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PHOTOS: Backyard phenologist Fred Buse

Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021.

Fred Buse sits at his kitchen table and observes wildlife in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse sits at his kitchen table and observes wildlife in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse sits at his kitchen table with his book Anticipation. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse observes wildlife in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse makes notes of the day's weather and wildlife that has visited his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Two charts on Fred Buse's computer show monthly mean temperature in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

A chart on Fred Buse's computer shows the declining February House Sparrow population over 32 years. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse walks in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse observes wildlife in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023. (Donna S. Fisher)

A male Hairy Woodpecker visits Fred Buse's yard . Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse feeds the goldfish in his backyard pond. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse leans on a pin oak tree he planted in the early 1980s. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse shows pictures of his South Whitehall backyard as he was landscaping it many years ago. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse observes wildlife in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse observes wildlife in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse sits at his kitchen table and makes notes on his observations of his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

A blue jay visits Fred Buse's backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

This is the view looking out the kitchen window of Fred Buse. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse checks his bird feeders in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse looks over the asparagus growing in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse looks at the holly in his backyard. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse checks on his vegetable garden at the front of his home. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)

Fred Buse, a former marine engineer, peers through an impeller that was part of a working pump and is now a wind chime on his patio. Fred Buse, 87, of South Whitehall Township, has been tracking climate change in his Allentown backyard for decades. Every day he records the high and low temperatures, precipitation, insects, birds and other animals. He has written “Anticipation: The Effects of Climate and Environmental Changes on the Annual Cycle of Life on the Flora and Fauna in a Suburban Backyard,” which was published in 2021. Picture made Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (Donna S. Fisher)