November 5, 2024: INaturalist

Have you ever wished you knew the name of a strange plant on your local hiking trail, or the unassuming snake that's hanging out on the pavement? If so, consider downloading iNaturalist, an app that helps you identify local flora and fauna using a combination of AI and crowdsourcing.

 

The app is pretty simple to use. After creating an account, you can use iNaturalist to take photos of plants, animals, insects, and fungi. You'll then be prompted to identify what you saw based on some recommendations. Once you've made your selection, your photo is entered into a database that other citizen scientists can view. They'll refine your initial identification to make sure it's correct. Once there is general consensus about your observation, it earns "research grade" status and can be used by local researchers or conservation groups to help catalog biodiversity in the region.

 

I've always been fascinated by people who can identify their local flora and fauna, and iNaturalist has helped me refine my skills in this area. The app does have some limitations. It won't automatically identify poisonous plants or dangerous animals, for example. There is also a lag between initial identification and crowdsourced answers, so it shouldn't be used as an aid for wild foraging.  (Never, ever trust AI or an app to help you identify edible plants or mushrooms – just don't.) Despite these very minor drawbacks, I think that iNaturalist may be one of the best apps out there to help you learn more about the natural world outside your door. Give it a try!

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