News

Maine Calling hosts Bisson for Phenology Discussion

Maine Calling hosted Beth Bisson, associate director of Maine Sea Grant College Program and coordinator for Signs of the Seasons. The discussion focused on how natural phenomena, such as the life cycles of plants and animals, respond to seasonal cues. Other panelists included Ellen Denny from USA National Phenology Network and Nat Wheelwright, retired Bowdoin […]

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The Maine Monitor features Signs of the Seasons

The Maine Monitor featured University of Maine’s phenology program, Signs of the Seasons, in a recent article about the value of citizen science. Beth Bisson, coordinator of the program was featured. “[Researchers] could just never approach anything close to the volume that you can get if people from communities all over the state are out there […]

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USA National Phenology Network Webinar

The many uses of your Nature’s Notebook data! In this webinar USA National Phenology Network Director Theresa Crimmins discusses the many different ways that scientists and resource managers are using the data that you collect in Nature’s Notebook. Signs of the Seasons volunteers provide data for Maine. The webinar was recorded on February 23, 2021. […]

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Volunteer Spotlight: Sally Shepardson

Volunteer Spotlight: Sally Shepardson Sally became involved with Signs of the Seasons in 2011. She says that keeping track of phenological changes makes her more aware of regional changes that are occurring because of climate change. “This activity helps me realize that what I have been observing in an anecdotal manner is actually a quantifiable […]

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Volunteer Spotlight: Muriel Allen

Volunteer Spotlight: Muriel Allen “I started with Signs of the Seasons just last spring. [I] responded to an email I had received about a training session to be held at the Gilsland Farm Audubon location not far from where I live in Portland. Climate change is one of my biggest concerns and as soon as […]

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Special Exhibit at Curtis Memorial Library

The Curtis Memorial Library is featuring a special exhibit titled “Citizen Science: Signs of the Seasons” through October 28th. Visit the library to see highlights of the Signs of the Seasons program and learn more about citizen science projects around the world. Location Curtis Memorial Library 23 Pleasant Street Brunswick, Maine 04011 Call the library  […]

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Volunteer Spotlight: Jerry Schoen

Jerry recently retired from the University of Massachusetts Water Resources Research Center, where he worked for over 20 years. During his time there, he was involved in the development of a wide range of projects but focused primarily on volunteer water quality monitoring programs. He became interested in phenology about 10 years ago and recognizes […]

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Volunteer Spotlight: Elissa Koskela

Elissa joined the Signs of the Seasons team in 2014 as the program’s Assistant Coordinator. She enjoyed phenology so much that she has continued to be an observer ever since. “I was new to the science of phenology, but found it interesting that tracking local species could give insight to the larger picture of climate […]

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