Do you hear the Spring Peepers in your backyard? Are you watching for the first time you see a Monarch Butterfly or Ruby-throated Hummingbird this season? Do you notice when the leaves first start to turn in the fall? Your observations of seasonal changes (also known as phenology) could help scientists to better understand how climate change might be affecting species here in Maine! Signs of the Seasons, coordinated by Maine Sea Grant and University of Maine Cooperative Extension, needs your help as a community science volunteer to monitor different “indicator” species and help track their phenology. Join hundreds of volunteers who observe these species in their own backyards and help fill in a regional gap in knowledge.
Interested in learning more and getting involved? Register here for a Signs of the Seasons training co-hosted by Maine Sea Grant and Maine Audubon at Gilsland Farm on Monday May 4 from 2-4 pm. Participants will learn more about the background and goals of the project, get trained in how to record and submit data, and practice taking observations around Gilsland Farm. This training is free but pre-registration is required. We encourage you to join us in this important project and help scientists track climate change in Maine!
Learn more about the project and where other trainings are happening across the state here. For any questions about the program, please contact Beth Bisson (beth.bisson@maine.edu) or Keri Kaczor (keri.kaczor@maine.edu).
