Site selection

• What is a representative location?
• How do I choose an appropriate size for my site?
• Do I need permission to make observations on public land?
• How can I best mark my site?

Species selection

• How do I identify my plants and animals?
• Can I start observing a plant if I am unsure which species it is?
• What can I do if the plant or animal I would like to observe is not on the recommended species list?
• What exactly is a calibration species?

Individual plant selection

• How many individual plants of the same species should I observe?
• Are there other things I should consider when selecting my plant(s)?
• How can I best mark the plant(s) that I am observing?
• What if the plant I am observing dies?

Cloned lilac plants

• I requested cloned lilacs but have not received them. What is the status of my request?
• What type of lilac do I have? Aren't the cloned lilacs you sent me common lilacs?

Making observations

• How do I print and use the datasheet packet?
• How should I answer the various 'Time spent' questions?
• How often should I make my observations?
• At what time of day should I make my observations?
• What if I never see some of the animals I am observing?
• Why should I record my observations when nothing seems to be happening?
• What if I missed a phenophase?
• Why is it valuable to know that a phenophase did not occur at all in a given year?
• Why should I continue looking for a phenophase even after it has passed?
• Can I still report 'Emerging leaves/needles' (trees and shrubs) or 'Emerging growth' (forbs and grasses) once I see 'Unfolded leaves/needles' or 'Young unfolded leaves/needles' on the plant?
• How can I judge when a leaf is '≥75% of full leaf size'?
• When should I report I no longer see 'Unfolded leaves/needles'?
• When should I stop reporting ‘Yes’ to seeing phenophases with an unclear endpoint?
• How can I tell if mature fruits have dropped from my plant since my last visit?
• Can I still report seeing ‘Active individuals/adults’ or ‘Individuals/adults on land/water’ if I also report seeing another more specific phenophase?

Reporting your data online

• How do I enter observation data recorded on my datasheet packet?
• How do I change observation data once I have entered it?

Site selection

What is a representative location?

We welcome all observations, even if your site is unusual for your area, but we encourage people to select sites that are representative of the local environment when possible. For example, if possible, we recommend that you select a site in a relatively flat or gently sloping area. We also recommend that you avoid areas that are subject to drifting snow or funneled or channeled winds. The site should ideally be neither excessively dry nor wet for your area. In forested areas, the site should be generally similar to the surrounding forest, reflecting the overall canopy composition and stature. If you are observing wild plants, we suggest you avoid locations where plants are watered or fertilized. If your site is unusual for your area, just record the unusual characteristics in the comments section of the Nature's Notebook Add a New Site form when you add your site.

How do I choose an appropriate size for my site?

The best size for your site depends on the scale of your landscape and the distance over which you can easily see or walk. It also depends on whether you are observing animals or only plants. For plants, a site is the area that surrounds the individual plants you are observing. For animals, a site is the area where you look for the animals on your checklist. If you are observing both plants and animals, your site(s) can serve in both of these ways.

If you are observing both plants and animals or only animals: Because you will be reporting observations of animals you see or hear in your site, your site can include the area that you can see and hear well while standing still or the area that you can walk in a relatively short amount of time. If you are observing in an open grassland or near a body of water, your site might be the maximum recommended size (15 acres), because you may be able to identify animals that are far away. In contrast, if your site is in a dense forest, it might be relatively small, as you may not be able to identify species at great distances.

Even if you can identify animals over a large area, an area should be divided into different sites if it includes habitats that are obviously different. For instance, if you are making observations at a pond in a meadow, the pond and the meadow should be registered as separate sites. In that case, just report your animal observations for the site at which you saw or heard them, for example, at either the pond or the meadow.

If you are observing only plants: For plants, the size of your site does not matter much as long as the conditions are pretty similar throughout your site. If you are observing just one plant, your site can simply be the small area immediately around that plant, say within 3 feet of the plant. If you are observing several plants near one another, you can consider them all to be at one site, as long as the site conditions are pretty similar and the site is no larger than 15 acres or 6 hectares.

When selecting the plants to observe at your site, you will want to strike a balance between how much time it will take to walk between plants, while ensuring that the individual plants that you are observing are not too close together (see How many individual plants of the same species should I observe?). Your observing locations should be divided into different sites if their habitats are obviously different.

Do I need permission to make observations on public land?

Many public agencies encourage observations of this kind and would be glad to know that you are reporting your observations to Nature’s Notebook. However, you should get permission to make observations from the appropriate department of the federal government, state, or municipality that has responsibility for the property. Land managers often issue written permits for land access, which will help ensure that you can mark your sites and plants and can regularly visit your site.

How can I best mark my site?

There are many options, but the most important thing is that you mark your site so that you can find it again in the future. For most sites, it is probably easiest to mark the four corners with colorful flagging, scrap cloth, or something similar. You can also use natural or man-made landmarks, like the edge of a yard, big rocks, a bend in a trail, a road, or something similar, to define the boundaries. You will need to replace your markers periodically as they weather and become unreadable. Also, remember that if you are observing a site on public land, you will need to get permission before marking the site.

Species selection

How do I identify my plant and animals?

Correct plant and animal identification is important when reporting your observations in Nature’s Notebook. We know it can be tricky to identify a plant or animal, and luckily there are many field guides and online resources that can help. Many communities also have gardening, birding, native plant or naturalist groups, cooperative extension offices, nature centers, local colleges, herbaria, state or national parks, or wildlife refuges where you can find people to help identify plants or animal in your area.

If you are uncertain of your plant’s identity, you can certainly record your observations on a datasheet until you have identified it (see Can I start observing a plant if I am unsure which species it is?). If you uncertain whether an animal you saw was a species on your list that you are observing, it is best to record your observation of that species as uncertain by filling in the question mark (?) on your data sheet. The USA-NPN National Coordinating Office staff is small, so unfortunately, we cannot visit your site or identify your plant or animal from a photograph, but we will continue to add more information to our website to help make identifying plants and animals easier.

Online field guides

• Discover Life's IDnature guides
• eNature
• Arbor Day Foundation (for trees)

Field guide books

Look for plant or animal field guides at a local or online book store. Field guides that are particular to your region are often the best choice.

Other online resources for plants

• USDA PLANTS
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Other online resources for animals

• All About Birds 

Can I start observing a plant if I am unsure which species it is?

Yes, you can keep track of observations on a field datasheet, but please do not enter your observations online until you have identified the species with reasonable confidence. When a plant is dormant, it may be difficult to tell which species it is, but you probably have a good idea about whether it is a forb, grass, deciduous tree, or another kind of plant. The phenophase definitions within these broad groups are fairly standard, so we recommend you find a similar species and use the datasheet and phenophases for that species (see some choices below).

Once you have identified the plant, please check the phenophases for that species to make sure they are consistent with what you had been recording. If they are consistent, you can enter the data online. If they are not consistent, please do not enter your old observations. Instead start fresh now that you have identified your plant. If it turns out your plant is not on the recommended plant list, please see What can I do if the plant or animal I would like to observe is not on the recommended species list?

What can I do if the plant or animal I would like to observe is not on the recommended species list?

The Nature's Notebook list of recommended species includes plants and animals that are important to observe for a variety of reasons, including their ecological and economic importance, conservation value, importance as game species, association with health issues such as allergies, or importance to ecosystem services such as food supply. We are constantly working to revise and expand the list of species and the related materials and welcome your suggestions for additions or other changes.

In the meantime, if you would like to start observing a plant or animal not currently on our list of recommended species, you can observe that species using a datasheet appropriate for a similar species, and submit your observations to Nature’s Notebook later. You may also consider participating in one of the many other observation programs that are tracking the phenology of particular groups of plants and animals (see a list of other observation programs).

Please send your comments on our list of recommended species to observe@usanpn.org.

What exactly is a calibration species?

A Nature’s Notebook plant calibration species is one of 20 plants selected to help "calibrate" phenological measurements across the United States. These species have broad distributions and are ecologically or economically important. Scientists use observations of these species to get "the big picture" of phenology across the nation. We encourage observers to include at least one plant calibration species in their observations. We need many observations of calibration species to understand the changes taking place in the timing of seasonal events across the nation, particularly in relationship to climate change, and to inform decisions that must be made in response to some of these changes.

