Hey there! I’m excited to share something really cool with you today. Have you ever thought about becoming a naturalist? It’s all about exploring the amazing world of nature and learning about the different plants and animals around us. The best part? Anyone can do it, no matter where you live!
Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or countryside, nature is all around you. You might be surprised by how much wildlife you can find right in your backyard or neighborhood. All you need is a smartphone with a camera and a curious mind!
There’s a fantastic app called iNaturalist that lets you be a part of real scientific research. Created by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, this app helps you identify and record plants, animals, and fungi. It’s free and super fun!
Using the app is easy. When you spot something interesting, take a picture and upload it to iNaturalist. The app will help you figure out what it is by comparing your photo to millions of others. For example, I once identified an orange sulfur butterfly using the app. It’s amazing how technology can help us learn about nature!
Start by exploring your own yard or nearby parks. Even if you don’t have a garden, you can look under flower pots or mats. You might find cool creatures like roly-polies or even discover something new!
As you explore, look for clues like footprints or insect eggs. You’ll become a nature detective in no time. You can also use simple tools like a macro lens to get a closer look at tiny details, but it’s not necessary.
Your observations can help scientists learn more about the world. By sharing what you find, you contribute to a global database that tracks wildlife and helps monitor changes in nature. Over 25 million observations have been uploaded to iNaturalist, leading to exciting discoveries and scientific research.
We’ve set up a special project on iNaturalist called “It’s Okay to Be Smart Global Survey.” You can join and share your findings with others. It’s a great way to be part of a community of nature lovers!
Remember to stay safe and follow local guidelines when exploring outdoors. If you’re looking for a more game-like experience, try the Seek app, which is perfect for younger explorers.
Thanks for joining me on this nature adventure. I can’t wait to see what amazing things you’ll discover!
Grab your smartphone and head outside to your backyard or a nearby park. Use the iNaturalist app to take pictures of at least five different plants or animals you find. Try to identify them using the app and share your findings with your classmates. See who can discover the most unique species!
Create your own nature detective journal. As you explore, jot down notes about the clues you find, like animal tracks or insect eggs. Draw sketches of your observations and write a short story about your adventure as a nature detective. Share your journal with the class and discuss your discoveries.
Join the “It’s Okay to Be Smart Global Survey” project on iNaturalist. Make at least three observations and upload them to the project. Track how your contributions help scientists by checking the project updates. Discuss with your classmates how your data might be used in real scientific research.
Use your smartphone to capture the beauty of nature around you. Focus on taking creative and clear photos of plants, animals, or fungi. Submit your best photo to a class contest. Vote on the most interesting or beautiful photo and discuss what makes it special.
If you prefer a more game-like experience, download the Seek app. Use it to identify plants and animals in your area. Earn badges for your discoveries and challenge your classmates to see who can earn the most badges in a week. Share your experiences and favorite finds with the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any informal language, unnecessary filler, and maintaining a more professional tone:
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[Music]
Hello everyone, Joe here. Today, I want to talk about a fascinating aspect of science: being an amateur naturalist. This involves studying the patterns and relationships between different species in nature. It’s an engaging and educational activity that anyone can participate in, regardless of age or location.
Nature is all around us, whether you live in a rural area, the suburbs, or an urban environment. You might be surprised by the amount of wildlife that exists right at your fingertips. All you need is a smartphone with a camera and a sense of curiosity.
Today, I will demonstrate how you can contribute to scientific research from your own backyard and have fun while doing it. Your observations can assist scientists in their research, as they cannot be everywhere at once. Together, we can cover many different locations, allowing everyone to be a naturalist and observe the world around us.
To get started, download the iNaturalist app. This initiative, created by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society, enables users to observe, identify, and record plants, animals, and fungi, sharing their findings with a global community. This app is not sponsored; I simply believe in its value and think you will too. It’s free, enjoyable, and can be done from home.
