Observing Phenology Brings Unexpected Discoveries
When life feels extra challenging, it can be difficult to maintain a sense of buoyancy and positivity. Where can we find joy? It is all around us, all the time, if only we can see it.
Part of my Saturday routine is to circumnavigate my small suburban yard and document what the plants and animals with whom I share this space are doing. One weekend not long ago, I was struggling with feelings of exhaustion, frustration, and powerlessness. Rather than give in, I pursued the dopamine hit that comes with checking something off my to-do list: I stepped outside and started making my observations.
The experience was bland at first. As expected, I observed Arizona walnut, box elder, and hackberry trees all bare of leaves, just a drab palette of grays and browns. The same was true for much of the groundcover: Grasses and wildflowers had yet to expose any of their tender new growth for the year. But then a large dark-colored butterfly with wings edged in pale yellow and adorned with light blue spots—a mourning cloak—snagged my attention. I noted the presence of a few other insects as well; flies and a few bees were braving the chill temperatures. And lo! The male arroyo willows boasted an abundance of yellow catkins—flowers—bristling with pollen.
I was rattled out of my self-involved, negatively tinged thoughts. Things inside of me began to soften. I felt the clenched fist in my chest begin to relax, and the muscles around my eyes soften. I felt more open and receptive. I had found a spot of joy.
The scientific name for my routine is phenology—the observation of recurring seasonal events in plants and animals, such as flowering leaf color change, insect hatch, and migration. Records of these events have been valuable in helping us understand how organisms are responding to rapidly changing conditions and how species and ecosystems may change in the future. The information has many practical applications in terms of planting, harvesting, and minimizing the spread of invasive species.
Anyone can track phenology and enjoy its benefits. Simply step outside, look carefully at particular organisms, and note their developmental status at regular intervals. As many doctors attest, being outside, even for short intervals, brings a raft of health benefits, including drops in heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. Not just looking at but assessing what you are seeing requires you to focus your attention on another living thing. This reframing—of remembering your role in the larger picture of life—can do wonders for restoring a sense of calm.
Observing phenology is open to all ages and can be done anywhere as a solo activity or with a group. It can be flexible, as well. While regular observations generate the most useful data for understanding change and confer the greatest health benefits, you can dip into and out of this activity as your schedule permits. And I can verify, regardless of your dedication, taking the moment to stop and look closely never fails to reveal something new and interesting. Honestly, quite often and unexpectedly, observing brings me joy.
The USA National Phenology Network team launched the Nature’s Notebook platform in 2009. Since then, more than 30,000 participants have contributed over 43 million observations of plant and animal activity across the country. Repeated observations collected on the same individual plants over the course of the season and from one year to the next paint a robust picture of organisms’ progression through the year. These unique data are frequently used by scientists and decision makers to better understand and anticipate seasonal changes and how they are being affected by a rapidly changing climate.
Learn more and contribute your observations at usanpn.org
Theresa Crimmins is the director of the USA National Phenology Network, associate professor at the University of Arizona, and author of Phenology. You can join her efforts and enjoy the benefits of documenting local phenology through the app Nature’s Notebook.
Learn more at usanpn.org/nn.
