![\"iNaturalist](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/header-1.jpg\")
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In the spring of 2014, the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) acquired a crowdsourcing network called iNaturalist. \u00a0iNaturalist.org is a social network and mobile application for sharing biodiversity observations. \u00a0The idea is\u00a0to connect people to nature through technology. From\u00a0its launch in 2008 until CAS took over, the app had\u00a0been accessed by more than 1.4 million visitors around the world, with a new observation recorded every 45 seconds. When I last checked the count was up to 2,138,868 observations. These observations, which include over 600,000 natural history sightings representing over 50,000 distinct species, are verified and referenced by researchers from around the world.<\/p>\n
The website inaturalist.org<\/a> has\u00a0several\u00a0ways to interact and a lot of information to share. \u00a0When you first go to the website, you will see some background and the option to sign up or just to explore without signing up. \u00a0The explore option gives you access to everything except the ability to post your findings or interact with others. \u00a0After signing up, instead of going to the normal home page, clicking on the iNaturalist logo will take you to your personal home page dashboard. There you have access to your profile and a few other things. \u00a0Now, let’s take a look at the main menu items:<\/p>\n Observations<\/strong> lets you search the website for anything that may interest you. \u00a0Naturally, I checked out morel mushrooms<\/a> and found a great list of observations complete with dates and locations. \u00a0While the system does let you narrow your search geographically, don’t expect to identify your next morel patch right next door. I searched for morel mushrooms in Oregon and found one observation from last April near Corvallis. \u00a0This section also lets you see observations that need identifying information. \u00a0If you are logged in you can also see a list of your personal observations – handy for you birders working on a life list.<\/p>\n Species<\/strong> lets you select from a list of taxonomic groups or search for specific items of\u00a0of interest. \u00a0There is an encyclopedia-style entry about each\u00a0taxonomic group. \u00a0If you search for a genus or species, you will see a series of photos with more information if you put your cursor on an image.<\/p>\n Projects<\/strong> lets you search for projects of interest or click the word ‘Projects’ to see a list of available projects. \u00a0Some examples:<\/p>\n Places<\/strong> offers the opportunity to identify which species are found where. \u00a0You can search for a place, or if you are logged in, you can create a place. \u00a0Each place has a species list created by people that have identified\u00a0organisms at that place. \u00a0I found 2233 species listed for Oregon. \u00a0The list includes a photo with a link to more information including info (with a map showing all observations),\u00a0all photos and details on each individual observation.<\/p>\n Guides<\/strong>\u00a0are lists of\u00a0organisms or observations set up for a particular purpose or project. \u00a0Some of the titles are:<\/p>\n This section defaults to a grid format, but if you select the card format, the page reveals a photo, description and map associated with each organism in the guide. \u00a0Click on the name of the organism brings up a page with more photos and information and links to even more information. \u00a0There is also a button that will generate a printable version of the guide in one of several formats you can choose. \u00a0In combination this makes the guide section a great way to develop useful information about organisms found in a specific area like a park or National Forest.<\/p>\n People<\/strong> offers a photo list of people that have been active on the website. \u00a0You can click on the person’s name to learn more about what they are up to and follow them if you wish. \u00a0You can also search for specific people. \u00a0This, and making serious observations, will get you involved in the social aspects of the website. \u00a0If you want to find me there, search for jhaugen. \u00a0I haven’t done anything beyond setting up a profile and exploring the website, but you are welcome to follow me, if you want to see how that aspect works.<\/p>\n iNaturalist map page as seen in the app.<\/p><\/div>\n The iNaturalist app is available for both iOS and Android phones and tablets. \u00a0I don’t do Android, so I’ll tell you about the iOS version and perhaps it will be about the same. When you first open the app, you get the option to login or skip the process. \u00a0If you choose ‘skip’ you go to the Observations page where you are allowed to make your first observation by clicking on the camera icon<\/strong> and shooting a photo of your find.<\/p>\n A globe icon<\/strong>\u00a0denoting “Explore” opens a map that shows you where you are, if you allow it. \u00a0That’s the folded map icon<\/strong> at the top. The grid icon<\/strong> provides a grid view that in my case was empty at first. \u00a0 The three-line icon<\/strong> at the top opens a list of observations in the area shown on your map. It found none in\u00a0my area so I closed the “Restricted to current map area” option and got a long list of observations – seemingly random. \u00a0When I clicked back on the grid icon<\/strong>, I got a grid view of the same list.<\/p>\n To get away from the randomness, there is a search box, so I searched for morel and was given a list to choose from so I chose “Genus Morchella.” \u00a0The result was a grid view of a lot of morel observations. \u00a0I didn’t see any on the map view so I zoomed out until I saw some observations, indicated by a red marker, well south of my home. \u00a0Tapping the\u00a0marker opened up the observation and I found that some morels were found near Burney, California at 9:40 am on May 30, 2014. \u00a0I zoomed in on the marker and got a pretty good idea where these morels were seen. \u00a0Unfortunately there is no GeoCache-like system that would lead me right to the morel patch.<\/p>\n![\"menu\"](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/menu.jpg\")
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The iNaturalist App<\/h1>\n
![\"iNaturalist](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/app-mapscreen.jpg\")
![\"iNaturalist](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/app-observationdetail.jpg\")