STOKE ENVIRONMENT GROUP
Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, England
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Identifying and Recording Wildlife Species
iNaturalist is the platform recommended by Somerset Wildlife Trust for recording wildlife data. It can be accessed either through a computer or via an app on a smartphone. Several SEG members have started using it with varying success rates. Like any similar app, it needs fine tuning and a reasonable amount of use to become accurate. Once you have set up an iNaturalist account you can join a project such as the ‘Big Count’ or the ‘Great Somerset Wildlife Count’ project.
More details on the SWT site HERE where you can download the app, and the accompanying ‘SEEK’ app which does the actual recording. There are also three videos to help you on your way.
On 1st July 2023, there will be an event starting at the Williams Hall, Stoke St Gregory. Experts will be on hand to explain the use of the iNaturalist App and tell us how results are used to improve our environment. There will then be a guided walk to discover and identify wildlife species, and upload the results to the app. More details later . . .
If you want to experiment, or have some specific wildlife aspect in mind, there are alternatives:
iRecord is another system which matches species sightings with GPS coordinates, descriptions and other information, which is then made available to National Recording Schemes. Their app is available HERE
If you are into trees, the Woodland Trust has produced a useful app. In just a few steps you can identify native and common non-native trees in the UK whatever the season using leaves, bark, twigs, buds, flowers or fruit. The app is available HERE
If for example you are interested in grasshoppers, crickets, earwigs, cockroaches and stick-insects, you might need something more specialised. The Biological Records Centre has produced a list of available ID apps. Click HERE
Do let us know how you get on - envirostoke@yahoo.com