First Robin of Spring?

In the depths of winter, many of us will eagerly seek any indication that spring will arrive, to note the promise of seasonal change.  Others will record that change systematically to inform our understanding of this planet and its climate.  And, while my grandmother once maintained an annual desk diary of her observations, and would solicit my own, our online networks facilitate greater collaboration, locally and nationally. 

Discover your inner phenologist with the following sites.  Find inspiration from the Arboretum’s Naturalist’s Notes and the Cooperative Extension’s Wildlife Phenology Calendar (available from the Learning Store).

And, do consult with your Steenbock librarians for assistance using the library catalog to find books and more from our collections. 

Project Budburst

USA National Phenology Network

Wisconsin Phenological Society

Christmas Bird Count

Beginning December 14 and running through January 5, bird enthusiasts will take to the fields and woodlands to record their sightings of particular bird species--a brilliant example of citizen science in action where engaged volunteers partner with researchers to document particular phenomena.

If you are interested in getting involved with this year’s count, see the Audubon Society’s information for participants.

For more information about bird species, do consult the online edition of Birds of North America. This comprehensive reference tool details the life histories of more than 716 North American species. The online edition, a product of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Ornithologist’s Union supplies descriptive text, image collections, audio and video to reveal aspects of behavior and habitat. For locating additional library resources devoted to ornithology, see the Ornithology Research Guide.

Should you wish to document your bird sightings year-round, consider registering with the eBird community--a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society to record bird abundance and distribution.

State of Birds Report

While we may speak historically and metaphorically of canaries in coalmines, in actuality, all bird species speak to the health of their ecosystems, remaining an early warning system. The State of Birds Report has continued to document declines in bird populations during its 40 years of reportage. The current 2009 report lists particular species at greatest risk and suggestions for remediation within respective ecosystems.

For more information about bird species, do consult the online edition of Birds of North America. This comprehensive reference tool details the life histories of more than 716 North American species. The online edition, a product of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, supplies descriptive text, image collections, audio and video to illuminate aspects of behavior and habitat.