Theresa Crimmins
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theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins
@theresacrimmins.bsky.social
1.7K followers 1.2K following 130 posts

Director, USA National #Phenology Network | Assoc Prof UArizona |
| mom | #citizenscience | plant ecologist
Follow USA-NPN happenings at @usa-npn.bsky.social

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Environmental science 56%
Geography 14%
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Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Apr 28
I invite you to track seasonal changes in plants and animals -- #phenology -- in your yard, to support science, and more importantly, because it is good FOR YOU.

Excited to share my #TEDxUofA talk from last October: youtu.be/3l0fMlv2-5Q
Observing the Outer World to Change Our Inner One | Theresa Crimmins | TEDxUofA
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · 2d
Predict when cherry trees will flower at locations around the globe and win prizes! Both remote and in-person participation opportunities this year! #phenology #ecologicalforecasting #statistics #statusofspring
competition.statistics.gmu.edu
2026 Prediction Competition - International Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition
When will the cherry trees bloom in 2026? We invite contestants to submit their predictions for Washington, D.C. (USA), Kyoto (Japan), Liestal-Weideli (Switzerland), Vancouver, BC (Canada) and New Yor...
competition.statistics.gmu.edu

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

usa-npn.bsky.social
USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · 9d
To watch the progression of spring across the country, check out our spring forecast maps - updated daily!
usanpn.org/data/maps/sp...
Status of Spring | USA National Phenology Network
usanpn.org

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

usa-npn.bsky.social
USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · 9d
According to predictions from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, Phil may be right for parts of the Northern Great Plains - more cool temperatures are on the way! Much of the SW and SE should see above-avg temps in coming weeks and the NW, MW, and NE should see avg temps.

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

usa-npn.bsky.social
USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · 9d
Our maps of heat accumulation provide a more scientific look at how much heat has accumulated so far this year. Our maps show that heat accumulation is ahead of schedule in much of the west, on time in the Midwest and upper Northeast, and behind schedule in the East.

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

usa-npn.bsky.social
USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · 9d
Punxsutawney Phil has made his annual prediction of what the next six weeks of weather will bring. According to Phil, more winter is on the way! But what does the science say? #GroundhogDay

Keep track of Spring's arrival:
usanpn.org/data/maps/sp...
Groundhog day graphic showing a map of the US with accumulated temperature accumulation, icons denoting Nature's Notebook observations of leaf out and flowering, and forecasts of weather from NOAA.

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · 15d
Cedar fever got you feeling crummy? @usa-npn.bsky.social is collecting of Ashe's juniper pollen development and release through the NASA-funded PollenCAST project! Your observations of when junipers release pollen in TX will support real-time forecasts of airborne pollen usanpn.org/nn/campaigns...
PollenCAST project logo Male Ashe's juniper (Juniperus ashei) tree by Mike Murphy via iNaturalist (CC-BY-NC).

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · 21d
And we're off! Spring has started to arrive in the most southern states, and in parts of TX, LA, and MS, it's >two weeks earlier than "normal" (the last 3 full decades).

I feel like a broken record, we say this nearly every spring...
#phenology @usa-npn.bsky.social
usanpn.org/data/maps/sp...
map showing early start to conditions associated with the start of biological activity in the spring in the Lower 48 states of the US

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · 23d
Awesome @usa-npn.bsky.social partners Toby Ault and Carlos Carillo at @cornelluniversity.bsky.social released their long-lead forecast for spring; they are predicting a pretty early start to springtime activity in much of the U.S.
six-ecrl-24.s3.amazonaws.com/index.html #phenology
map of predicted anomaly in start of spring

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · 25d
Spring wildflowers are blooming earlier than in the 1800s... and it's the ones that flower earliest in the season that are showing the greatest shifts in their activity. Great work by Ryan Utz, @jmheberling.bsky.social, and crew:

www.alleghenyfront.org/early-spring... #phenology
Early spring wildflowers are blooming even earlier thanks to climate change
Study authors used botanical records from over 100 years to explore how native wildflower bloom dates in Pennsylvania have changed due to climate change.
www.alleghenyfront.org

Reposted by Daijiang Li

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jan 12
Calling #NaturesNotebook participants! We have an opportunity for 18 observers to be interviewed by undergraduate students at UCLA this spring. The observer profiles will be featured on the @usa-npn.bsky.social website and in future newsletters.

Interested? docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Sign up to be interviewed by science writing students this spring
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 Sc...
docs.google.com

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

mitpress.bsky.social
MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · Jan 12
Writing for NYT, Margaret Roach looks at changing landscapes & weather patterns with new eyes, referring to "Phenology" author Theresa Crimmins' advice to "weave a practice of observing seasonal cycles of plants and animals into your life to contribute to science as well as soothe your soul":
New Rules for the New Year
Perhaps the best way to confront the swiftly changing landscape is to swallow hard, and then move forward with a fresh approach.
www.nytimes.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jan 1
Amen!
New Rules for the New Year www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/r...
#phenology #climatechange #sustainability #keepingittogether
New Rules for the New Year
www.nytimes.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Dec 18
December is a time when ‘… of the Year’ pieces appear in all kinds of publications. Nature Plants joined the trend, highlighting the importance of ground-based observations, like the @usa-npn.bsky.social 's plant and animal #phenology reports, in ground-truthing
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
… of the Year - Nature Plants
December is a time when ‘… of the Year’ pieces appear in all kinds of publications. For this year only, Nature Plants is joining the trend.
www.nature.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Dec 1
Definitely don't miss the virtual gathering of folks involved in tracking #phenology in the U.S. in Jan - it's going to be great!
usa-npn.bsky.social USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · Dec 1
⏰One week left to sign up to share about your Program at the 2026 LPL Virtual Conference!
View the full schedule, learn how you can participate, and register today. usanpn.org/community/Lo...
📷Lili Gama

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

usa-npn.bsky.social
USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · Dec 1
⏰One week left to sign up to share about your Program at the 2026 LPL Virtual Conference!
View the full schedule, learn how you can participate, and register today. usanpn.org/community/Lo...
📷Lili Gama

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Nov 3
goodmenproject.com/featured-con...
Mt Auburn is a really special place, and their volunteers that track #phenology and other phenomena are really special people!
Cemeteries: How the Dead Protect the Wild
From wildly popular to nearly forgotten, some of our cemeteries play an unexpected role in fostering biodiversity — and may provide climate solutions, too.
goodmenproject.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Oct 13
Lovely piece Andrew!

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Sep 24
www.nbcnews.com/science/clim... #phenology
Bright, brief and early: New England's fall foliage may not last long
A season that draws millions of tourists and billions of dollars to the Northeast may be briefer and less predictable this year as climate change reshapes the iconic fall landscape.
www.nbcnews.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Sep 22
Amazing interview with Amanda Wanlass, Executive Director of Indiana #Phenology! www.wishtv.com/beo-show/loc...
Local Group Helps Track Seasonal Changes in Plants and Animals
The team at Indiana Phenology travels the state, helping small businesses, teachers, and community groups learn how to track important seasonal changes in the environment.
www.wishtv.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Sep 22
I had such a great time at the Colorado Native Plant Society meeting this past weekend! Made some great friends and enjoyed seeing some glimpses of fall color 🍂#phenology
honey locust with leaves starting to change color

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

usa-npn.bsky.social
USA National Phenology Network @usa-npn.bsky.social · Sep 15
Applications now open for our Local Phenology Leader Certification Course, an interactive, online 10-week course on planning and implementing a long-term phenological monitoring program for your organization or community. Course runs Sep 29-Dec 5. Apply by Sep 21. www.usanpn.org/nn/LPLCertif...
A badge with people, a bird, leaves, and a flower with a banner that reads Nature's Notebook Certified Local Phenology Leader.

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Aug 14
The 2024 #BulletinAMS State of the Climate Assessment is out today. @usa-npn.bsky.social contributed data & info about how #phenology is changing in the U.S. The timing of plant and animal activity such as leaf-out is a strong indicator of species and ecosystem response to changing conditions.
2024 “first leaf” date anomalies across the United States relative to (a) 2023 and (c) the 2011–20 baseline, estimated using the USA National Phenological Network (USA NPN) extended Spring Index (SI-x) model ( Day of year of spring (green shades) and autumn (orange and yellow) vegetation phenology indicators for (a),(b) Harvard Forest, Massachusetts, derived from PhenoCam (PC), ground observations (GO) of red oak (Quercus rubra), and the USA National Phenology Network (USA NPN) regional-scale means of red oak observations (calculated across the northeastern states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, with ±1 std. error shaded)

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Aug 6
That's awesome! Thanks, Brian!

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jul 18
Hooray @lpzoo.org! Congrats on 5 years of #phenology observations on native hibiscus!
www.lpzoo.org/phenology-an...
Phenology and Flowers: Researching the Growing Cycles of Plants | Lincoln Park Zoo
An project studying the growing cycles of plants has been going on at Lincoln Park Zoo for five years—and is poised to expand for the next five.
www.lpzoo.org

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jul 13
They sure are!

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jul 9
Thank you so much, Michelle Sutton, for the wonderful review of my book, _#Phenology_, in City Trees Magazine! read.dmtmag.com/i/1537178-ju...?
City Trees - July/August 2025
City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
read.dmtmag.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jun 20
Now, as always, getting outside is good for you and your mood. Thankful for the opportunity to write for Arizona Daily Sun. #phenology
azdailysun.com/opinion/colu...
Spotlight on Climate: Moments in nature can still soothe your climate-weary soul
And just like that, spring is behind us. The first day of summer will be here this weekend. But around the state, we are lacking some of the classic harbingers
azdailysun.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jun 14
@jeremyclark.bsky.social helped the @usa-npn.bsky.social explore options for generating commercial revenue.

It's tough for programs exist to serve the public. I hope our experience can help other programs suddenly struggling with $ loss.
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

theresacrimmins.bsky.social
Theresa Crimmins @theresacrimmins.bsky.social · Jun 12
It's not uncommon for spring to start out early and then slow down, or vice-versa... see where either of those sequences of events occurred in the L48 states this past spring:

www.climate.gov/news-feature...

#phenology @usa-npn.bsky.social @climate.noaa.gov
First blooms of the 2025 spring season were earlier than average across most of the United States
According to a long-term index of flower timing, most U.S. areas saw flowers emerge earlier than average, except for a few, mostly coastal areas.
www.climate.gov

Reposted by Theresa M. Crimmins

nhi-prescott.bsky.social
Natural History Institute @nhi-prescott.bsky.social · May 16
Join us for a talk by Theresa Crimmins on how we can all participate in documenting the timing of seasonal life cycle events—with benefits including mental health and supporting climate change action!
@theresacrimmins.bsky.social
@usa-npn.bsky.social