Using a mobile phone for iNaturalist and other tips

 Hello OLLI Class...and anyone else who happens upon this post,

After our last class I did some research on iNaturalist, and first off I think I found the best way to return to "Home" on the site.  Regardless of where you are on the site, go to your icon pic in the upper right hand corner, click on it, and select "Dashboard".  This takes you to your "Home" and from there you may wish to select "Your Observations" which will show you recent edits to your observations, such as confirmations.  Often there are two tabs, "More" and "Show More".  The "Show More" tab keeps you in the same function and just expands the pictures you can view.  "More" seems to take you to a similar, but new window.  Hey I am learning with you :)

Now concerning using a mobile phone, for iPhones, there are two iNaturalist apps.  One is called "iNaturalist" and one is called "Seek".  I down loaded and tried both and they are definitely the best way to use iNaturalist capabilities on an iPhone.  They both tie into your phone's camera and connect with iNaturalist's main computers for identification of what you have photographed.  The main difference between the 2 apps is that Seek does not download any data to iNaturalist, whereas the iNaturalist app can download pics and info to your iNaturalist account (if you have one, or it can help you get one).  

For Androids, per Joan Mansperger, there is only "Seek", which has the camera connection and iNaturalist computer ID connection, BUT does NOT have capability to download data to an account.  iNaturalist actually recommends Seek for new and novice users, so the inexperienced do not upload a bunch of low quality data and photos.

Lastly, in the menu bar at the very top there is an option labelled "More".  This tab will take you to options such as "Getting Started" and "Video Tutorials", so you are basically never without HELP!

More on all of this in our upcoming class Wed, April 13, 2022.

I hope all well, and enjoying nature.  Sally and I are seeing early migrant warblers, like Yellow-rumped, Parula, Black-and-White and Yellow-throated (below).