Individual plant selection

How many individual plants of the same species should I observe?

For most observers, we recommend observing between one and three individuals of the same plant species at a site. Observers at research sites may wish to choose three to five individuals per site. Observing multiple individuals helps to give scientists an idea of the variation in phenology among individuals at your site. In some years and for some phenophases, multiple individuals will exhibit identical timing in their phenology, and in other years or phenophases they will not. Even if your multiple individuals seem to always exhibit the same timing, that is still interesting to know and valuable data to collect!

When you choose the number of individuals to observe, you should consider the time it will take to make the observations. If you do decide to observe multiple individuals of the same species, try to select plants growing in a similar environment (for example, have similar amounts of sun or shade), but which are not direct neighbors—selected plants should not be closer than two or three times the width of one of the plants. For example, an observer might select three lilacs growing in his or her yard, each growing in full sun and spaced three plant widths apart from each other. If the lilacs are growing as a hedge, this would mean every third lilac plant could be selected. If you are observing the same species at multiple sites but have limited time, you may want to observe multiple individuals of each species at one of the sites, and only observe one of each species at the other sites.

Are there other things I should consider when selecting my plant(s)?

Yes. Although we welcome all observations, we encourage observers to avoid selecting plants that are closer than 20 feet to a road or building. Also, please read the “Special Considerations for Observing” section of the species profile to find out if there are other considerations for your plant species. For example, some species grow clonally and form large clumps of stems growing from the same roots. If your plant can be clonal, try to choose individual stems from different clumps. Where it is not possible to follow these guidelines for a specific individual, mention that in the comments section of your Nature’s Notebook Add or Edit Plants form.

How can I best mark the plant(s) that I am observing?

See a training video on this topic
For trees and shrubs, you can attach flagging tape or small, inconspicuous aluminum tags (which you can buy at a hardware store or forestry supply company) to the trunk or a branch on each plant. For grasses and forbs, you can place labeled toothpicks, popsicle sticks, or skewers in the ground next to each plant, or loosely tie colored string around the base of the plant. However you mark your individual plants, you will want to make sure you do not change the growing conditions of the plant. For example, avoid placing a broad stake next to a small plant that would shade it or cause root damage. You will need to replace your markers periodically as they weather and become unreadable. Also, remember that if you are observing at a site on public land, you will need to get permission before marking the plants.

What if the plant I am observing dies?

If an individual dies or is obviously declining in health (when others of the same species around it are still healthy), you should select a new individual to observe. However, be sure to note the death in the comments section of your Nature’s Notebook Add or Edit Plants form and add the replacement as a new plant with a different nickname. If you are observing any annual or biennial species at your site, you will need to select a new plant on a regular basis since the individual plants die after one and two years, respectively.

Cloned lilac plants

I requested cloned lilacs but have not received them. What is the status of my request?

We still have more requests for cloned lilac plants than we can immediately satisfy. The number that we can distribute each year is limited by available funds. We are trying to fill requests in a way that will distribute cloned lilacs to all areas across the country, but also send them as soon as possible to those interested in receiving them.

A second option, which can speed the arrival of your cloned lilacs and help us stretch our limited resources, is to purchase cloned lilacs directly from the supplier, Jung Seed Company. Orders can be placed through Jung’s web page or by calling their order department at 1-800-247-5864.

As a third option, you may purchase a common purple lilac (Syringa vulgaris, usually called "old fashioned" or "hedge" lilac) from any nursery and observe it. Common purple lilacs make good "partners" with cloned lilacs, because their phenologies are quite similar. If you have also ordered a cloned lilac you may plant it and observe it along with the common lilac.

What type of lilac do I have? Aren't the cloned lilacs you sent me common lilacs?

