iNaturalist

Observe wild living things with the iNaturalist app

_{Image credit: Magdalena Aleksandrowicz}

The iNaturalist app has more than 2.5 million current users around the world, at all age and education levels. Last year, over 29 million observations were made by citizen scientists using iNaturalist, which resulted in over 39 million identifications by trained scientists.

Due to its very high level of use and wide application, iNaturalist is Council’s app of choice for smartphone observations of nature in Hornsby Shire. Unlike many other apps, it doesn’t just focus on one group of animals, plants, or other organisms. Any living thing can be observed, by way of a photo or sound recording, and posted on the app.

iNaturalist bioblitz’s

If you are keen on becoming an iNaturalist citizen scientist, taking part in an iNaturalist bioblitz is a great way to start. A bioblitz is an event where many people get out and about to find and identify as many species as possible, in a specific area and over a set period of time. The primary goal of a bioblitz is to get an overall count or ‘biological census’ of the different plants, animals, fungi, and other wild living things in a place.

How do I get started?

To make observations, you need to sign up to iNaturalist or download the app (Android or Apple). If you are tech savvy, it’s very straightforward. If you need a hand or would like to learn more about iNaturalist, book your place in one of Council’s free face-to-face iNaturalist workshops.

Once you’ve signed up to the iNaturalist app, you can make observations when and where you wish. If you prefer, you can start out by joining a bioblitz. The next one involving Hornsby Shire is the Great Southern Bioblitz 2024, which is being held from 20 – 23 September 2024.