Phenology

Do you notice when loons leave northern lakes in the fall and when they return in the spring? How about when monarch butterflies start migrating in late summer, when the trilliums are blooming or when the first robin arrives in your yard?  If you notice these sorts of things, then you're a phenologist! Phenology is the study of the behavior of animals and plants in relation to changes in climate and season.  Keeping a phenology notebook is an easy way for children and others to start developing naturalist skills and learning more about the natural world around them.

Flowers are a good place to start. Wildflowers come in seasonal cycles, they're often colorful and pretty, and they are relatively easy to locate because they don't move around or run away—like birds or other wildlife. Click below to start learning about the common wildflowers in northern Wisconsin.