Phenology Walks and Trails as a Community and Scientific Resource

• Multi-taxa, National-scale• Plant and animal phenology

observation program• Citizen science• Core protocols for research

Nature’s Notebookfor scientists, naturalists,

volunteers, land managers, park

rangers, and YOU!

Phenology TrailsWhat is a Phenology Walk? A phenology walk is an observation site, created online in Nature’s Notebook and on the ground, that includes a series of tagged plants and a list of animals to observe. Often phenology walks are created along an existing trail at a park, refuge, school, or other open space. Combine walks to create a virtual trail…

Photo credit: L. Romano Nature’s Notebook Plant Tag Example

Phenology TrailsWhat is a Phenology Trail? A phenology trail is a linked network of Nature’s Notebook phenology walks. Each walk has at least two plant and/or animal individuals tagged for data collection.

Linked together, these sites provide participants with places to visit, enjoy nature, collect data, and learn about supporting

organizations.

Phenology TrailsWhy a trail?• Interesting way to link

phenology monitoring activities in a region

• Easy to model• Develops science and outreach

connections between organizations with similar mission

• Science, Phenology, and Climate Change Education opportunity at the local, regional, national, and global scale

Facilitate, Network, Educate – Create Connections

Organizations collaborate/share resources to collect observations

Phenology Trails

Develop a regional science/research/management question

Data collected is useful to answer the question

Participants help assess the data and answer the question

Data is valuable to the broader USA National Phenology Network

Trained participants collect observations at multiple sites

Phenology TrailsExample questions:• How is the phenology of selected species responding to

elevational gradients and the urban environment across the study sites?

• When is the best time to harvest mesquite beans for dehydrating, (knowing that those remaining on the ground too long may become toxic)?

• Which bird species are visiting the wildlife refuge prior to wetland restoration, during restoration, and after restoration? How do those species numbers compare to other regional sites?

• What plants receive the most visits from pollinators in demonstration gardens across the sites?

• How many host milkweed plants, across sites, are used by migrating monarch butterflies? And when do the monarchs arrive?

Phenology TrailsPhenology

English

Plant & People Connections Local Ecology

& Biodiversity

Habitats

Phenology TrailsTucson Phenology Trail• Biosphere 2• Tucson Audubon Mason Center• UA Campus Arboretum• Sam Hughes Neighborhood• Pima Extension Offices (2)• Rincon Heights Neighborhood• SRER• Borton Elementary School• Tumamoc Hill • Arizona Sonora Desert Museum*• Tucson Botanical Garden*

Total of 75 Miles, start to finish3-10 species tagged at each

*Coming online soon

Phenology TrailsTucson Phenology Trailspecies being monitored• Jojoba• Velvet mesquite• Yellow paloverde• Blue paloverde• Ocotillo• Creosote• Florida hopbush• Saguaro• Penstemon (parryi)• Texas Ranger• Desert Ironwood

Tagged at each site on the trail.

Phenology Trails

When do white oak trees leaf out in the spring and, subsequently, lose their leaves in the

fall?

NASA SatelliteAerial & On-the-

ground Photography

Schoolyard habitats

Nature Centers

Refuge Biologists

Volunteer Groups

Phenology Trails can:

Link community groups Help with research and management questions

Engage volunteer groups

Photo credit: L. Barnett

Existing Phenology Walks & Trails:

Tucson ✪ Phoenix ✪ Denver ✪ AlbuquerquePortland ✪ New York

Thank you!LoriAnne Barnett

lorianne@usanpn.orgYou’re invited to

connect with USA-NPN…• Sign up for a phenology

e-newsletter (quarterly)

• Join the Nature’s Notebook community and become an observer: Contribute to science while having fun!

• Discover new tools and resources for work or play

LoriAnne Barnettlorianne@usanpn.org

@loriannebarnett