At the Appalachian Mountain Club, we’re proud to put the “NGO” (non-governmental organization, that is) in “Bingo!”
Each spring our team of researchers count on the contributions of community scientists like you to better understand plant flowering and fruiting times across the region. This data is collected in the iNaturalist app, which empowers nature lovers to make observations and share them with research scientists. To ring in the start of iNaturalist season, we’ve created a bingo card with some of the most common plant species to look for on the trail.
Print out this card or take a screenshot on your phone. When you make an iNaturalist observation of a species, cross it off your card. You know the rules: Middle space is free. Five in a row is B-I-N-G-O. It’s not every day you get to support AMC scientists and engage in some friendly competition with family and friends. Happy observing!
Why are these observations so important?
AMC scientists study natural cycles, like the date that plants flower and fruit, to measure the real-time impact of climate change. This is called phenology. Because many plants are sensitive to shifts in weather and temperature, they can serve as excellent “indicator species” for larger environmental trends.
How do I report my observations in iNaturalist?
The iNaturalist app is easy to use, and submitting an observation only takes a minute. To get started:
Download the iNaturalist app and create your account: You can search “iNaturalist” in both the Apple and Android App on Google Play stores.
Turn on location services on your mobile device: This ensures that your photos are dated and geo-tagged for scientists when you upload a photo to the iNaturalist app.
Take photos of flowers: Take a photo of the whole plant if possible and a close-up of flowers or fruit. You should take photos while in the iNaturalist app, but any photo you have captured with your phone’s camera can be uploaded later.
Join AMC’s iNaturalist projects: AMC is involved in six iNaturalist projects. Some cover massive areas, like the entire Appalachian Trail corridor. Others are as small as a single state park. When you join a project, your observation is seen by AMC’s researchers, and you can get updates on the project through iNaturalist journal posts. Be sure to select “allow researchers to see coordinates” when you join! AMC’s projects are: