Phenological studies

Pupils study the first sign of spring.
Programme coordinator
Ms Julija Fediajevaite  
Lithuanian Centre of non-formal youth education
Natural Ecological Education Devision Supervisor
Džiaugsmo st. 44, 
LT 11302 Vilnius, Lithuania
tel.  +370 647 25367
   

Programme details

Phenological studies as a common BSP programme started in 1994.


The aim of the studies is to observe when spring appears in the different countries around the Baltic Sea.The observations were started by a little group of pupils from Finland, Sweden and Estonia in 1992. Now it has grown up to a common programme of the Baltic Sea Project. Phenological studies is a funny and practical outdoor activity recommended for primary schools. This programme does not require special equipments or preparation, and motivates students to observe nature during the spring season. The pupils can observe nature alone or with class. The participants have to observe the date they first see: the black bird, the coltsfoot, the skylark, the white wagtail, the blue anemone, the white anemone, the brimstone butterfly, the cuckoo, and white stork and others.


Instruction

 

Firstly, download Observation table and learn more about spring indicators at classes. Fill the dates, after you have observed the spring changes in the nature. You can fill in all squares or choose only some of them. Observe only those objects that you know definitely. If some of the objects are not natural in your observation place, please mark it accordingly in the table. For making the evaluation of the results easier we request you to write down the date of your observation, for example: Blue Anemone on 6th of February (1.) that means 37 day of 2014 (2.).

If you have any proposals for improving programme of phenological studies, please do not hesitate sending your suggestions.

When you have finished your observations, please return the table before the 20 th of June. Send your results to program coordinator by-email:   julija.fediajevaite@lmnsc.lt

 

Connection to UN-G  lobal Sustainable Development Goal no 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg13 

Additional materials

Observation table (doc. 4.12.MB)

Calendar for spring observation

Results of spring observation 2013

This year 16 schools from Lithuania (5), Latvia (8), and  Estonia (3) have participated in Phenological studies programme. The total number of participants was more than 325. Classes, groups of students or nature clubs and individual researches observed 20 species indicating spring periods. There are results of „Spring observation 2013“  in the table. Please, compare data in different countries and draw conclusions with schoolchildren.

 

   The sign of sprin:                  Country:
  Lithuania Latvia Estonia
When did You hear the voices of skylark  ( Alauda arvensis)? 65 74 105
When did You see the first starling ( Sturnus vulgaris)? 63 74 99
When did You see the first hazelnut ( Corylus avellana) being in bloom? 82 92 112
When did You see the first blooms of snowdrop ( Galanthus nivalis)?  74 50 64
When did You see the first blooms of coltsfoot ( Tussilago farfara)? 71 104 106
When did You see the first blooms of blue anemone ( Hepatica nobilis)? 73 101 106
When did You see the first brimstone ( Gonepteryx rhamni)?  103 100 107
When did You see the first black ant? 87 88 105
When did white stork ( Ciconia ciconia) arrive? 62 80 98
When did You see the first wagtail ( Motacilla alba)?  104 99 101
When did You see the first sallow ( Salix caprea) being in bloom?  68 91 109
When did You see the first blooms of wood anemone ( Anemone nemerosa)? 108 105 114
When did You see the first bumble-bee flying? 106 104 106
When did You hear the voices of blackbird ( Turdus merula)?  79 88 75
When did you hear the “frog concert” in the vociferously breeding pond? 107 107 115
When did You see the first house martin ( Delichon urbica)? 101 108 123
When did You see the first cabbage white  ( Pieris brassicae)?  105 105 124
When did You see the first bird-cherry  ( Padus avium) being in bloom? 116 116 135
When did You see the first dog-rose ( Rosa canina) being in bloom? 126 124 154

Voices of Birds

If you do not know how to recognize the song of bird, you can use this useful guideline in the website. Click on the picture and you will hear a song. Try to memorize the song and the name of bird. It will help to recognize each species outdoor during the spring observation. Good luck.

 

Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
(MP3, 1.03MB)
Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
(MP3, 1.96MB)
Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
(MP3, 825KB)
Wagtail (Motacilla alba) Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
(MP3, 956KB)
Blackbird (Turdus merula) Blackbird (Turdus merula)
(MP3, 1.96MB)
Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
(MP3, 1.29MB)
House martin (Delichon urbica) House martin (Delichon urbica)
(MP3, 1.00MB)