Extension of Sea Grant to host citizen science training

STATE — University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant will host a series of in-person workshops for individuals interested in participating in the Signs of the Seasons citizen science project. The first training session is scheduled for Thursday, April 4th from 12:30pm to 2:30pm at Stimpson’s Point in Brunswick. Additional workshops will be held in Falmouth, Wells, Augusta, Camden, and Boothbay during April and May. Visit the Signs of the Seasons webpage for a complete schedule. For those unable to attend in person, a three-part webinar series is also available.

Participants will learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclical and seasonal changes in plants and animals), practice their observations, and create their own site to observe and record changes in phenology. You’ll leave armed with the tools and knowledge you need to get started.

Signs of the Seasons recruits volunteers to identify and document changes in more than 20 different indicator species, including silverberry, milkweed, loons, butterflies, and lilacs, that are important to understanding changes in Maine’s climate It’s a statewide effort. Data from this network of volunteers will help build a rich, detailed record of regional seasonal changes that will be made available to collaborating scientists and resource managers.

The workshop is free, but registration on the program website is required. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Keri Kaczor (keri.kaczor@maine.edu, 207.974.9502) or Beth Bisson (beth.bisson@maine.edu).

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