If you received cloned lilacs from us, they are not common lilacs. Rather, they are specially cultivated Chinese lilacs (Syringa x chinensis 'Red Rothomagensis'), which have leaves that are about twice as long as they are wide (much narrower than common purple lilac leaves). These are the same lilacs that were distributed to people who made phenology observations as a part of the historical lilac phenology networks run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Most lilacs that you might purchase from a nursery or that are growing in yards or in parks are common lilacs (Syringa vulgaris, also called "hedge" or "old-fashioned" lilacs).  These plants are NOT clones, and occur in the wild in many areas of the United States, although they are not native here. Common lilacs have leaves that are somewhat "heart" shaped (much wider than cloned lilac leaves).

Making observations

How do I print and use the datasheet packet?

Whenever you click “Create Datasheet (PDF)” or “Create All Datasheets (PDF)” from your Nature’s Notebook Home page, a pdf file with a datasheet packet will be downloaded (or you will be prompted to download it) on your computer. You can then print all or a selection of the datasheets to use for recording your observations in the field. To start out with, we recommend you choose “Create All Datasheets (PDF)” and print the entire packet for your site. The packet includes a Cover Sheet, an Animal Checklist (if you have added animals to your checklist), a Plant Phenophase Datasheet for each individual plant you are observing, and an Animal Phenophase Datasheet for each species of animal you are observing. The purpose of the Cover Sheet is to report information to describe each day you visit the site. The Animal Checklist (if you are observing animals) provides a quick summary of the animal species seen or heard at your site on each date. The subsequent individual plant and animal Phenophase Datasheets are for tracking your phenophases observations for each animal species or each individual plant.

• On the Cover Sheet, please record the amount of time you contribute to this project each day in travel to your site and in making observations. Also please record the time you spent specifically looking for animals that day (if you are observing animals), and the method you used to search for them (see instructions on the Cover Sheet). If there is snow at your site, please report whether it is visible on the ground and/or in the treetops, and estimate the percent of ground it covers. (See also How should I answer the various 'Time spent' questions?)

• On the Animal Checklist, please list the species of animals you are looking for at the site, and for each day you visit your site, circle "y" (yes) if you saw or heard that species and "n" (no) if you did not see or hear that species. If you were uncertain whether you saw or heard that species, circle "?". 

• On each of the Plant and Animal Phenophase Datasheets, please fill out a column for each visit and indicate whether or not you saw or heard each of the phenophases. For Animal Phenophase Datasheets, you do not need to fill out a column for dates you circled "n" on your Animal Checklist and thus did not see or hear that species.

As you fill up and need new datasheets for each plant and animal, you can generate them individually by selecting the plant or animal in the “My Plants & Animals” window in your Nature's Notebook Home page and clicking on “Create Datasheet (PDF)” under the “Details for this Organism” window. A new Cover Sheet and Animal Checklist is included each time, but you may not need to print extras of those if you have already done so with new datasheets for a previous plant or animal. You can also click these links to download a new:

• Cover Sheet
• Animal Checklist

See How do I enter observation data recorded on my datasheet packet? when you are ready to enter your data online.

How should I answer the various 'Time spent' questions?

On your observation Cover Sheet and in the online interface for entering observations you are asked to report 'Time spent observing', 'Time spent in travel' and 'Time spent looking for animals'. We ask you to report these three things for very different reasons. The purpose of the first two are purely administrative, to estimate the volunteer time contributed to the project. These estimates can be important in securing funding to keep the project going. The purpose of the third, 'Time spent looking for animals', is scientific, to estimate the time that went into animal sampling which will affect how many animals you see or hear. This third estimate is very important to scientists using your data.

Follow these general guidelines in reporting this information:

• Time spent observing: For each date indicate how much time you spent making observations. You should include the total time you spent getting organized, observing animals, and checking your plants.

• Time spent in travel: For each date indicate how much time you spent traveling to your site. This includes any time spent in a vehicle as well as time spent walking or hiking to get to your site. However, do not include travel time that you would be taking anyway, even if you were not making observations. For instance, if you make your observations from your regular work location, do not include the time spent driving to work.

• Time spent looking for animals: For each date please indicate how much time you spent actually looking for the animals on your Animal Checklist. You should not include any time in which you were not aware of the animals around you, for instance, while you were busy organizing datasheets or focused solely on checking your plants.

How often should I make my observations?

You should make observations as often as is convenient for you. Ideally, we would like observers to make observations once a week or even as frequently as every two or three days, particularly during the spring and fall when plant and animal phenology is changing quickly in many parts of the country. Plants and animals can often be active during the winter, but if you live in a cold region where their activity is reduced, you can lengthen the time between observations during this season. Most importantly, you should record all the observations you make—your observations, no matter how often you make them, provide valuable data!

At what time of day should I make my observations?

You should make observations at a time of day that is convenient for you. Because some animal species tend to be more active at certain times of day and plant activity can vary over the course of the day, it will be helpful if you make your observations consistently around the same time. However, if you are observing both species that are active most during the day (like most plants and animal species on our recommended species list) and those that are most active at dusk or at night (like frogs, bats, and some flowers), you may want to make your observations twice a day, once during the day and once at dusk or night.

What if I never see some of the animals I am observing?

On most days you will probably not see or hear most of the animals you are observing. You may not see or hear some species all year. Even though it can be frustrating to look for animals that are not there very often, information about when and where a species is and is not is very important to scientists, so please continue to record that you DO NOT see phenophases for these animal species on each day you observe. In some ways the information about when and where a species is not present is more important than information about where it is, because those observations (called negative data) are more rare. This is why we suggest that you observe species from our recommended animal species list that occur in your state, even if you do not see them often, or at all.

Why should I record my observations when nothing seems to be happening?

Having a full record of your observation dates allows scientists to more confidently estimate the date a phenophase began or ended. For example, if you first report that you heard wood frog calls on your April 6 visit, and your last visit (when you did not hear them) was April 2, we know that the wood frogs started calling sometime within those four to five days. If you only report the April 6 visit and no previous visit, we only know that the frogs started to call sometime between April 6 and the last time you reported visiting your site, which might have been 3 months earlier! This example also illustrates why more frequent observations are useful when conditions change rapidly, such as in the spring or fall. If you can make observations every two or three days, you improve scientists’ ability to estimate the day a phenophase actually started or ended.

What if I missed a phenophase?

If you miss the occurrence of a phenophase entirely, and you see evidence that the phenophase did occur, then make a note of this in the comments section of your Nature’s Notebook Enter Observations form. For example, if your plant flowered while you were away on vacation, and you see dried flowers on the ground below the plant, feel free to note this in the comments section of your data entry form. You can note similar occurrences with animals, for example, if you see chicks in a bird nest, but never saw the eggs.

Why is it valuable to know that a phenophase did not occur at all in a given year?

Many phenophases do not occur in every year—birds may not breed in a certain area, trees may not flower or fruit, turtles may not lay eggs. Information about when and where these phenophases did and did not occur is very important to scientists studying these species and the interactions between species.

Why should I continue looking for a phenophase even after it has passed?

Many phenophases may occur two or more times in a year. Many birds lay a second clutch of eggs in the summer after the first clutch has fledged. If a frost or pest kills many of the leaves on a tree, it will often have a second flush of new leaves. In dry climates, some phenophases repeat after multiple rain events. Also, climate change is changing the timing and frequency of life cycle events, which is extremely important to capture! For example, as temperatures warm and growing seasons get longer, many species are reproducing more frequently—some birds are having more broods, some plants flower more often, and insects like butterflies and dragonflies may go through more generations in a single year.

Can I still report 'Emerging leaves/needles' (trees and shrubs) or 'Emerging growth' (forbs and grasses) once I see 'Unfolded leaves/needles' or 'Young unfolded leaves/needles' on the plant?

Yes, you should judge each leaf bud, needle bud, or shoot separately. As long as some buds or shoots on the plant are still breaking or initiating growth and have not yet produced an unfolded leaf or needle, you are seeing ‘Emerging leaves/needles’ or ‘Emerging growth’. For plants that have more than one bud or shoot, in most cases you will still be seeing ‘Emerging leaves/needles’ or ‘Emerging growth’ in some buds or shoots for many days after you first begin seeing 'Unfolded leaves/needles' or 'Young unfolded leaves/needles' from other buds or shoots. It is also possible to see multiple episodes of leaf/needle bud break or initial growth within a season. This might occur after a period of severe drought or after a plant is defoliated by insects. However, once ALL the active leaf/needle buds or shoots on the plant have at least one unfolded leaf, you should be reporting that you no longer see ‘Emerging leaves/needles’ or ‘Emerging growth’.

