Spring Training

Attribution © Colin Barrows
some rights reserved - Noncommercial copyright
Muller's Oak (Quercus cornelius-mulleri)

Imagine being in a lockout and delaying Spring Training, couldn’t be us! Today would have marked the first day of Spring Training for the MLB, so this week we are also gearing up to do a Spring Training of our own!

To recap what has happened early this year, our Fire Followers 2021 Project just recently launched! We are currently at ~2,500 observations! Our top 5 observers have all made over 100 observations so far! Thanks for your contributions! @mmchale (256), @cwbarrows (181), @madfox (141) @eogren (123), @dgrimmphd (109). Remember, reaching 250 observations and 500 observations will get some Fire Followers merch!
More information on our website

Additionally, our Fire Followers 2020 Project is close to 100k and I can’t wait to see us reach that point! Feel free to check it out and join here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-fire-followers-2020

It’s been a short winter, and this weekend is time for our Spring Training to commence! Let’s get out there and stretch so we’re field-ready!

1) Fire Followers Cactus League:

DATES:
Friday, February 18 - Sunday, February 27

Details:
This is Part 1 of our first observation challenge. Each plant family below will be a team participating in this challenge! You will have from this Friday-Sunday, February 27 to make as many observations as possible. At the end, the top 3 observers from the top 3 teams will be rewarded with some Fire Followers merch! Any observation added to either the 2020 or 2021 project will count.

Top observer from the top team: Fire Followers Shirt
Top observer from the 2nd and 3rd place teams: Fire Followers Pin and Sticker

Teams
Apiaceae
Violaceae
Boraginaceae
Montiaceae
Orobanchaceae
Delphinium
Iridaceae
Primulaceae
Asparagaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Ranunculus
Quercus
Papaveraceae
Melanthiaceae
Lupinus

2) Fire Followers Grapefruit League:
DATES: Friday, March 4 - Sunday, March 13
Teams will be announced once the first challenge is completed

3) The Real Spring [Plant Identification] Training:
Getting out in the field is just one part of Spring Training! Join our “coaching staff” for plant identification drills to sharpen your skills. Mark your calendars and keep these dates in mind: March 17 and March 31st!
These ID webinars will be led by experts in the community where they will show you the "tips and tricks” as well as what is not included in the key to look for in specific plant groups.

More information is coming very soon!

4) Upcoming Events to Prepare For:

City Nature Challenge 2022
DATES| April 29 -May 2

The 2022 City Nature Challenge organized by the California Academy of Sciences is right around the corner! The City Nature Challenge is a world-wide bioblitz with the goal of collecting as many iNaturalist observations as possible in one weekend in participating cities and surrounding areas! This is a fun and COVID-safe way to explore, learn about nature, and collect important data used by researchers and land managers. You can make observations of any species you encounter!
Be sure to join your city and keep an eye out for events near you.
More information is coming soon!

Save Mount Diablo’s BioBlitz
Dates: April 16 - April 30
Focus: SCU Lightning Complex Footprint: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-fire-followers-2020-scu-lightning-complex

Our partners at Save Mount Diablo will be holding Bioblitz/iNaturalist training webinars before the event!
More information is coming soon!

5) Before you go:
If this is your first time going to a burn site, be sure to check out information on our site: https://www.cnps.org/fire-followers/know-before-you-go

Also, check out our burn area page to find locations accessible near you! Be sure to check any closure status first. Our website contains some known accessible burn areas but always double check to be safe.

Feel free to check out this map on Google MyMaps which contains the 2020 and 2021 burn areas! You can always copy the map and insert any .gpx files of known trails to check if they're within the burn area. Feel free to contact me and I can help to the best of my ability as well.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=15LJFqP1s8lsn11uXkWiNT4A_JZdmQwPY&usp=sharing

This map will soon be available on our Burn Area section of the website

Posted on Φεβρουάριος 17, 2022 0201 ΠΜ by jaesparza11