A group of amateur scientists are learning about rockweed phenology along the coast in Brunswick through workshops hosted by University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Sea Grant. These workshops are part of the Signs of the Seasons citizen science project, aimed at recruiting volunteers to identify and record changes in indicator species like rockweed, milkweed, loons, butterflies, and lilacs that are important for understanding Maine’s changing climate.
The first training session will take place on Thursday, April 4, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Stimpson’s Point in Brunswick. Additional workshops will be held in Falmouth, Wells, Augusta, Camden, and Boothbay throughout April and May. A full schedule of workshops can be found at extension.umaine.edu/signs-of-the-seasons. For those unable to attend in person, a three-part webinar series is also available.
Participants in the workshops will learn how to make scientific observations of phenology and practice making observations. They will gain the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own observation site. The data collected by volunteers will help build a detailed record of the region’s seasonal changes, which is useful for collaborating scientists and resource managers.
The workshops are free of charge but registration on the program website is required. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Keri Kaczor at keri
