. A community of amateur and professional naturalists will review your photo and help you identify your sighting! The coolest part is that your observation becomes data that scientists use to assess changes in different environments. You can also look at a map of your local area and check out what other people are observing! Learn more: https://www.inaturalist.org/
Merlin - An app just for birders! Identify birds in 5 easy steps, or upload a photo for identification. Learn more: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
Download these apps on the App Store or Google Play. They work best on a mobile phone - that way these tools are in your pocket while you're out in nature!
Another great resource in our local community is The Nature of Phenology blog and podcast, written and produced by Hazel Stark and Joe Horn, co-founders of the Maine Outdoor School. This program is focused on the timing of natural occurrences throughout the Maine seasons, highlighting what’s happening in nature each week, with a focus on specific species. The radio program airs on WERU-FM every Saturday morning at 9:30 EST and episodes are archived here.
All this to say - stay curious! Stay in touch with the natural communities that surround you as the spring unfolds into summer. Stay tuned with Nature Links, as we start to bring our new awareness of diversity and balance in healthy ecosystems to our gardens! In the meantime, check out some of the beautiful photos from participants’ nature journals below!
Until next time,
Maddy
