The USA-National Phenology Network (USA-NPN), a consortium of government, academic and citizen scientists, has launched a new program built on volunteer observations of seasonal changes in plant and animal behavior. The observations will be monitored by scientists and resource managers to track the influence of climate changes on the seasonal cycles of plants, animals, and landscapes.   

Jake Weltzin, a scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and the executive director of USA-NPN, says the program is “designed for people interested in participating in climate change science, not just reading about it.”

 The invitation to volunteers goes out to individuals willing to make observations in their backyards as well as professional scientists monitoring long-term plots. 

The network is funded by the National Science Foundation and housed at the University of Arizona in Tucson. It will provide an online site for people to enter, store, and share their observations.  

This year, the program will focus on the life cycles of nearly 200 species of plants. You will find four easy steps for registering, observing, and reporting at http://www.usanpn.org/?q=how-observe.  Next year, USA-NPN will begin monitoring animals.