It’s that time of year, the launch of the 2018 phenology calendar! An annual tradition over a decade old, this popular item continues to be one of the most popular offerings in our bookstore. Want to know when to expect the first robin each spring? Or when you might catch the first firefly of the summer? The calendar shares average observation dates for many natural phenomena like these. Based on the Leopold family data as well as that of other natural resource professionals around the state, the calendar is rooted in the Leopold family’s passion for the study of phenology.
So what is phenology? It is the study of annual events in nature that are influenced by seasonal changes. The first bloom of a pasque flower, the return of the sandhill cranes, and the first songs of the spring peepers are a few of the many thousands of cycles (phenological events) happening all around us, every year. For scientists, shifts in the cycles over time reveals changes in our regional and global climate. For Aldo Leopold, these events defined anticipation in his intimate relationship with nature.
2018 Wisconsin Wildlife Phenology Calendar
$15 each / price includes shipping
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Leopold, regarded by many as the father of wildlife ecology, monitored and recorded phenological events in Sauk County, Wisconsin, beginning in 1935. Until his death in 1948, the Leopold family recorded events around their famous “Shack,” the place that inspired his classic book, A Sand County Almanac. In 1976, his daughter, Nina Leopold Bradley, returned to the area with her husband, Charlie, and continued the tradition. Following her passing in May 2011, her data set has been continued by the Aldo Leopold Foundation.
Sidebars in the calendar feature Leopold quotes from the corresponding month’s essay in A Sand County Almanac. Curated by Aldo Leopold Foundation Senior Fellow Stan Temple, Leopold’s eloquent writings remind us of the wonder we find in nature, and the calendar offers reminders nearly every day of the year for what you might find.
Wildlife Greeting Card Set
ON SALE (Reg. $18 each)
$10 each / price includes shipping
New this year, is a matching set of 13 blank greeting cards. The 5 by 7 inch cards feature photos from the 2018 calendar. The cards are another opportunity to enjoy the stunning photos that adorn the calendar, and better yet, the perfect way to share a love for nature with friends and family.
Bundle and Save $5
$28 for 1 Calendar & 1 Card Set / price includes shipping
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Purchases in the gift store or online help support a land ethic. Browse the selection of gifts perfect for the nature lovers on your list.
Missed the calendar? Join our email list to receive notifications about the Wisconsin Phenology Calendar, including an email prior to its release each year.