How others are using Nature’s Notebook Partner Showcase The Webinar Team And partners! September 8, 2015

What’s Phenology Phenology refers to recurring plant and animal life cycle stages, such as leafing and flowering, maturation of agricultural plants, emergence of insects, and migration of birds. It is also the study of these seasonal changes, especially their timing and relationships with weather and climate.

U NDERSTAND HOW SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES ARE RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. USA National Phenology Network Primary goal Create a standardized dataset for use in multiple types of research. Mission Make phenology data, models and related information available. Encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and record phenology. Photo credit: C. Enquist

Nature’s Notebook for scientists, naturalists, volunteers, land managers, park rangers, and YOU! Photo: L. Romano

trail

Central Arizona Phenology Trail

Considered what local groups are focused on the natural world Asked these groups about partnering on this Their answer was : YES!!! Let’s do this!!! For us it was these groups : Highlands Center for Natural History Community Nature Center Prescott Creeks/Watson Woods Prescott College Walnut Creek Center for Education and Research Native Plants Society

Communicated with key partners via Submitted a list of plants found in Central Highlands to include in NPN’s database

Held two workshops that included: overview of phenology how to set up Nature’s Notebook accounts for each site Recruited volunteers from workshop participants Use to communicate

Establish your trails Decide on a route Select the species and individuals you will monitor along each trail Tag individual plants with flags first We attached temporary plant ID signs with Nature’s Notebook logo

Having a map of the trail can be helpful

We identified an administrator for each site Each administrator could then generate on their Observation Deck a list of plant species in the order that they are encountered on the trail This list then synchronizes with the Nature’s Notebook app Data collection sheets for each site can also be generated from the Observation Deck

Get out on the trails! Take small groups out to learn your species’ phenophases and to become familiar recording your observations using Nature’s Notebook app

Always: Appreciate your volunteers Communicate with them Engage them

From Citizen Science to Community Science Research Education Networked monitoring across communities – activating regional networks by building collaborative partnerships in unexpected places

What made us start this crazy ride? Stimulate new kinds of community engagement/collaboration Create an ARMY of citizen/community scientists in New York! Establish baseline data for new species, build long-term data set Create robust regional dataset on plant/pollinator synchronization Build new curriculum and resources (maps, brochures, almanacs) STEM, Science/Climate Literacy Science-Nature-Self relationships Replicable networks (Nodes become training and demonstration site, experiment with different models of participation) *similar motivations reported for partner sites! Stimulate new kinds of community engagement/collaboration Create an ARMY of citizen/community scientists in New York! Establish baseline data for new species, build long-term data set Create robust regional dataset on plant/pollinator synchronization Build new curriculum and resources (maps, brochures, almanacs) STEM, Science/Climate Literacy Science-Nature-Self relationships Replicable networks (Nodes become training and demonstration site, experiment with different models of participation) *similar motivations reported for partner sites!

How we actually got things going…

Estimated numbers for 2015 Logged observations: +150,000 Sites: 23 Observers: >150 Community/volunteer observers: ~100 Interns/college students: ~25 Staff: ~25 K-12 Teachers trained:>200 K-12 students: >1500 Training sessions, outreach/education events: >65 Active training/outreach/education:> 3500 Passive outreach (interpretive signs on trails, articles, newsletters etc): >150,000 Estimated numbers for 2015 Logged observations: +150,000 Sites: 23 Observers: >150 Community/volunteer observers: ~100 Interns/college students: ~25 Staff: ~25 K-12 Teachers trained:>200 K-12 students: >1500 Training sessions, outreach/education events: >65 Active training/outreach/education:> 3500 Passive outreach (interpretive signs on trails, articles, newsletters etc): >150,000

Site Diversity Research Institutions: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Vassar College, Mohonk Preserve Nature Centers/County Preserves/Land Trusts: Mianus River Gorge Preserve, Tea Town Lake Reservation, Huyck Preserve, Ward Pound Ridge Preserve (Westchester County Parks), Finger Lakes Land trust National Park/Wildlife Preserves: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge at Gateway National Recreation Area Botanical Garden/Public Education: New York Botanical Garden K-12 Education sites: New Paltz High School Private lands preserve: Community Greenways Collaborative, Intervale Lowlands Nature Preserve Faith organizations: Zen Mountain Monastery, and KTD Tibetan Monastery

Phenology Trail Monitoring Image: Mohonk Preserve Foothills Trail Phenology Trail Monitoring Image: Mohonk Preserve Foothills Trail Pollinator/Phenology Gardens Image: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Pollinator/Phenology Gardens Image: Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge - Can be done on school grounds, at a local park or preserve, in a “container garden”, urban or rural, with or without mobile apps - Can stand alone, or be connected with other local, regional, national, global initiatives - Can be done on school grounds, at a local park or preserve, in a “container garden”, urban or rural, with or without mobile apps - Can stand alone, or be connected with other local, regional, national, global initiatives

The Fun Part: Examples and Highlights High school student starts a phenology monitoring site at high school and is training teachers in how to use it with other students Two monasteries get involved to use phenology monitoring as a method of mindfulness training Mohonk Preserve: first year 2014 ~50 observers 17,000 observations, adults with disabilities group begins to use the trail (not organized by program facilitators!) Research: Collaboration with Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program to compare historical dataset with modern NYPP Citizen Science dataset On-boarded 7 new sites by holding one workshop targeted to particular region (Long Island) with a particular focus (building a regional network for ecological research and education collaboration)

