[PCA] Project BudBurst and the National Phenology Network

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

As a follow-up to earlier postings about Project BudBurst and the National 
Phenology Network, the information below explains how the two projects are 
related. 
This information was provided by coordinators involved in each program, 
Dr. Kay Havens (Chicago Botanic Garden) and Prof. Mark Schwartz 
(University of Wisoconsin-Milwaukee). 
-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural 
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

The USA-National Phenology Network (NPN) is being constructed as a 
multi-tier network, and one of these tiers
is citizen science.  For a brief overview see:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geography/npn/meetings/2006_2/npn_progress_update.pdf


Project BudBurst was conceived and developed by the National Phenology 
Network’s 
Informal Science Education Team.  Project Budburst is a Field Campaign to 
specifically 
engage citizen scientists in the data collections effort.  The species and 
protocols used are 
different but complementary to those used in the general USA-NPN 
observation effort.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst/

According to Craig Tufts, "the National Wildlife Federation will be 
supporting and promoting Project BudBurst by including 
4 of the native plants on the BudBurst list in its Wildlife Watch effort. 
This national nature treasure 
hunt will encourage people from throughout the United States to get 
outside of their homes, apartments 
and into their neighborhoods and communities to look for or listen for as 
many of the approximately 
110 species or phenomena they might find over a three week period.

A number of the species listed are those also part of a number of Citizen 
Science programs ongoing 
in the country. When participants examine the Wildlife Watch list, they 
will also have the opportunity 
to look at the program information and protocols and become involved in 
Monarch Waystations, Project 
Budburst, FrogWatch USA, the Bird House Network, the Vanessa Migration 
Project and others."

In essence, Project BudBurst focuses on getting people involved in 
observing what's going on around them phenologically.

USA-National Phenology Network (NPN):

According to Prof. Schwartz, the NON project, which is still evolving, 
will incorporate aspects of 
two related programs - an indicator program and the native plant program. 
There is a lot that we do not know 
about the effects of environmental factors on native species and the 
concomitant relationships with their pollinators 
and other animals (including humans) that depend upon each other. Overall, 
this project will use phenological 
information to better understand issues such as climate change and how 
hydrological issues (such as an early spring) 
might affect forest fires.
 
More information on these programs and on how citizens can register and 
submit data to the general USA-NPN
data collection efforts, is available on the following web pages:

USA-NPN main page
http://www.npn.uwm.edu

Registration page:
http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geography/npn/registration.html

Lilac area of the USA-NPN web site (including links to event
descriptions and for submitting data)
 http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geography/npn/shrubs.html 

Map with suggested native plants for each area and links to event
descriptions and for submitting data
 http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Geography/npn/map.html 

FOR MORE INFORMATION...

...on Project Budburst
University Corporation for Atmospheric Reserach (UCAR) at: <
budburstinfo at ucar.edu>

...on NPN:
Professor Mark D. Schwartz
Department of Geography
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
P.O. Box 413
Milwaukee, WI 53201
E-mail: mds at uwm.edu
 


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