Tracking Signs of the Seasons: Phenology at Tremont
Written by Tyler Thomas, Manager of Science Literacy and Research
Phenology is the study of the timing of natural events in the annual life cycles of living things. This includes events such as bird migration and wildflower blooming. The timing of these events can be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, light, and rainfall, so phenology is an important way to observe the potential effects of climate change.
At Tremont, we collect phenology data in several ways including a wonderful group of volunteers that monitor designated phenology plots each spring/fall to track the annual life cycles of trees, wildflowers, and migratory songbirds. Another phenology project at Tremont is completed through seasonal observations by both staff and participants. Some of these seasonal observations have been recorded at Tremont for more than 30 years!
Not only does this make for a friendly competition, but it also encourages more observations of the natural world. These observations allow us to look for long-term data trends that can be shared with everyone who visits Tremont. We recently updated the phenology visualizations on the community science board in the dining hall with data from the past five years.
Additionally, recording seasonal observations can be an awesome phenology project in your backyard! Start by creating your own “signs of the seasons” list and record the timing of natural events throughout the year!
