Resources

Getting started with iNaturalist

Get ready to join in the fun by downloading the iNaturalist app to your smartphone through either via Google Play or Apple store.

A simple document with steps to get your account set up via iNaturalist are located here.

Helpful links to find the projects connected to Bioblitz and Beyond can be found at the bottom of this page.

Poison Ivy Identification

This itchy plant is common in many of Michigan's ecosystems. Be sure to know how to avoid it!

There are many different species of ticks in Michigan, and a few carry harmful diseases. Be sure to protect yourself while outdoors! Consider downloading the Tick App to help researchers keep track of current populations.

Help with identification

Michigan's Rare Animals

The Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) is responsible for locating and listing all Endangered, Threatened, and Probably Extirpated animal species of Michigan, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act of the State of Michigan. It also keeps track of Species of Special Concern.

Merlin Bird ID

The Merlin Bird ID is another great (free!) downloadable app. The app's wizard asks three simple questions about a bird you are trying to identify. Merlin will then come up with a list of possible matches.

Michigan's Natural Communities

According to MNFI, there are 77 natural community types in Michigan! A community is defined as "... an assemblage of interacting plants, animals, and other organisms that repeatedly occurs under similar environmental conditions across the landscape and is predominantly structured by natural processes rather than modern anthropogenic disturbances." If you would like to get a clearer idea on which natural community you're standing in, there is a dichotomous key available to help you sort it out!

Invasive identification

The State of Michigan maintains a website that provides overviews of exotic invasive species ranging across land and water.

Invasive reporting

The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network invites everyone to report invasive exotic species of any kind.

Invasive control

Michigan contains a statewide collection of Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas (CISMAS) that offer information and control options for invasives.

Once you have a profile in iNaturalist and are logged in, you may click on the hyperlinks below to visit and then join any given project.

To see the leaderboard, a summary of all participating projects, visit the “Bioblitz and Beyond 2020” project. Click “Join” in the upper right-hand corner of the project banner.

From there you can see all of the property specific projects. Below is a hyperlinked list for easy reference.

Torey’s Woods Conservation Preserve (UP Land Conservancy)

Vielmetti-Peters Conservation Reserve (UP Land Conservancy)

Peshekee Headwaters Nature Preserve (UP Land Conservancy)

Chocolay Bayou Preserve (UP Land Conservancy)

Gahagan Nature Nerds Bioblitz (Gahagan Nature Preserve, Roscommon)

Harris Nature Center (Ingham County)

Ingham Conservation District Observations (Ingham County)

Woldumar 2020 Bioblitz and Beyond (Woldumar Nature Center, Ingham County)

Bioblitz and Beyond – MFA and Conservation District (Clare County)

Bioblitz and Beyond – CMERC Summer 2020 (Corey Marsh Ecological Research Area, Bath, MI, Ingham County)

Veronica Valley County Park (Leelanau County Conservation District)