The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant are set to host a series of in-person workshops for individuals interested in joining the Signs of the Seasons citizen science project. The first training session will take place on Thursday, April 4th from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Stimpson’s Point in Brunswick. Further workshops will be held in Falmouth, Wells, Augusta, Camden, and Boothbay throughout April and May. A full schedule can be found on the Signs of the Seasons website. In addition to these in-person workshops, a 3-part webinar series is available for those unable to attend in person.
During the workshops, participants will learn about phenology, which is the study of cyclic and seasonal changes in plants and animals. They will practice making observations and leave with the tools and knowledge necessary to set up their own observation site to record changes in phenology. Signs of the Seasons aims to recruit volunteers to identify and record changes in over 20 different indicator species, including rockweed, milkweed, loons, butterflies, and lilacs. These observations are critical for understanding Maine’s changing climate.
The data collected by volunteers participating in Signs of the Seasons is used to create a detailed record of seasonal changes in the region. This data is made available to collaborating scientists and resource managers for further analysis. The workshops are free to attend but require registration on the program website. For more information or to request reasonable accommodation, contact Keri Kaczor at keri.kaczor@maine
