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For hundreds of years, amateur naturalists — the citizen scientists of their day — recorded seasonal events such as flowering in spring or bird migrations in fall. In the late 1950s, for example, volunteers across the country mailed their observations about lilacs and honeysuckles to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation and other organizations joined together to establish the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN). “Phenology” refers to seasonal cycles in plant and animal communities, such as flowering and animal migrations. The USA-NPN is designed to promote phenology as a tool for understanding and adapting to changing environments. Citizen science is real science done by everyday people like you! |