iNaturalist 101

Learn how to turn your wildlife observation into valuable scientific data with iNaturalist.

iNaturalist is an increasingly popular platform for recording observations of wildlife in the UK. In 2025, 53,000 UK users contributed 2.3 million biological records on the platform, and the number of users, observations, and species documented continues to rise every year. iNaturalist has proved so successful largely because it is so simple to use – the intuitive and user-friendly app and website make uploading observations easy. But crucially, this ease-of-use doesn't come at the cost of scientific rigour.

Indeed, if used well, iNaturalist can be an immensely powerful tool for biological recording, boasting numerous innovative features. So whether you're a newcomer to biological recording, wanting to document the species of wildlife in your garden or local green space, or an experienced recorder looking for a powerful platform for sharing observations, iNaturalist may well be the right tool for you.

In the run-up to City Nature Challenge 2027, join us for a 90-minute training webinar with iNaturalist ambassador Joss Carr to learn everything you need to know to get the most out of using iNaturalist in the UK. We'll cover:

• The Basics – Getting set up, making an account, uploading your first observations
• Understanding 'The Algorithm' – when and when not to trust iNaturalist's in-built computer-vision species ID suggestion tool
• iNaturalist Data Flow – iNaturalist's place in the wider UK biological recording network
• Making Your Observations Count – Sorting out data licenses, mastering location data, tips on taking great photos, adding detail with annotations and notes
• Exploring the Website – Using the 'Explore' feature, identifying for others, and collaborating with other naturalists
• City Nature Challenge 2027 – Info on this year's event and how to get involved

This session is suitable for anyone wanting to learn about iNaturalist. Whether you've never used the app/website before or are already familiar, you will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to turn your wildlife observations into valuable biodiversity data for conservation and environmental decision-making.

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor discussing questions submitted by the live audience.

Although no experience using iNaturalist is needed to attend this webinar, it is recommended that students create an iNaturalist account and have a quick look at the iNaturalist website before the webinar begins: https://www.inaturalist.org