iNaturalist

iNaturalist is a citizen science app that allows people to photograph and record plants, animals, fungi and other wildlife they encounter. The app uses community identification to help identify observations, creating a valuable source of biodiversity information. By sharing observations, anyone can contribute to our understanding of local species and ecosystems while building a record of biodiversity across the Murrumbidgee region.

Across the Murrumbidgee region, iNaturalist provides an easy way for the community to record plants, animals and fungi and contribute valuable biodiversity information. Observations made through iNaturalist Australia are regularly added to the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), Australia’s national biodiversity database, where the information can be accessed and analysed by researchers, land managers and conservation organisations. When observations are supported by community identifications and reach Research Grade, they provide higher-quality records that can help build a clearer picture of the species found across the region. For Murrumbidgee Landcare projects, these records can help identify the plants and animals present at a site, establish biodiversity values and provide a baseline for monitoring how biodiversity changes over time, helping guide restoration, conservation and land management decisions.

1. Download the app
Download the free iNaturalist app on your smartphone, or use iNaturalist through a web browser.
iNaturalist website
iNaturalist Help Centre

2. Create an account
Open the app and select Sign Up, or create an account through the website. You will need an email address, username and password, then confirm your email address. iNaturalist accounts are free.
Create an iNaturalist account

3. Allow location access
When prompted, allow iNaturalist to access your location. This allows the observation to be linked to the place where you found the species.

4. Take a photo
When you find a plant, animal, insect, fungus or other organism, open iNaturalist and select the camera or Observe option. Take a clear photo of the organism. Where possible, take additional photos showing useful features such as leaves, flowers, bark or the underside of an animal.

5. Identify what you found
iNaturalist will suggest possible identifications. Select the identification you think is most appropriate. Don’t worry if you are unsure, as you can select a broader category such as Plant, Bird, Insect or Fungus. Other iNaturalist users can help confirm or improve the identification.

6. Check the observation details
Before uploading, check that the date, location, photographs and identification are correct.

7. Upload your observation
Save and upload the observation so it can be viewed by the iNaturalist community. Other users can then help identify the species and improve the quality of the record.

8. Join the Murrumbidgee Landcare project
If you are contributing to a Murrumbidgee Landcare project, search for the relevant iNaturalist project and select Join. This allows your observations to contribute to the project where they meet its requirements.

projects, these records can help identify the plants and animals present at a site, establish biodiversity values and provide a baseline for monitoring how biodiversity changes over time, helping guide restoration, conservation and land management decisions.

Projects on iNaturalist are collections of observations grouped around a particular place, event, species or conservation project. They make it easier to bring observations together in one place, track the biodiversity recorded in an area and share information with other community members and land managers. By contributing your observations to a project, you can help build a valuable record of the plants, animals and fungi found across the Murrumbidgee region.

View Murrumbidgee Landcare’s iNaturalist projects:
Murrumbidgee Landcare Projects on iNaturalist

iNaturalist also provides a guide explaining how projects work. Understanding iNaturalist Projects

Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc also participates in the Great Southern BioBlitz each year, as well as host Bioblitzes throughout the year.

For more information on BioBlitzes visit BioBlitz Frequently Asked Questions – Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc