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.
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