iNaturalist + Seek -> BioBlitz/Biodiversity -> Conservationists -> Conservation Organizations -> Citizen Science

This Journal entry will give you information on the iNaturalist app, and on its “little brother” Seek. Subsequent entries will be about:
-BioBlitzes (of which the City Nature Challenges are prime examples), and on biodiversity (the City Nature Challenges are designed to document the biodiversity in a designated area).
-Conservationists that are working to preserve biodiversity.
-Conservation organizations that focus on preserving biodiversity.
-Citizen (or Community) Science, of which BoBlitzes are but one example.

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iNaturalist

The City Nature Challenge website has great resources on how to use the iNaturalist app. Here's a link to the site:
https://citynaturechallenge.org

Help
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help

Getting Started
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started

Guides
-https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#observations1
-https://www.inaturalist.org/guides
-https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/teacher%27s+guide

Bioblitz Guide
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/bioblitz+guide

Video Tutorial
Adding an Observation on a Mobile Device
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/video+tutorials

Teacher's Guide for iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/teacher's+guide

Using iNaturalist with Students
https://education.eol.org/cnc.../iNaturalistWithStudents.pdf

In particular, the Education Toolkit has a wealth of age-appropriate resources:
http://citynaturechallenge.org/education-toolkit/
Welcome to the City Nature Challenge Education Toolkit! Here you can find classroom activities, field investigations, media and guides to prepare students, nature center visitors, homeschools and more for the CNC. Find tips for bringing kids outside, learn how students can contribute to the CNC through iNaturalist or another observation platform, and see how CNC can fit into your curriculum or education programs.

Step 1: Get Ready to Bring Kids Outside
https://education.eol.org/cnc.../TipsForTeachingOutside.pdf
Read this educator guide for tips for facilitating, managing, and supporting student outdoor learning and exploration in schoolyards, nearby park, or other green space.

Step 2: Learn How to Use iNaturalist
https://education.eol.org/cnc.../iNaturalistWithStudents.pdf
Take a tour through iNaturalist, the website we will use in the U.S. to document observations. Learn how to best use this technology with students. This can be used in any formal or informal education setting.

Step 3: Integrate into your Curriculum / Education Program
View our “Educator Basecamp,” recommended progressions for short classroom and field activities for formal and informal settings. Progressions include activities, media, and other tools for the CNC, for a variety of ages and experience levels. See how they help to meet science standards and educational goals.

Educator Basecamp Resources

Ages 5–8
https://citynaturechallenge.org/.../Age-5-8-Educator...
-Activity 1: Get to Know Nature
-Activity 2: CMNH Nature in the City: Nature Detectives Resource Packet
-Activity 3: Looking at Lawns
-Activity 4: Journey North Teacher Guide - Building Inquiry into Instruction

Ages 8–11
https://citynaturechallenge.org/.../Age-8-11-Educator...
-Activity 1: Encyclopedia of Life: Classification of Plants and Animals
-Activity 2: Get to Know Nature
-Activity 3: Looking at Lawns
-Activity 4: Encyclopedia of Life: Species Cards

Ages 11–14
https://citynaturechallenge.org/.../Age-11-14-Educator...
-Activity 1: National Geographic: Introducing Biodiversity and BioBlitz
-Activity 2: Encyclopedia of Life Bioblitz Skillbuilders
-Activity 3: Field Guide to the Biodiversity of your Schoolyard
-Activity 4: National Geographic: Analyzing Bioblitz Data

Ages 14–18
https://citynaturechallenge.org/.../Age-14-18-Educator...
-Activity 1: The Crowd and The Cloud
-Activity 2: Encyclopedia of Life: Citizen Science + Open Science Guided Presentation
-Activity 3: Encyclopedia of Life: Introduction to iNaturalist
-Activity 4: Encyclopedia of Life: iNaturalist Data Exploration

Higher Education
https://citynaturechallenge.org/.../UndergraduateUniversi...
-Activity 1: Let’s Prepare!
-Activity 2: Encyclopedia of Life Biodiversity and Open Science: Introduction to iNaturalist
-Activity 3: Encyclopedia of Life Biodiversity and Open Science: City Nature Challenge Data Exploration

General Public
https://citynaturechallenge.org/.../General-Public...
-Activity 1: Introduction to Biodiversity and Citizen Science Videos
-Activity 2: National Geographic: Backyard BioBlitz
-Activity 3: National Geographic Mission: Explore
-Activity 4: Encyclopedia of Life Introduction to iNaturalist
-Activity 5: EOL Species Cards

FAQ
https://www.calacademy.org/citizen-science/city-nature-challenge/FAQs

Here are some other great iNaturalist resources:

An Introduction to iNaturalist
https://www.isu.edu/media/libraries/college-of-science-and-engineering/biology/seminars-amp-events/2020-05-14-Zoo-Idaho---iNaturalist.pdf

(Backyard) Citizen Scientist Rebecca Ray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eov7ulEipZk

Complete Scientific Research In Your Own Back Yard With iNaturalist!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJS63hdWGvs

How to use iNaturalist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oe_FRjNg-AY

Academy Breakfast Club, Ep. 3: Dr. Rebecca Johnson and Alison Young on Citizen Science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlw6x3CmA4U&feature=youtu.be

City Nature Challenge 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDT2r0fXE30&feature=youtu.be

iNaturalist App Uses Image Recognition Tech to Identify ...
https://mymodernmet.com/seek-app-image-recognition-inaturalist/

Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s iNaturalist Training Manual
https://www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/iNaturalistGuide_Final.pdf

Using iNaturalist - New York Botanical Garden
https://www.nybg.org/content/uploads/2017/05/Using-iNaturalist-pdf.pdf

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Seek

Here are some good links on how to use Seek:

Connect with Nature Using iNaturalist and Seek
https://www.hhlt.org/inaturalist/

Connect with Nature Using Seek and iNaturalist!
https://www.lhprism.org/connect-nature-using-seek-and-inaturalist-5-part-tutorial

Exploring Nature With Kids: Virtual Learning with iNaturalist & Seek
https://tnc.app.box.com/s/dw9jx7m3vpfs2vacegj9703yhg3jiorx

Seek by iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app

Seek by iNaturalist | Nature Nation | Blog | Nature | PBS
https://www.pbs.org/.../seek-by-inaturalist-nature-nation/

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Finally, here are some tips for taking good photos:

1. Get closer!
   -Make sure to get close enough to get small details, such as veins on a leaf or markings on a bug. However, make sure you maintain a safe distance and respect wildlife when observing!

2. Shoot multiple angles and images.
   -Take time to capture more than one photo of what you are observing. Taking multiple images at different angles, or different parts of the species will help identifiers make a conformation. For example, take photos of both the flower and the leaves on a flowering plant.

3. Take photos that are sharp and in focus.
   -Make sure you take your time when taking photos, to prevent them from being blurry and out of focus. Clear pictures will help identifiers when making a conformation.

How to Post Observations in iNaturalist
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/How_to_Post_an_Observation_in_iNaturalist_(003).pdf

How to Take Camera Phone Pictures
https://photographylife.com/camera-phone-photography

How to Use iNaturalist's Photo and Sound Uploader
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIRGpO2R7uQ

Take Your iNaturalist Photos to the Next Level
https://vtecostudies.org/blog/take-your-inaturalist-photos-to-the-next-level/

Tips for taking identifiable photos in iNaturalist
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Tips_for_taking_identifiable_photos_in_iNaturalist_(003).pdf

Posted on March 17, 2021 06:17 AM by geogehrig