It’s been almost 12 months since I started using iNaturalist and to date have 113 observations and 98 species. I’d like to share a few helpful tips I’ve picked up along the way. First though, here’s a quick refresher on iNaturalist.
iNaturalist is a platform where nature enthusiasts, scientists and people from all walks of life work together to document biodiversity. By uploading observations of plants, animals and other organisms, users contribute to a global database that supports research, conservation and education. More than a tool, iNaturalist is a thriving community that fosters curiosity and a deeper connection with the natural world.
The most common way to get started is to download the free, ad-free app to your smartphone and create an account. The sign-up process is simple. Also, it’s good to know that anyone can search the database through the website without downloading the app, signing up or logging in.
Since using iNaturalist, my preference is to only upload observations of wild organisms. You can also photograph garden plants, zoo animals and other non-wild organisms, but these observations should be marked as captive or cultivated. From time to time, I photograph cultivated plants and when I do, I use iNaturalist’s AI to identify the plant, but I don’t save the observation.
For each observation, photograph several useful details, such as:
• the whole organism;
• leaves, flowers or other distinctive features;
• markings; and
• the surrounding habitat.
You can add multiple photos to a single observation. Providing several clear views makes an accurate identification more likely. This tip I think is important when trying to identify your organism, it also helps the iNaturalist community confirm or refine the identification.
It’s also a good idea to start with easy to photograph subjects like plants before moving on to fast-moving animals. It can be quite frustrating trying to photograph an insect that won’t stop moving!
On occasions I use my camera and then upload photos to iNaturalist via my smartphone. When doing this make sure you manually enter in your location.
I hope these tips encourage you to give iNaturalist a try. If you enjoy exploring nature and taking photos, iNaturalist is a rewarding way to discover, document and share with fellow naturalists.
Finally, there is a wide range of online resources available to help you become familiar with iNaturalist.
Keron Hilton