Mirror Alphabet lands on “Q”, and slips off due to finding nothing there.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow.
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So time to do something different.
FAQ — What you wanted to know about the Daily Bucket and were afraid to ask.
1) What is the “Daily Bucket”?
A: The Daily Bucket (DB) is a (hopefully daily) diary sponsored by the Backyard Science group. The initial subject is at the whim of the author, but the general goal of the diary is for the author and commenters to note observations of the world around us that have the potential of, in mass, possibly providing useful information for research. It’s also a very neat way to learn about new subjects and places and acts as a daily forum for people to log observations.
Although the DB centers on phenology, we wander around that topic from time to time but are always focused on the natural world, from below the ground to outside the atmosphere. From worms to meteors (eclipse!). Daily Bucket: Phenology is how we take earth’s pulse — you already know how describes what is phenology, gives examples of what suits the DB, and explains our scheduling system (functional anarchy).
2) How old is the “Daily Bucket”?
A: The Daily Bucket is about as old as the Backyard Science group itself. The first post in the Backyard Science group was on 2/14/2011, and the first bucket was posted by Mark Sumner the next day on 2/15/2011.
3) Who authors the “Daily Bucket”?
A: The diaries are authored by contributors to the Backyard Science group. Additional comments are open to all. The different authors tend to write diaries specific to their home area or interests, but this varies greatly.
4) What is the meaning of the various acronyms used in the diaries and comments?
A: Some of the acronyms are internal to DailyKos while others are well known in a number of circles:
BYS — Backyard Science. The group on DailyKos that sponsors the Daily Bucket.
DB — The Daily Bucket. An abbreviation used for the daily diary/forum post made by the Backyard Science group.
DYC — Damned Yellow Composite. A reference to the Asteraceae family of flowering plants of which there are numerous species with very similar yellow flowers. A related acronym DWC refers to the white comps.
FMA — Frog Mitigation Area. See link below to 6412093’s initial diary on this interesting place.
GBH — Great Blue Heron. An abbreviated name for a large wading bird that is fairly common in North and Central America.
LBJ — Little Brown Job. An informal name associated with small passerine birds which are often quite difficult to distinguish. A sort of bird equivalent to DYC that is mainly applied to sparrows, finches, and warblers.
RTH — Red-tailed Hawk. A large hawk common to North America.
5) How do I become a BYS member? How do I post a bucket?
A: We try to have a forum every day to keep things current — that's the Daily Bucket. If this sounds like a good fit for you, jump right in and start commenting and reporting what's going on in your neighborhood in nature. You don't need to be a member for that. See how you like the community. The rest will follow.
6) I still don’t understand the difference between BYS and the DB.
A: Darn good question and the answer is …. It’s for people who have a nature or science diary but maybe it’s a bit more in depth, more scientific or philosophical. Eg, see posts by Desert Scientist. I (Besame) consider this like a publisher (BYS) publishes a book (DB).
7) There is a local plant (or animal) that I see but cannot identify. Can BYS help?
A: Certainly. A comment to the current Daily Bucket that includes a description and hopefully clear pictures will provide a lot of fodder for the group to work with. Additional information on where (part of the world, habitat type) and when the subject was sighted is also quite helpful. A recent DB offers some advice on what plant traits are needed for identification and how to take photos with your smartphone.
Bucketeers bring professional and personal knowledge of plants, animals, geology, and other features of the natural world. We may not have The Answer but together we can figure it out. The point for us is to enjoy the process of discovery not set ourselves up as experts.
8)
A:
And some links to various Daily Buckets of note —
Frog Mitigation Area — part of 6412093’s excellent series documenting an evolving backyard that takes on a life of its own.
Monarch Butterflies — one of Besame’s buckets regarding this much-loved insect.
Friendly Seal — An early bucket in OceanDiver’s diaries on the encounters with a harbor seal.
Stranded in the Woods… — Backyard Science’s most recommended diary. foresterbob on another adventure in Washington.
Alphabet Series — a weekly series that started in December of 2016 where the objects in the bucket had to have names that started with a particular letter.
Backyard Science Diary List — A link to the diary list. A lot of contributors and interesting diaries not mentioned above who deserve their contributions recognized.
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"Spotlight on Green News & Views" will be posted every Saturday at noon Pacific Time and every Wednesday at 3:30 Pacific Time on the Daily Kos front page. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.
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Now It's Your Turn
What have you noted happening in your area or travels? As usual post your observations as well as their general location in the comments.
(Mirror Alphabet - "P" Entry)
(Mirror Alphabet - "R" Entry)