Welcome to CONES, the California Online Naturalist Event Series. This series is created by and for California Naturalists and Climate Stewards to connect across the state on topics including natural history, ecology, climate change, and the intersections of pressing human and environmental issues. While we're not checking IDs at the door, we're also not advertising beyond our community of certified California Naturalists and Climate Stewards to ensure we create a space to connect and grow together. A recording of each talk will be available to the public afterward, pending speaker approval.
The Time is Ripe for Phenology
April 4, 12-1 PM
With Theresa Crimmins
Phenology is all about timing—when trees leaf out, flowers bloom, birds migrate, animals bear young and hibernate—and it is everywhere around us. Seasonal events quietly but steadly occur in response to fluctuations in daylength, temperatures, and rainfall patterns, and these events are threaded through our daily lives, shaping our experiences and perceptions. As well, the timing of seasonal activity is being affected by rapidly changing climate conditions, with significant ecological and economic impacts. In this presentation, I’ll share how we are all phenologists in our own way. I will also share how you can participate in documenting the timing of seasonal life cycle events—for the benefits to mental health and also for the good of the environment, as the data gathered can be directly helpful in supporting climate change action.
Theresa Crimmins is an internationally recognized phenology researcher, director of the USA National Phenology Network, and associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona. In her role with the Network, Theresa supports an amazing team of individuals and works enthusiastically to support the growth and use of phenology data and resources curated by the USA-NPN, involvement in Nature’s Notebook, and a broader appreciation of phenology among scientists and non-scientists alike.
Theresa has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in journals including Nature, Geophysical Research Letters, Global Change Biology, and Journal of Ecology. Her writing has appeared in Scientific American, The Hill, and the Arizona Daily Star, and she has had multiple radio television appearances including National Public Radio and The Weather Channel. In 2022, she was recognized by the University of Arizona as a Woman of Impact. Theresa’s TEDx talk, delivered in October 2024 as a part of the University of Arizona’s Desert Genius event, was selected as a TEDx “Editor’s Pick.” Her book, Phenology, is available for pre-order and will drop in early March.