Nature's Notebook | Citizen Scientists Track Seasonal Change

Case Study Overview

Image: A young Nature’s Notebook participant observes a queen butterfly feeding.
- Photo credit: Brian Forbes Powell.
Historical Context:
- Amateur naturalists have long recorded seasonal events like flowering and bird migrations.
- In the 1950s, volunteers mailed observations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Founding of USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN):
- Established in 2007 by U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation, and others.
- Aims to use phenology (study of seasonal cycles in plant/animal communities) to understand environmental changes.
Nature's Notebook Project:
- A national citizen science project initiated by USA-NPN.
- Volunteers record plant and animal observations online to create long-term datasets.

Image: Volunteer observing juniper pollen.
- Photo credit: Mechelle Meixner.
Participation Requirements:
- No previous experience needed.
- Minimal time commitment: 10 minutes a few times a week.
- Volunteers set up an account, choose observation sites, and select species of interest.
Recording Observations:
- Use standardized protocols; record on paper or mobile apps (iPhone/Android).
- Data shared among scientists, policymakers, and natural resource managers.
- Over 5 million records contributed as of early 2015.

Image: Couple observing poplar.
- Photo credit: Brian Forbes Powell.
Data Quality Control:
- Uses quality assurance techniques and excludes out-of-range values.
- Observers' accuracy found to be 91% in assessing phenophase status.
Volunteer Models:
- Independent observations vs. group observations at long-term monitoring sites.
- Group observations lead to more consistent results due to shared training and community engagement.

Image: Observers at Jean Lafitte National Historic Park.
- Photo credit: Carolyn Enquist.
Data Impact:
- Over 5 million records, contributing to 17 peer-reviewed publications.
- Example: 2012 false spring documentation and agricultural impact.
- Forecasting spring and informing agricultural and environmental management.
Long-term Effects:
- Influence on policy regarding agriculture, carbon sequestration, and natural resource management.
- Applications in tracking climate change effects, wildlife vulnerability, and more.

Building and Nurturing Community:
- Frequent communication through newsletters, emails, and social media.
- Engaging participants with meaningful activities and educational materials.
- Use of campaigns focused on specific species to maintain participant interest.