MIDDLEBURY — For anyone who has found themselves in the woods on a hike, or even in their backyard wondering at some unknown fungi, insect, plant, or animal, there is now an app to help out. Learn more about iNaturalist and the Vermont Atlas of Life, at a talk sponsored by Otter Creek Audubon on Thursday, March 14, at 7 p.m. at Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury.
iNaturalist is a tool that can be used both on phones and computers to both help identify these mystery organisms and contribute observations to numerous citizen science projects. The Vermont Center for Ecostudies operates a project on iNaturalist called the Vermont Atlas of Life. Its objective is to document the biodiversity of the Green Mountain State.
Using everything from historical records, to data from scientific studies, to sightings from citizen scientists and casual observers, the Vermont Atlas of Life is a vast database that can be used to track changes in abundance, distribution, and biodiversity throughout our state.
THE VERMONT ATLAS of Life, along with the iNaturalist app, can help observers identify species and monitor biodiversity in the state.
The Citizen Science Outreach Naturalist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Nathaniel Sharp, will provide a crash course on the basics of iNaturalist, demonstrating how to use the technology behind iNaturalist to identify mystery species, and how observations of plants and wildlife can contribute to the understanding of biodiversity in Vermont.
The talk and demo will be held downstairs in the Community Room at Ilsley Public Library, 75 Main St in Middlebury. It’s free and open to the public.