2016: The year I made the switch to iNaturalist

As some of you may know I am a Texas Master Naturalist as of this year. In that short amount of time I have contributed 190 observations. It has been a real neat experience and this site I have to say has worked like a charm in getting quicker information from others as well getting feedback about spottings I have posted. I have really learned to love this site and I have to add I am an iNat addict. It is one of my favorite apps and probably the smartest thing I have ever downloaded. I have the app and love it but I love the website even more. I have been using several cameras to bring you all my observations from all over. I know I seem to have my usual and regular haunts. Lake Arlington, Molly Hollar Wildscape, Southwest Nature Preserve, Fort Worth Nature Center, Elmer W. Oliver, Gateway Park on Arbrook, and a few other places have been my areas of choice for observation. Weather it's birding, mammal watching, looking for interesting insects, or just looking at some fungus; there is never a dull moment in my adventures. I am always out and about after school or when ever I am volunteering or when I am just having some fun with the family. I post almost daily but I have hit a slow time in the posting the holidays have kind of been a hold up in the works. I just want to say I will be using this app more frequently. It has been very interesting to get incites on my observations from some of this sites heavy hitters. Sambiology who I know from going to the Crosstimebrs Master Naturalist meetings has said he really likes the feedback I have been getting and the stuff I posted. I remember fondly that I spotted a Red spotted Antmimic that was never before seen at the Fort Worth Nature Center. I have had some stuff more off a buzz than others. I just take it as it comes and I love all the feedback I get. I know I maybe all into the moment and I tell things as it happened and how it made me feel to see a particular animal. That is just my way. I will describe the animal, tell you about it's features, how it made me feel, and how the encounter happened. It seems to my friend Eangler that with my posts he finds them entertaining. That is not really my main intention but I am glad he finds joy in my posts and I am happy and humbled by both him and Sambiology. I may not have a lot of followers on this site but I think that the ones who are following me really love my stuff as much as I love theirs. I am still trying to learn the ropes of this site and I am always finding new ways to do my posts and how too get the best data. I enjoy doing citizen science and think that this is a very circuital time in our history that we need to get more people involved in citizen science because we do live in a time of uncertainty and we risk losing wildlife more at this time as it seems. Every single bit of data is vital to documenting the ecology and biodiversity of all areas that are still wild. We need to continue to look for all species that are both known to science and the ones that are just being uncovered. I think that the more we find the more we do learn and want to protect. It seems to me that sites like these are the best things that have come. It is like a social media science site for nature fanatics who care for animals and want to look for them and give their data on things they find. I for one use this site religiously and think it is a nifty tool. I am glad I made the switch; that last site that I will not mention is not as fast as this one and is more child based. This one is more for everybody and is good for all and it is more complex for getting better data. I really love this site and will continue to contribute to it and hope to continue to find things I have never thought even existed. It gets me outside and in nature and is for a good cause. I love making posts and looking for animals and interesting plants. I really love doing this and have made it my start to getting the foundation I need to get the feel of the field I want to get in which is a Generalist PH.D certified Naturalist with a special interest for Bird and Insects and Arachnids. I love how with this site I can do just that I can look for the things I am interested in but on the side look for things I don't have a strong bead on so that way I can learn the stuff I am not too familiar and get a stronger hold on what those things are. I am always finding something new and I enjoy getting out at My school or local park and getting data on whatever I find that is natural. I really love this site and I recommend this too anyone who wants to get out and look at wildlife. It is very fun to make observations and it is cool to read people's feedback and to get comments. I also love the BioBlitzes and the iNaturalist contests. There is one coming up for the DFW area that I am going to contribute to in April. I can wait for that it is going to be a good time for birds and insects and wildflowers. I will be collecting data on everything I find no matter if it is a plant, mammal, plant, insect, reptile, amphibian, fungus, I will document it. It is going to be very interesting. I just love this site and I am glad that I made the switch. I have so many good things to say about this site and think it is a great site to use so you can become closer to nature and gain the mind of a naturalist and a nature scientist. Anyone who contributes to this site is a scientist and it is super cool to be one. I love doing this and hope that many more people sign up.

Publicado el diciembre 29, 2016 05:49 MAÑANA por galactic_bug_man galactic_bug_man

Comentarios

Hey Zach,

LOVE this journal entry. I'm sure that the creators and curators of iNat would enjoy seeing it as well: @kueda @loarie @tiwane

And as I explored some of your observations, I see really magnificent stuff. So, I'm looking here:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&user_id=galacticbirder

Specifically, these species:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&user_id=galacticbirder&view=species

And look at the folks that have ID'ed your stuff:
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=any&subview=grid&user_id=galacticbirder&view=identifiers
Among them are botanists, entomologists, arachnologists, dragonfly specialists, birders (professional and amateur), fly experts, beetle experts, all sorts of biologists and naturalists. All of these folks are looking at what you post and verifying/identifying your stuff. That's a big deal. :)

And that city-wide competition, I'll be needing you to post big time! Anything and everything!!! :-D

Glad to know you, Zach. :)

Publicado por sambiology hace alrededor de 7 años

Very cool Zach - I love the Red Spotted Ant Mimic obs! http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4203680

Publicado por loarie hace alrededor de 7 años

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