The NE-RPN is working with the USA-NPN over the next few seasons to develop a set of recommended protocols for consistent monitoring of phenology across the region and the nation. Included here is a test (beta) version of USA-NPN plant phenology protocols for ground observation for the 2008 season. Please realize these protocols are subject to change next year based on feedback from you, our testers. Please give them a try at your home or research site and let us know how they did or did not work for you. Your feedback is very valuable in developing a useful, long-term regional and national phenology monitoring program!

• NPN Core protocols are appropriate for researchers with limited time and citizen scientists with (or willing to acquire) some botanical knowledge. These are now available at the USA-NPN website.
  
• NPN Intensive protocols are appropriate for researchers and citizen scientists with more time and with (or willing to acquire) more advanced botanical knowledge. These include some additional phenophases not included in the NPN Core protocol. They are not yet available on the USA-NPN website, but are included for a limited number of species here.
  
  Follow these instructions to use the NPN Intensive protocols:
  
  
  1. Read the sampling and observation protocols to guide your choice of site and individual plants, and to learn how to make and record observations.
     
     
     • USA-NPN Plant Sampling and Observation Protocols
       
       
  2. Refer to the species protocols for the specific phenophase events to observe for each of your plants. Phenophases can be found in the middle of the document, and note that both core and intensive phenophase events are included here (see 'Determine your level of participation' in the sampling protocol document for further explanation). Other species will be added to this list as protocols are developed for them.
     
     
     • Woody plants
     • Acer negundo (boxelder)
     • Acer pensylvanicum (striped maple)
     • Acer rubrum (red maple)  NPN Calibration species
     • Acer saccharum (sugar maple)
     • Alnus incana (grey alder)
     • Amelanchier canadensis (shadbush)
     • Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)
     • Betula lenta (black birch)
     • Betula papyrifera (paper birch)
     • Carya glabra (pignut hickory)
     • Carya ovata (shagbark hickory)
     • Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
     • Cornus canadensis (bunchberry)
     • Cornus florida (flowering dogwood)
     • Cornus sericea (red-osier dogwood)
     • Corylus americana (American hazelnut)
     • Corylus cornuta (beaked hazelnut)
     • Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
     • Fraxinus americana (white ash)
     • Juniperus virginiana (redcedar)
     • Hamamelis virginiana (witchhazel)
     • Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree)
     • Malus pumila (apple)  NPN Calibration species
     • Pinus strobus (white pine)
     • Prunus virginiana (chokecherry)  NPN Calibration species
     • Quercus alba (white oak)
     • Quercus rubra (red oak)
     • Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)
     • Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)
     • Sambucus nigra (elderberry)
     • Sorbus americana (mountain ash)
     • Tilia americana (basswood)
     • Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry)
     • Viburnum lantanoides (hobblebush)
       
       
     • Herbs
     • Protocols for many northeastern herb species can be found on the USA-NPN plant species list . There are no additional "Intensive" phenophases for the herb species at this time.
       
       
  3. Make your observations and record your data using the field monitoring forms. Use a separate sheet for each individual plant, and make a record for every day you observe your plant, not just on the days a phenophase was reached (see 'What to record' in the sampling protocol document for further explanation).
     
     
     • Deciduous Tree or Shrub Field Monitoring Form
     • Conifer Field Monitoring Form
     • Herb Field Monitoring Form
       
       
  4. Create a user account and enter your data on the USA-NPN website. Given the challenges of developing a large, integrated database suitable for many types of users, it may be a few years before all the features listed in the sampling protocol document are available for online entry. In the meantime, please hold on to any data you have collected but find you cannot enter. This can be entered at a later date. You may use this Excel workbook if you wish to store your observation data electronically. (Currently data for phenophases in the NPN Core protocol can be entered, but not for the additional phenophases in the NPN Intensive protocol.)
     
     
  5. Direct any questions and send your feedback to ellen.denny@yale.edu, so we can improve and expand the program for next year. Even if the protocols worked for you and you have no suggestions, please let us know that.

Thank you for your help as an NE-RPN and USA-NPN phenology protocol tester!