Nature’s Notebook-A tool for recording the timing of seasonal activity of plants and animals

Abstract

Nature's Notebook is a customizable program used by individual observers and Federal Government partners to document patterns in phenology—the timing of seasonal activity of plants and animals over the course of the calendar year. The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) established Nature's Notebook in 2009 to create a standard approach for collecting phenology data on plants and animals across the country. Currently, about half of the data are submitted by independent backyard observers at individual sites and half are submitted by groups of participants as part of a Local Phenology Program. With support from the U.S. Geological Survey, the USA-NPN collects, organizes, and shares data on phenology. This information aids decision making, scientific discovery, and the development of a broader understanding of phenology.