Huntsville Botanical Garden is home to an amazing diversity of plant, insect, and animal life. Do you ever wonder about the different species that live in your backyard or neighborhood? If you’ve got a smartphone and some curiosity, you’re well on your way to becoming a citizen scientist!
Citizen scientists are regular people who like to explore the natural world around them — but you don’t have to know about everything you find to be one! With the help of apps like iNaturalist and Seek, you can learn to identify what you see and even help scientists at the same time.
iNaturalist is an online social network of people sharing information to help each other learn about nature. You can use it to record your own outdoor observations and get help identifying what you see. Plus, when you share your information, you’re helping scientist better understand and protect the natural world!
Seek is another app that uses image recognition technology to identify the different plants and animals you see around you. It’s used in conjunction with iNaturalist and even has challenges to complete. Start earning your virtual badges today!
See how many unique species you can identify this week! Don’t forget to share your discoveries with us on Facebook or Instagram : #hsvgarden.