Suppose an observation consists of six photos of the same group of plants. The photos were taken over a six-week period, from June 11 to July 27. The observed date of the observation is set to June 11 (the date the first photo was taken). Is the observed date correct? That is, is it appropriate to …

[image] rynxs: Whether an observer chooses to add to their existing observation or create another is up to their discretion. Who told you that? It’s not true. https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#observations1 " An observation records an encounter with an individual organism at a particul…

This thread has a very helpful method detailed for how to link observations of the same exact plant/tree together so you can track growth: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-often-to-observe-the-exact-same-plant-tree/35570/8 It’s the 9th post, by @optilete .

[image] rynxs: “Should,” not “must.” @rynxs I think you might be splitting hairs on iNat’s language. As is becoming fairly clear, it is iNat’s preference–in the strongest possible terms shy of dictating rules–that multiple observations on different dates be uploaded separately, for all the r…

I have to split hairs, any vagueness seems to invite misunderstanding. I don’t see this as being nearly problematic enough to warrant the discussion that has erupted here. The observer can choose to do what they want with their observation, I see no issues so long as they communicate.

The same way iders can decide to mark such observations as casual, it’s preventable.

[image] rynxs: Observations can be whatever observers want, so long as it follows the community guidelines. Since we are splitting hairs: you use the word “guidelines” not “rules”. A guideline is defined as “a general rule, principle, or piece of advice.” As stated: the guideline given is “If…

[image] jasonhernandez74: Because the identifier “cannot independently identify it” on just your word that it is the same individual plant. Considering iNat accepts field sketches if they have diagnostic features (see Are drawings evidence? ), I think iNat would have no problem with an identif…

I think you are misconstruing the usage of “should” in the iNat documentation here as @gcwarbler suggested above. If you read through the page on observations that @marina_gorbunova posted ( https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#observations1 ) the word “must” is not used at all in the observations s…

What Marina linked is not a guideline. That is the “Help” page. The guidelines are here: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/community+guidelines You would be surprised what other users will infer from very simple statements of fact or opinion.

@tiwane could iNat staff comment on this, please?

This part of the guidelines may pertain, as the date would not be accurate data for all of the photos: Add accurate content and take community feedback into account. Any account that adds content we believe decreases the accuracy of iNaturalist data may be suspended, particularly if that account …

An observation with multiple photos taken on multiple dates

General

swampster January 24, 2023, 2:01am 22

Considering iNat accepts field sketches if they have diagnostic features (see Are drawings evidence?), I think iNat would have no problem with an identifier taking the observer’s word for that as long as it reasonably makes sense.

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An observation with multiple photos taken on multiple dates

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