How can I judge when a leaf is '≥75% of full leaf size'?

This is a little difficult the first year you try it, but gets easier with practice. If you are in doubt, you can measure full leaf size during summer of the first year and then use that measure to better judge 75% of full leaf size for subsequent years. We are asking observers to note when leaves become 75% of full leaf size in order to create an estimate of the point in time when leaves are almost, but not quite full size. Including this measure allows scientists to keep track of the length of the "green-up" period (the time is takes leaves to grow to full size), which is an important aspect of a plant's response to climate change.

When should I report I no longer see 'Unfolded leaves/needles'?

You should continue to report seeing ‘Unfolded leaves/needles’ as long as fresh green or colored leaves/needles remain on the plant. Do not include dried, dead leaves or dead, brown needles that remain on the plant, such as occurs with some species throughout the dormant season (e.g. winter or dry season). In some cases, green leaves will remain on the plant in a frozen condition for part or all of the winter. If more than about 5% of the leaves have remained on the plant in this condition, you should continue to report seeing ‘Unfolded leaves’ until they fall off or appear wilted.

When should I stop reporting ‘Yes’ to seeing phenophases with an unclear endpoint?

For deciduous plants, there are certain phenophases with no distinct endpoint other than the end of the growing season. These include ‘>75% of full leaf size’, ‘>50% of leaves/needles colored’, ‘All leaves/needles colored’, ‘>50% of leaves/needles fallen’, ‘All leaves/needles fallen’, and ‘All leaves withered’. For phenophases which have another phenophase that follows in a logical sequence, you can stop recording the first when the next phenophase begins. For example, you can stop recording ‘>50% of leaves/needles colored’ when you see ‘All leaves/needles colored.’ You can then stop recording ‘All leaves/needles colored’ when you see ‘All leaves/needles fallen’ or when you begin seeing new leaves or needles on the plant.

How can I tell if mature fruit have dropped from my plant since my last visit?

Evidence of ‘Recent fruit drop’ may include mature fruits on the ground below the plant that were not there on your last visit, or fruits missing from the plant which were present on your last visit. For this phenophase, do not include the dropping of fruits that are clearly immature and unripe, as often happens in a heavy rain or wind storm.

Can I still report seeing ‘Active individuals/adults’ or ‘Individuals/adults on land/water’ if I also report seeing another more specific phenophase?

Yes, you should report “Yes” for ALL the phenophases you see occurring on a given date. For animals, if you see a specific activity, like nest building, you are also seeing one or more active individuals, and should be reporting “Yes” to both of those phenophases for that species.

Reporting your data online

How do I enter observation data recorded on my datasheet packet?

After each visit to your site, please enter the information recorded on your datasheets in your Nature’s Notebook Enter Observations form. Start by entering the information you recorded on your Cover Sheet for each date. Then enter your observations for each of your plants and animal species. For plants, simply enter the information written on each Plant Phenophase Datasheet. For animals, refer to your Animal Checklist. For the dates where "n" is circled for a species, click “Circle all no” at the top of the column for that date and all phenophases will be set to "No". For the dates where "y" or "?" is circled for a species, refer to the Animal Phenophase Datasheet for that species and enter the information recorded there for each phenophase for that date.

How do I change observation data once I have entered it?

If you wish to correct your observation data for a particular date, navigate to that day’s column using the arrows at the bottom of your Nature’s Notebook Enter Observations form. Then change the “y”, “n” and “?” responses to the correct ones for that day. Unfortunately you cannot edit the date for which observations are reported in a given column. If you have correct data entered for the wrong date, please change all the responses in the column with the wrong date to “?”, and add a new column with the correct date and responses. You can add a comment describing the correction to help us keep track of your change.

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