Nature’s Notebook is an online plant and animal phenology monitoring program for citizen scientists to contribute to a national database used by scientists and resource managers. They provide training resources and data visualization tools for participants, and even have a leaderboard for top observers (if you’re inspired by a little competition!).
Data collection is divided by regional campaigns focused on specific species, and there are plenty of different campaigns to contribute to in NY, including
- Green Wave – monitoring flowering and leaf color in maples, oaks, and poplars
- Pesky Plant Trackers – reporting initial growth, flowering, and fruiting of wild parsnip and Japanese knotweed
- Pest Patrol – reporting sightings of insect pest species that cause harm to forest and agricultural trees
Check out the full list of campaigns here, and sign up on the campaign’s individual page to receive project updates and helpful tips. A great opportunity to contribute to citizen science, and become more attuned with the cycles of nature near you!