Example from LI: Connect the green dots… determine what’s important on a regional level… build the network

Example of research project using NYPP collected data:

Community Greenways Collaborative 4/25 Mohonk Preserve 4/9 New York Botanical Garden 4/3 Teatown Lake Reservation 4/10 Cary Inst. 4/14 How did the Onset of Open Flowers in Red Maple Vary Across the Hudson Valley Last Year? Example of one of the most successful sites: Mohonk Site Administrators hold potlucks, group trainings, schedule “meet ups” showcase data and show observers that they are part of the big picture at seasonal celebrations. Observer Groups Observations (not to scale) National Phenology Network (NPN) New York Phenology Network (NYPP) Phenology Observers at Mohonk Preserve Your Sitel? (Or you!) 1,300, , ,000+

A Few Unexpected Learnings… Site diversity is key to building an interesting and robust regional network Big bang for the brand buck (quick way for orgs to have cit sci as part of their programmatic delivery) Potlucks and social events are integral Consulting model effective way to get a program started Best to begin the summer before you want to launch (to tag plants when they are up and get site details organized) Board support and even a small bit of funding helps Site administrator that is in a paid ‘long-term’ position and/or has a job description with citizen science activities (or specifically phenology program) helps Having a volunteer network already established really helps Mowing regime needs to be in place before the program gets started. Seriously. Common milkweed always get mowed. Site diversity is key to building an interesting and robust regional network Big bang for the brand buck (quick way for orgs to have cit sci as part of their programmatic delivery) Potlucks and social events are integral Consulting model effective way to get a program started Best to begin the summer before you want to launch (to tag plants when they are up and get site details organized) Board support and even a small bit of funding helps Site administrator that is in a paid ‘long-term’ position and/or has a job description with citizen science activities (or specifically phenology program) helps Having a volunteer network already established really helps Mowing regime needs to be in place before the program gets started. Seriously. Common milkweed always get mowed.

Signs of the Seasons: A New England Phenology Program Signs of the Seasons Partners

Volunteer Observers: 4-H Youth and Families Master Gardeners K-12 Students and Teachers Informal Education Organizations Public Libraries State and National Parks Land Trusts Environmental Monitoring Groups Interested Citizens of All Ages! a project of the USA-NPN Signs of the Seasons

Training Outline 2.5 hours, usually 4:00 – 6:30pm Introductions Pre-survey (with clickers, if possible) Hands-on phenology calendar activity Overview phenology-climate links Signs of the Seasons objectives and partners Overview of target species and protocols Practice inside (or in the field) Show web resources (ours and NPN’s) Practice with Nature’s Notebook Database Post-survey Q&A a project of the USA-NPN Signs of the Seasons Follow-up Immediate follow-up with links and resources Annual evaluation survey updates, webinars, seminar opportunities, etc.

Phenology Calendar Activity a project of the USA-NPN Signs of the Seasons

Examples we use to highlight phenology- climate links 22 June 1917

An example: observations in my “Side Yard”  On your site visit, you slowly walk along your transect for three minutes and see: One robin fly through the site One robin perched and singing No monarch butterflies, but you see an egg on a milkweed plant Monarch American robin Monarch egg orth/sounds/RobinSong_ LangElliott.mp3 Protocol Overview, Examples, and Tips:

a project of the USA-NPN Signs of the Seasons 4/19/14 9:30AM 2 1

Breaking leaf buds: One or more breaking leaf buds are visible on the plant. A leaf bud is considered "breaking" once a green leaf tip is visible at the end of the bud, but before the first leaf from the bud has unfolded to expose the leaf stalk (petiole) or leaf base. Do you see…breaking leaf buds? NoYes

Increasing leaf size A majority of leaves on the plant have not yet reached their full size and are still growing larger. Do not include new leaves that continue to emerge at the ends of elongating stems throughout the growing season. What percentage of full size are most leaves? Less than 25%; 25-49%; 50-74%; 75-94%; 95% or more Do you see… increasing leaf size?

Hands-on Practice a project of the USA-NPN Signs of the Seasons

Advisory Committee

Observer5

Sites in Maine and New Hampshire created using the Data Visualization Tool in Nature’s Notebook

Milkweed and Monarchs Credit: Courtney Celley / USFWS Credit: Ethel Dyer

What's up for 2015? Are trees leafing out earlier now than in the past? Do trees leaf out at different times across New England? Researchers at Boston University are hoping to answer these questions by comparing observations of deciduous tree phenology collected by observers in the northeast, like Signs of the Seasons, to historical records. You can help out by continuing to track red maple (Acer rubrum) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum). The observations you submit to Nature’s Notebook directly contribute to this research! Dr. Richard Primack Dr. Libby Ellwood New England Leaf-Out Project

Green Wave: Northeast

Pam Bell

What are we finding? Total Observations of SOS Indicator Species

Citizen science is the only way these data can be collected in such large numbers!

Thank You!

Connect with USA-NPN… Sign up for a phenology quarterly e-newsletter Become an observer Discover new tools and resources LoriAnne Barnett