Regular Observations
The most valuable phenology information for scientists is when people make regular observations at specified sites on the same plants or group of plants from year to year. This type of observation is the backbone of data that helps us better understand change and this is what Project BudBurst is all about.
Project BudBurst is designed for individuals or groups to make regular observations of a plant(s) in their local area. As a participant, you might observe a plant that is in your backyard, neighborhood, school, workplace, or you may want to observe a plant that you find on your daily walk. Resources about many suggested plants are available on the Plant Resources pages of the website, but you are not limited to these species. If you choose to observe a species not on our list, we recommend downloading our Generic Field Journal and use it to monitor your species of interest. If you do not wish to make regular observations of a plant, you can make Single Reports of plants on the Project BudBurst Master Plant List instead. Learn more about how to do so under our Single Reports section of the Get Started tab.
What does ‘regular observation’ mean?
When your plant is active, ideally you would make observations about 3 times a week. By doing so, you will be able to recognize when your plant is getting close to reaching one of the phenological stages such as first leaf, full leaf, or first flower.
Let’s walk through the steps so you can get started making observations.
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Register (if you don't already have a PBB account). By registering with Project BudBurst, you will have access to your very own My BudBurst space where you can describe one or more sites and the plant(s) that you observe at each site. By doing so, all your data will be saved, eliminating the need to re-enter site descriptions every time you report |
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Select a plant(s). The key to selecting a plant is to find one that will be convenient for you to observe on a regular basis. In order to help you find a plant(s), we have several resources you can use. |
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Download field journal. We’ve created an easy-to-use Field Journal that you can print and use to record information about your plant. You can also download customized Field Journals for Project BudBurst plants via our Plant Resources page. That way you won’t forget anything! |
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Describe the environment. Use the Project BudBurst Geocoder or a GPS unit to determine the latitude and longitude for your plant. Also, note other features about your site using the checklist on your Field Journal. Describe your site in terms of proximity to buildings, presence of asphalt surfaces, slope, sunlight, and irrigation. When you register a site, for example, your yard, you will only have to enter this information once for that site. You can monitor multiple plants under at the same site, as long as those plants are within a 1/2 mile of each other and you can monitor multiple different sites. |
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Make observations of the phenophases. This is probably the trickiest part of Project BudBurst and the most important. It is worth spending some time to learn about the phenophases of your plant to make certain you are collecting useful data. The plant groups all have slightly different phenophases for you to observe. You can find phenophase information in the Plant Resources section of the site on each of the plant group pages (ie. Wildflowers and Herbs, Conifers, etc.) |
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Share your observations. This final step is very important. Your Project BudBurst investigation is not complete until you have entered your data to share your plant’s story with others. This final step only takes a few minutes on our web site! |
Now that you have the overview, it is time to take your first step and register! We have lots of resources to help you along the way. If you have any questions, please contact the Project BudBurst team at budburstinfo@neoninc.org.