Treasure Hunt
Every exploration has its own unique path to discovery.
- Purpose: Agriculture, Art, Communication, Community, Conservation, Education, History, Inspiration, Pastime, Science.
- Experience: A broader view of nature and understanding Who, What, Why, When, Where, How, How Much. Dedicated with big picture visualization understanding and operates extravagant detail while utilizing tools. Depth is clear. There are many experts on INaturalist that may help.
- Knowledge: Characteristics of a particular species, and what to look for. Static range observation gold mine. Overlooked in the overwhelming data. Many cases randomly appear and given limited experience though broad knowledge, focus may lag.
- Tools: iNaturalist map provides proximity of where species might be located. An observation can range from a permanent resident down to a rare appearance. Seasonality, range, migration, prey, predators, and host plants are a few items to consider.
- Quantity: Odds can increase with more observations. If it can be found, someone is bound to find it. "Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." From an undetermined number observations an "AHA" or pattern model might appear.
Quality: Clear photos depicting necessary anatomical features will improve identification accuracy.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/48816- Habitat: Well developed micro and macro ecosystems, with certain rural type areas producing the most native species sightings. Two spaced observation days in the same area will undoubtedly look like a Venn diagram with regards to the observed species list.
- Preparation: Physically, mentally, intelectually, materially, group or individual coordination, safety, and case itinerary. The Biggest Mistakes Hikers Make When They Get Lost on a Trail (Video)
- Strategies: Once in a rare opportunity. You never know what a specific aim and/or general find it search might uncover. There may be a few seconds timeframe to capture an observation, a net or container for insects might work in certain situations. During mornings/evenings and cooler seasons, insects will be more sluggish than in summer day weather. Though fast moving, they like to rest on leaves, stems, or eat/collect flower nectar/pollen once in a while. This is the golden opportunity. If there appears to be no insects around a nectar flower area, insects move from area to area, setup a temporary outpost. Chances missed. Try to get a quick snapshot without bothering with quality. Move the bushes and see if a moth flies out, it will travel a short distance and find another resting location. An ideal site would be a park with a lawn and wall with plants. A moth on a lawn observation is much easier than one that flies into a dense thicket. This is only a start. Persistence, when it seems there is nothing around, continue to search within limits, for a favorable micro-environment may be near. Somewhat inexplicably, there might be one particular plant playing host to a particular species, whereas others around it may be void. While constantly looking for insects 1-2mm in size, larger ones might appear. A panoramic view can spot general moving or distinct objects. Random photos of plants, soil, and objects may later reveal life upon inspection of the observation. For night creatures, an ultraviolet black light will attract some insects, mainly moths, with warmer weather being best. Large scale samplers: vacuum, net, drift fence, and traps (bait, ball, bucket, malaise, Ovitrap pan, pheromone, pitfall, sticky paper, sugar, smoke ...) [various literature]. Terrestrial molluscs usually appear at non-windy night or early morning, when conditions are such that moisture loss is at a minimum. Make a slug hotel by watering under a board on the ground, a researcher might observe moisture movement. Tide pool areas with flat rocky kelp/algae/coral shores provide habitat for a wide variety of species. Low tide appears daily with a changing time each day according to the moon’s position, though lowest low might appear before sunrise.. Be very careful of slippery rocks. Daily observations may yield different species because of variable cyclic appearance by chance.
- Patience: Whether following a trail or observing from a lookout post, enjoy nature.