Using the app is straightforward: when you see something interesting, take a photo and upload it to iNaturalist. The app analyzes the image, compares it to other observations, and provides potential identifications. For example, I recently identified an orange sulfur butterfly using the app. It’s remarkable that a device can identify a species from a photograph.
iNaturalist employs computer vision and machine learning algorithms trained on a database of over 10 million confirmed images to suggest identifications. It also considers factors like your location, as many species can look quite similar. Verification is an essential part of the process, so your photo will be shared with a community of naturalists and professional scientists who can confirm the identification and make corrections if needed. Once verified, the data contributes to a global database accessible to scientists, documenting the time, location, and identification of millions of observations.
When searching for wildlife, consider looking beyond just your yard. Even cultivated plants can attract wildlife, so examining leaves and flowers is a great starting point.
In my garden, I have a variety of wildflowers, including bluebonnets, which are the state flower of Texas. You might find other interesting species, like roly-polies or woodlice, which can be significant to scientists. For instance, one iNaturalist user discovered a species that hadn’t been seen in 90 years.
You can explore your neighborhood as well, just be mindful of private property. Areas with abundant plants tend to attract various animals. Look closely, as you may find more than you expect.
Using tools like a macro lens can enhance your observations, but it’s not necessary. Sometimes, you may not find anything new, and that’s perfectly fine. You can increase your chances of discovering interesting creatures by setting up simple traps, such as a cover board made from cardboard or a pit trap using a buried cup.
If you don’t have a yard, you can still explore by checking under flower pots or mats. There’s even an iNaturalist project dedicated to observing house guests. Don’t overlook trees; they may not move, but they are easy to photograph and can host various species.
As you explore, you’ll learn to recognize clues like footprints or insect eggs, becoming a nature detective in no time.
Citizen science has a significant impact. One user in Mexico tracked over 500 different organisms in his yard over a few years. This collective effort creates a vast data set that can help scientists monitor threatened species, track invasive species, and observe wildlife adaptations to climate change.
Over 25 million wildlife observations have been uploaded to iNaturalist, leading to numerous scientific papers and exciting discoveries. Nature is everywhere; you just need to look for it.
We have established a special project on iNaturalist that you can join. Search for “It’s Okay to Be Smart Global Survey” in the iNaturalist projects tab to participate and contribute your observations.
As a note, I am filming this during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are watching this in the future, I hope conditions have improved. Please stay safe and adhere to local guidelines if you venture outdoors.
For younger audiences or those with children, iNaturalist also offers an app called Seek, which is more game-like and has different features.
Finally, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who supports the show on Patreon. Your support enables us to create these episodes. If you’d like to join our community, please check the link in the description for various perks.
Thank you for watching, and I look forward to our next exploration of nature.
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This version maintains the informative content while presenting it in a more polished manner.
Nature – All the plants, animals, and other things in the world that are not made by people – We went on a hike to learn more about the beauty of nature and how it supports life on Earth.
Wildlife – Animals that live and grow in natural conditions – The wildlife in the forest includes deer, birds, and many types of insects.
Plants – Living things that grow in the ground, usually having leaves and roots – In science class, we learned how plants use sunlight to make their own food through photosynthesis.
Animals – Living organisms that can move and respond to their environment – The zoo is home to many different animals, each adapted to their unique habitats.
Fungi – Organisms such as mushrooms and molds that do not make their own food – We studied fungi in the garden and discovered how they help decompose dead plants and animals.
Technology – The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry – Technology has allowed scientists to study the environment in new and exciting ways, like using drones to observe wildlife.
Observations – The act of watching something carefully to gain information – Our observations of the weather helped us understand how clouds form and bring rain.
Citizen – A member of a community who has rights and responsibilities – As a citizen, you can help protect the environment by recycling and conserving water.
Science – The study of the natural world through experiments and observations – Science helps us understand how ecosystems work and how we can protect them.
Explore – To travel through an area to learn more about it – We decided to explore the nature reserve to see what kinds of plants and animals live there.
