Το Ημερολόγιο του California Fire Followers 2021

In 2020, California experienced the largest fire season in recorded history. 2021 also proved to be another disastrous year. Amid an ongoing drought and record heat waves, CA experienced an unusually early start to fire season. According to CALFIRE, in January alone, close to 300 fires burned. Although this wildfire season did not reach the level it did in 2020, it is becoming apparent that wildfires are becoming more intense and more difficult to deal with. With that said, fire is as much a natural part of California as earthquakes, and can be as destructive: buildings leveled, lives lost, places dramatically changed. But fire is also a necessary part of nature, often awakening sleeping seeds and providing a light blanket of ash to nurture fresh growth. Plants dependent on fire are an important part of California's natural diversity, we call “pyrodiversity.”

The Fire Followers project seeks to record the response of plants in areas burned in the 2020 and 2021 fire season. With your help, we can compare plants seen before and after fires, increase understanding of pyrodiversity, and provide crucial information on species of concern to aid in recovery and conservation efforts.This project will increase our understanding of the reciprocal relationship between plants and fire. In addition to the scientific value that Fire Followers offers as a community science project, it empowers individuals of all backgrounds, especially those historically excluded from conservation and outdoor spaces, to engage with the community, science and their local environments.

Check out our website https://www.cnps.org/fire-followers for more about the project and other ways to get involved. Be sure to join and trust our Fire Followers 2021 project!
Feel free to also join or 2020 project here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/california-fire-followers-2020

About our Project

As I am writing this, we have nearly 2,500 observations of ~900 species! You’re tagged in this post because you are among the top observers so far and we hope that you are willing to take part in documenting and observing the incredible pyrodiversity in California. If you live near a burned area that is safely accessible to the public, go and venture out on your own or follow our website here to find out about more ways to get involved. Also, feel free to share this project with your networks and community! All of your observations made within our burned area boundaries throughout California will be aggregated in our California Fire Followers Project here on iNaturalist.

@mmchale @cwbarrows @madfox @eogren @dgrimmphd @euproserpinus @brennanpopovic @efmer @susanmf @dalemeister @salviadorrii @trickman @georgewilliams1 @rogue_biologist @lagoondon @naturephotosuze @coreyk @aquajen @jmstone @jaesparza11 @lalagregg @tjhastings @antrozousamelia @justin426 @lazyhippie @jprado @dylansramosissima @alice_abela @lcsaki @goflowers @maitrimaven @eschniter @trinitytogether @ergunnison @karli_lawrence @empid @tombombadil @zorker @rebeccatwiss @oliviajenkins16 @conormcmahon @xranger2013 @justin2 @eliaselias @quinn_street @looking4salvia @victoriayef @francesfo @brothanature @justingarwood

Can’t wait to see all your contributions!

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