littleriverwetlandsproject's Journal

Everything seems to be always changing here on the marsh! Little River Wetlands Project has just joined iNaturalist to help us study the phenology of our different preserves. The study of seasonal changes like plants flowering and birds migrating, is known as phenology. Phenology has been studied for thousands of years, and has since then has benefited farmers and naturalists.

"iNaturalist is a citizen science project and online social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. iNaturalist may be accessed via its website or from its mobile applications." This data gathered via iNaturalist will be used to help guide us in how we live our lives and interact with the important wetlands we work hard to preserve and protect.

To use this service, you do not need to know what you've found. iNaturalist helps people connect with others, even experts, that can help identify plants or animals that have been photographed or recorded. The information that is uploaded and gathered on this website can then help LRWP, other scientists and resource managers to help better understand when and where organisms occur.

Whenever you are out on one of our preserves, we encourage you to help us gather data! By using your computer or phone after you take a photo and uploading it to the iNaturalist database you are helping us out immensely. If you take a photo with your camera, make sure to write down your location so you can add it when you upload an image.

iNaturalist offers a FREE app, where you can upload findings RIGHT ON THE SPOT from your cell phone. If this makes things more convenient - search for "iNaturalist" in your app store.

So, just by joining iNaturalist, being a little more curious, and uploading photos of your findings - you can become a citizen science and help out a small nature non-profit! Little River Wetlands Project's mission to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems.

Thank you so much for being apart of and supporting our mission!