People all over the State are sharing phenology stories, observations, and data!
Every plant and animal is part of a story that affects us all: the well-being of the environment. By tracking changes in the natural world—from bloom times to breeding patterns—we learn more about that story, how it’s impacting us and what we can do about it.
Phenology is the study of recurring events in the life cycle of plants and animals, many of which are closely tied to patterns of climate and seasonality. Phenology integrates biological, chemical and physical processes occurring at the level of the cell (e.g. cell expansion of new leaves in spring) to globe (e.g. bird migration). It has a rich history in the United States: Jefferson, Thoreau and Leopold all studied phenology. The Minnesota Phenology Network (MnPN) was founded in 2010 to promote the study of phenology in the state of MN by sharing knowledge and experiences; identifying and compiling known long-term datasets; creating common measurement protocols and databases; and inspiring observers new and old from across the state. It is loosely associated with the USA-National Phenology Network.
It’s your story, too. Be part of it. Learn more about phenology and how you can join researchers and nature lovers across Minnesota to tell your piece of the story. We have a bigger impact when we all share what we see happening in nature and work together.