The weather is slowly getting warmer, which means we’re all about head outside a little more. If your outdoor adventures take you on a hike or two through nature, then you stand a good chance of coming across a plant or animal that you can’t quite identify. iNaturalist is an app that can help.
The app is a joint initiative between The California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society and works sort of like a Shazam for Nature in that it lets you snap a shot of something you come across and instantly get an answer for what that planet, animal, or bug might be.
With the app, you can figure out what species of plants and animals are likely near you so you can be on the lookout as well as record your own observations in the area and share them with the community.
For instance, I’m visiting family in NC right now and I can see on a map exactly where I might find things like woodsorrels (that’s a yellow flower that I wasn’t aware existed until about 2 minutes ago) and magnolias near me (amongst over 3,ooo other things).
When you find something unusual, iNaturalist’s community of 400,000 scientists can also help you potentially identify it. You can also help others identify things they’ve seen and follow projects focused around specific plants or species.
Information from the app is also used for research by scientists, so you’re helping researchers while you’re helping yourself on that stroll.