Don't miss out on our first Local Phenology Leader Virtual Conference next week! The Conference runs January 20-23 and is packed with sessions requested by Local Phenology Leaders and members. In addition to Local Phenology Leaders, we'll hear from researchers, educators, and the team working on the new Nature's Notebook mobile app. The conference is free and you can attend however many sessions you like. Get a sneak peek at the schedule below, and don't forget to register to get access to the virtual sessions!

Learn more and register »

We have an opportunity for 18 Nature's Notebook observers to be interviewed by undergraduate students in a science writing course at UCLA titled "Science Writing for Public Engagement and Community Science Projects." Each observer will participate in two interviews during April and May of 2026. The observer profiles put together by students will be featured on the USA-NPN website and in future newsletters.

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We've been receiving a lot of questions from you all about our new Nature's Notebook app that is currently in development. To help us share more about what's changing in the app, when it will be available, and when new features will be added, we've put together a new page on our website. This page will be updated frequently so check back for updates!

Learn more »

We are thrilled to share that we recently received a grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to support our work supporting scientific discovery and people's understanding of climate change effects on species, ecosystems, and biodiversity. With these funds, we will grow engagement in phenology observing and analysis among younger audiences, especially in the K-12 space. We will also substantially strengthen and expand our resources and support for our Local Phenology Programs. And finally, we will undertake the critical task of reworking the infrastructure supporting our real-time phenology forecast products. We are extremely grateful for this support from the Foundation and are very excited by the improvements these funds will enable!

Learn more about the award »

Insect pests, like emerald ash borers and spongy moths, pose a significant threat to forests in North America. Management of these pests depends on information about which trees are at greatest risk and which treatments are likely to be most effective. Outbreaks of spruce budworm can devastate fir and spruce forests in the northeastern U.S. and Canada, but the risk to other tree species has not been well documented. Researchers in Maine used Nature’s Notebook observations and tree ring data to show that spruce budworms also feed on eastern hemlock trees, which leaf out at the same time as fir and spruce trees. Understanding the risk to eastern hemlock trees is important because the trees play a unique role in eastern forests and are also harvested commercially. 

Read the Publication Summary »

We are thrilled to welcome 22 newly Certified Local Phenology Leaders who completed our 10-week LPL Certification Course last month. Congratulations, we can't wait to see the amazing things that you will do with your Programs!

• Abby Ditomassi, Fountain Square Phenology, OH
• Ariane Joy Nova, The Ethical Society of Bergen County Phenology Project, NJ
• Arlenne Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Urban Wild Trackers, MA
• Barbara Gregerson, Livingston County Building Native Plant Garden, MI
• Bronwyn Sheptak, Cleveland Botanical Garden, OH
• Brooke Adam, NPSOT Plant Life Cycle Project, TX
• Cassie Festa, Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, TX
• Daniel Wright, DCR Phenology Research, MA
• Don Kent, Mass Department of Conservation and Recreation Phenology Research Program, MA
• Eric Seaberg, Hays County Phenology Observation Network, TX
• Erin Snyder, Teatown Lake Reservation, NY
• Grace Burford, Prescott Creeks/Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, AZ
• Helen Rogers, Santa Fe Botanical Garden, NM
• Jacqui Hollensbe, Crawford County Wild Plant Phytophiles, IL
• Juwaria Jama, Trustees One Waterfront, MA
• Karen Stewart, Inks Lake State Park Wildlife Viewing Station, TX
• Margaret Dunford, Daniel Stowe Conservancy, NC
• Monika Bowman, District Three Wildlife Phenology Trail, OH
• Nolan Oppelt, Worlds End Pollinator Phenology, MA
• Steve Stevens, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, LA
• Summer Marshall, Pima County Master Naturalist, AZ
• Yvette Goodiel, UF Extension Training, Phenology Trackers of the Treasure Coast, FL

See the full list of Certified Local Phenology Leaders »

If you haven't yet completed the LPP Annual Survey this year, we want to hear about your Program! Your feedback helps us grow and improve Nature's Notebook and provides inspiration for other groups like yours! When you complete the survey, you will be entered into a weekly raffle to win Nature's Notebook merch! The sooner you complete your survey, the more chances you have to win. Please complete the survey by January 31, 2026.

Complete the survey »

We recently revamped our guidance for new Local Phenology Programs. We now offer two resources including a Local Phenology Program Handbook that walks you through the steps to set up your Local Phenology Program in Nature's Notebook. The Handbook is a companion guide to the Program Planning Workbook, a fillable pdf that you can use as a living document to plan and implement your Program. We've also refreshed four intro videos on phenology, USA-NPN, and Nature's Notebook. The videos and slides are available to use and adapt for your needs.

View the new guidance and videos »

Interested in tracking redbuds this spring? Don't miss an upcoming Redbud Phenology Project 101 training hosted by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center on February 11th at 9am PT / 12pm ET. Hear from the researcher behind the Redbud Phenology Project Nature's Notebook campaign, Dr. Santiago-Blay, about why we care about redbuds and how your data will be used.

Register for the training »

For the sixth year in a row, researchers are hosting a competition to predict when cherry trees will flower in cities around the globe! Join the fun!

Contestants will compete to predict when the cherry trees will bloom in Washington, D.C. and other cities across the globe. The competition builds on the popularity of cherry trees to raise awareness of the impact of climate change and get students and citizen scientists excited about using statistics to solve an important phenological problem.

This year, you will not only compete against each other for the top prizes—but against artificial intelligence. All human participants that beat the AI-generated predictions will receive commemorative memorabilia indicating they “beat the bot in the 2026 International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition.”

Learn more »

The Mindful Naturalist offers a great description on how to make a Phenology Wheel to celebrate the seasons that you observed in the last year. Use your Nature's Notebook observations to decide what to include in the different months or seasons.

Learn more »

Have you joined us lately for a Nature's Notebook Nest? These calls are an opportunity to ask questions and chat with USA-NPN staff, fellow observers, and Local Phenology Leaders. The calls occur on the first Monday of the month at 12pm PT / 3pm ET. Mark your calendars, our next Nest is February 2! If you sign up for reminders we'll send you an email a few days before and then the morning of the call with the meeting link.

Sign up for reminders about the Nest »