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More About Phenology ... According to the Oxford Dictionary, phenology means 'the study of the times of recurring natural phenomena'. In other words, in 2001, if you were to observe and record things like the date you saw hummingbirds return to your backyard in the spring, the date you heard the first spring peeper, the first day you experienced a thunderstorm, and the day you saw your first forsythia bloom, then you are being a phenologist.  | Shad Bush | Phenologists then keep accurate records of the timing of many natural events that include plants, animals, insects, birds, and weather. When all this information is collated (put together and studied) we begin to see patterns or trends. In the past, farmers and fisherfolk used these patterns to work out from year to year when to do things like plant their fields, or fish for certain types of fish. For example, when the Shad Bush bloomed in the spring, fisherfolk knew it was time to go and fish for shad! Farmers are interested in when certain insects are around so they know when to plant their crops so they are ready before or after the insects can get them! Although we now have lots of information in books and on the computer about these things, we still look to nature every day for one thing or another before we make decisions. So phenology can help us predict things like when to go out to fish, when to plant or harvest crops, when the best time is to see the trees turn colour in the autumn, where the best place to be is in May if we want to see that rare warbler (bird).  | Mayflowers | Phenology can also help us to understand some of the effects of climate change, and that is one of the main purposes of the Thousand Eyes project. We know that plants and animals need certain weather conditions to thrive so the question is what effect will a changing climate have on Nova Scotia's plants and wildlife? Scientists and naturalists already know that the timing of some natural events has changed from what people like you have told them, or what they themselves have observed,. For example, the Mayflower now seems to flower in April, whereas a hundred years ago it flowered in May. Another type of example is the fact that black ducks no longer migrate south for the winter, yet they did during the MacKay project time. Why are these changes happening? What do they mean for the plants and wildlife of Nova Scotia? What might it all mean for us humans? To answer these questions we need lots and lots of accurate observations from all across Nova Scotia and anybody can take part. In addition to the Thousand Eyes project, there are other phenology projects underway in Nova Scotia. Click here for links to some of them. The observations that you make and submit to Thousand Eyes will be made available to these other projects. |
