USING phones TO CONNECT WITH NATURE!?

            Whether heading outdoors for a weekend adventure, midday stroll, or unplanned backyard break, many people make the choice to leave their phones off or behind to fully immerse themselves in their natural surroundings. It makes sense, having the temptation of checking the newest Instagram post, knowing whether your boss finally got back to you, or figuring out who’s around for dinner next Saturday night can certainly take away from being present, but what about all the ways our phones can help facilitate our relationship with the natural world around us?
            I know, it sounds counterintuitive, go grab your phone so that you can connect more with nature. To be perfectly honest, I was skeptical about taking my phone with me on walks but the more I began to think of my phone less as a phone and more like an extremely convenient pocket guide, the more comfortable I became using it while I was hiking. Now, it helps me with identifying new plants and animals, finding cool new trails to explore, and keeping an eye out for unusual sightings. Not everyone will enjoy having their phones with them while they are out exploring, and not everyone will love the same apps, but if you are someone who finds yourself wanting to keep track of the things you are seeing, explore new areas, and know what you can find nearby, here are some pretty cool apps to consider downloading for your next outdoor adventure.

iNaturalist

​This app is great for identifying just about anything you find, and it could not be easier to use. All you have to do is snap a picture! You can upload photos of plants, animals, or fungi, and iNaturalist will do its best to help confirm what you’re looking at based on your location and a database of thousands of uploads. Don’t despair, if you can’t get an exact ID right away, the iNaturalist community is filled with experts who can help you by suggesting different identifications.
 
Not only is this app great for helping to identify sightings, but it also keeps all of your observations in one place so you know what you’ve seen and where! Through the app, you can look up what has been seen in areas that you would like to walk, or alternatively, pick a place to walk/explore based on observations fellow iNaturalists have been documenting.
 
Still don’t want to bring your phone with you? iNaturalist allows you to upload photos of your sightings whenever you want. You don’t even need a photo if you are just looking to keep a record of your own sightings. The benefits of having a photograph are that other citizen scientists and even researchers can help you to identify new sightings. The more information a post has, the more likely it is to become “research grade” to be used by scientists looking to gather data about a specific area or a type of animal.

A list of observations on iNaturalist

A map of iNaturalist sightings at the NRT's Sheep Pasture property.

Merlin Bird ID and eBird

​Merlin Bird ID is an app designed to help with all things related to bird identification. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this app will help you determine the bird you are trying to identify based on the sounds it makes, its physical features, and the area where you are seeing it! You can download specific bird lists depending on what part of the country you are in, which means that the list is accessible even while you are disconnected from other features on your phone. Recently, there has been an update to the app that allows you to take a photo of the bird you are trying to identify so that Merlin can suggest possible species that your image could be by using a database of other bird photos and birds found in your area. Merlin is able to make such specific suggestions by tapping into another program called eBird.
 
I like to think of eBird as the iNaturalist for birds. It’s a tool that allows you to record observations and see what birds other eBird community members have been seeing near you. You can share your lists with friends through the app and keep track of who is seeing what, where. You can upload photos if you want, but the majority of bird sightings do not require photos. Sometimes the app requires photos if you make an unusual sighting. If you are planning a birding trip ahead of time, there is an option to print out checklists based on observations from people who have already been birding at the location you are visiting.
 
eBird is a great way to keep track of the birds that you’ve seen throughout your life and helps keep scientist on top of tracking bird populations at different times throughout the year!

eBird checklist for NRT's Sheep Pasture based on community observations

All Trails

All Trails is a great app for helping you to find new places to explore. There is an option to explore areas that other people have been walking and even to upload your own hikes to share with other All Trails app users! All Trails is a great way to see all of the spaces around you that are worth checking out for an afternoon stroll, or perhaps a more strenuous day hike. You can even sort through the hikes you want to do based on activities offered, such as: Biking, Skiing, Paddle Sports, Rock Climbing, Scenic Driving, Camping, Horseback Riding, Walking, Hiking and so much more. Alternatively, you can search based on suitability like: dogs welcome, kid friendly, stroller friendly, wheelchair accessible, or even paved roads.
 

A potential walk around Sheep Pasture property found on All Trails

All of the trails offered via this app are uploaded by community members and often have suggestions on routes to take and how strenuous the walk or hike is. There are also options for application members to rate the walks on a scale from 0 to 5 stars and leave comments to help others determine whether or not these hikes are a good match for them. Similarly to eBird and iNaturalist, All Trails allows you to document the places you visit and keep a running list of your walks. Not only can you keep a list, but you can even record your walks to keep track of the miles you traveled and what pace. You can also create lists of walks that you would like to do and check them off as you explore them!

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Between learning about the flora and fauna of an area through iNaturalist, Merlin Bird ID, and eBird and keeping track of your hikes with All Trails, your phone can be a valuable resource to connect you with the natural world and help you to record your findings. There is certainly a benefit from completely cutting off, but if you are wanting to learn more and explore new areas, these apps can be really helpful. Not only are you learning more about the natural world, but with each observation, you add to a pool of data that can be used by community members, scientists and researchers to learn more about our planet and all that it has to offer!