Some tips and common mistakes made while uploading observations.
• M̲u̲l̲t̲i̲p̲l̲e̲ ̲s̲p̲e̲c̲i̲e̲s̲ ̲i̲n̲ ̲o̲n̲e̲ ̲o̲b̲s̲e̲r̲v̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲:̲ ̲You may have taken several observations and now want to upload. One observation is for one species. So, if you have a plant, an insect, and another plant, please make sure that they are in different observations. You will not get a positive identification as other users will ignore it because it contains multiple species. Also, where you could have had several observations to your count, you now only have one.
• M̲u̲l̲t̲i̲p̲l̲e̲ ̲p̲h̲o̲t̲o̲s̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲o̲n̲e̲ ̲s̲p̲e̲c̲i̲e̲s̲ ̲a̲t̲ ̲o̲n̲e̲ ̲s̲i̲g̲h̲t̲i̲n̲g̲:̲ You may have taken several different photos of a plant to show the leaf, growth form, flower, or seed. Make sure that all these are in one observation. Do not save them individually. This would result in one observation, now becoming many, and clutters the system forcing you to delete and combine.
• S̲a̲m̲e̲ ̲s̲p̲e̲c̲i̲e̲s̲,̲ ̲d̲i̲f̲f̲e̲r̲e̲n̲t̲ ̲l̲o̲c̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲s̲:̲ If you take a photo of a plant at one site, drive a kilometre on, and take another photo of the same plant, that will count as two observations. Thus, two separate instances.
• A̲p̲p̲ ̲s̲y̲n̲c̲h̲r̲o̲n̲i̲z̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲:̲ ̲Make sure that when you use the App on your cell that you allow it to fully synchronize before logging out. It could result in the system registering the observation but not having completed the upload of the photos. Thus, it is not verifiable and will not be counted.
• A̲u̲d̲i̲o̲ ̲c̲l̲i̲p̲s̲ Do remember that audio clips are also acceptable, so if you got frogs clicking or croaking in a pond, or a bird chirping in a tree you may upload that audio clip as well – MP3 format.
• L̲i̲m̲i̲t̲ ̲u̲p̲l̲o̲a̲d̲ ̲b̲a̲t̲c̲h̲ ̲n̲u̲m̲b̲e̲r̲s: Upload small batches of observations at a time. The iNaturalist system will be under pressure and loading a large batch may cause your system to hang, resulting in you having to start again. Suggest keeping the batch numbers low, saving it, and then the next batch.
• N̲a̲m̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲y̲o̲u̲r̲ ̲o̲b̲s̲e̲r̲v̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲:̲ If you upload something and have no idea what it is. Do not leave the name blank. Identify it into the main groupings, e.g., Plants, Birds, Insects, Mammals or Fungi. This will help those trolling the observations to pick them up and add an identification. Leaving it blank could result in it getting lost and only being discovered once it is quieter and too late.
• S̲e̲l̲e̲c̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲a͟u͟t͟o͟m͟a͟t͟i͟c͟ ͟n͟a͟m͟e͟s͟ ͟p͟r͟o͟v͟i͟d͟e͟d͟ ͟b͟y͟ ͟t͟h͟e͟ ͟i͟N͟a͟t͟u͟r͟a͟l͟i͟s͟t͟ ͟A͟r͟t͟i͟f͟i͟c͟i͟a͟l͟ ͟I͟n͟t͟e͟l͟l͟i͟g͟e͟n͟c͟e͟: Check if names are from nearby. If not please double-check, as non-nearby identifications include species that don’t necessarily occur in Africa.
If you are unsure, rather put it into a higher grouping and let others that know name it. So, you upload a spider, and the system suggests some weird name. You do know it is a spider, so rather enter it as such. The name the system suggests may be from a different continent.
• S̲e̲l̲e̲c̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲a̲ ̲f̲o̲u̲n̲d̲ ̲n̲a̲m̲e̲ ̲f̲o̲r̲ ̲i̲d̲e̲n̲t̲i̲f̲i̲c̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲: When you enter the name of your observation. Wait for the system to give you a drop-down list which should include what you entered. Select from the list to register the name.
• P̲h̲o̲t̲o̲ ̲c̲l̲a̲r̲i̲t̲y̲:̲ Make sure that your photo is identifiable. If you cannot see the bird or insect, neither can the other users who are looking to confirm the observation.
How many observations can you upload? This will depend on how many hours you have in the day. No number is too few, but the more the better.
If you need any, advice or help please email us at:
wessageorge@isat.co.za, or grd.cnc@gmail.com
Alternatively, leave a message on your observation under the description or comments, and someone will reply, or pop a message on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist
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