Phenology Survey

Record seasonal life cycle events and timing.

Overview

Phenology surveys track the timing of seasonal biological events - when plants flower, when birds migrate, when insects emerge. This data is crucial for understanding climate change impacts.

When to Use Phenology

• Flowering and fruiting timing
• Leaf emergence and senescence
• Bird migration patterns
• Insect emergence
• Breeding activity
• Long-term climate monitoring

Applications

• Climate change research
• Agricultural timing
• Conservation planning
• Ecosystem services assessment

Setting Up Phenology Surveys

Basic Configuration

Individual Tagging

For repeat observations:

1. Assign unique ID to individual
2. Mark physically if appropriate
3. Record GPS waypoint
4. Note identifying features
5. Take reference photo

Data Collection

Phenophase Categories

FieldEco supports 17 phenophase categories based on USA National Phenology Network standards:

Leaves:

• Breaking leaf buds
• Leaves
• Increasing leaf size
• Colored leaves
• Falling leaves

Flowers:

• Flowers or flower buds
• Open flowers
• Pollen release

Fruits:

• Fruits
• Ripe fruits
• Recent fruit/seed drop

Conifers:

• Young needles
• Pollen cones
• Emerging needles

Recording Phenophase Status

For each phenophase observed:

Intensity Scales

Quantify the magnitude of phenophases using percentage-based scales:

Flower/Fruit Intensity:

• Less than 5%
• 5-24%
• 25-49%
• 50-74%
• 75-94%
• 95% or more

Canopy Fullness:

• 0% (no leaves)
• 1-24%
• 25-49%
• 50-74%
• 75-94%
• 95-100%

Session-Based Monitoring

FieldEco’s phenology surveys are designed for long-term, repeated observations of the same individuals.

Creating a Monitoring Site

1. Set up a phenology survey location
2. Mark the site as permanent for long-term monitoring
3. Record GPS coordinates of site center
4. Take site photos for relocation
5. Add tagged individuals

Individual Tagging System

Each monitored individual gets a unique tag:

Session Workflow

Each monitoring visit is recorded as a session:

1. Open Site: Navigate to your phenology site
2. Start Session: Record date, time, observer
3. Visit Individuals: Go to each tagged plant/animal
4. Record Phenophases: Document current status
5. Add Photos: Visual documentation of phenophases
6. Complete Session: Save all data

Viewing Historical Data

For each individual, you can:

• View all previous sessions
• Compare phenophase status over time
• See photo timeline
• Track intensity changes
• Export session history

Session Comparison

Compare phenology across:

• Time: Same individual across visits
• Years: Same date range, different years
• Individuals: Same species, same session
• Sites: Different locations, same period

Repeat Observations

For best results:

• Visit same individuals regularly (weekly ideal)
• Maintain consistent timing (morning preferred)
• Use same observers when possible
• Record any disturbance or damage
• Note phenological anomalies

Best Practices

Individual Selection

• Choose healthy, accessible individuals
• Mark clearly but non-destructively
• Select representative specimens
• Document initial condition

Observation Consistency

• Observe same parts of plant
• Use consistent definitions
• Time observations similarly
• Note any changes in protocol

Data Quality

• Train observers thoroughly
• Use photo documentation
• Record weather conditions
• Note any phenological anomalies

Analysis Integration

Phenology data supports:

• Timing analysis - First/peak/last dates
• Duration metrics - Length of phenophases
• Synchrony analysis - Population-level patterns
• Climate correlation - Temperature/date relationships

Related Documentation

• Checklist Survey - General observation
• Photo Documentation - Visual records
• Weather Tool - Climate data