Calendar of the Living

An exceptional new work combining stunning illustrations with captivating natural history has just been published in Brome-Missisquoi. The bilingual Calendrier du vivant, beautifully illustrated by Susan Scott, guides readers through the seasonal rhythms of flora and fauna in southern Quebec. The official name for this kind of work is a “phenology calendar.” Phenology is the study of when things happen in nature.

Captivating Natural History

Despite the word “calendar” in its title, the project’s purpose is not to represent the weeks and days of a single year. Instead, it features monthly timelines that show when natural events occur, for example when migrating birds return, mating seasons begin, and plants and fungi emerge. The calendar is a valuable reference that can be used year after year until climate change necessitates updates.

In addition to the monthly illustrations and timelines, the calendar also includes many fascinating facts. For example: black-capped chickadees cache over 80,000 seeds and insects in October, relocating them later by using neural patterns that function like biological barcodes; the eggs of female black bears are fertilized in June but are only implanted in the mother’s uterus in fall if she has stored sufficient fat to bring the foetuses to term; and turtle gender often depends on incubation temperature—eggs kept between 14-22˚C or above 27˚C produce females, as heat-sensitive enzymes convert testosterone to estrogen.

Stunning Illustrations

This remarkable project is the result of the hard work and creative talents of devoted members of The Mount Pinnacle Land Trust. The Land Trust initiated the idea as an innovative way to raise funds that was coherent with its mission. Alison Tett saw the opportunity to launch a citizen science project—she reviewed ten years of iNaturalist and eBird observations, contacted experts, wrote the texts with the invaluable help of Isabelle Grégoire, and coordinated the overall effort. Susan Scott then transformed the research into an extraordinary 15” X 26” calendar featuring 12 original illustrations. The quality and originality of her work beautifully convey the fragile complexity of our ecosystems.  Ultimately, more than 40 people—biologists, field specialists, editors and dedicated volunteers—contributed their time and expertise to make the calendar a reality.

Funds raised by the sale of the calendar will be used to preserve natural habitats, protecting biodiversity for future generations. Calendrier du vivant will be available at the Petit Salon du Livre at the Sutton Art School on December 5^th-7^th and 13^th-14^th, the Frelighsburg Christmas market on December 13^th-14^th, and at select locations in the Brome-Missisquoi region. 

For more information, please go to montpinacle.ca/calendrier.

Danielle Dansereau