In the UK I’ve noticed that the number of needs id observations in identify has gone up from under 200 thousand a early this year to well over 300 thousand when I started writing this post* and is 450 thousand now. I think the numbers are still going up fairly rapidly. I’m concerned that there are s…

Each day we’re getting more new observers, much more than new identifiers, so it’s logical that the amount of non-RG observations is rising. I don’t see anything too rapid, but it’s probably a geometrical rise and expected. Probably new graphics with statistics as those that were posted some months…

[image] Italopithecus: Also, there are possibly too many unidentiable observations. This is a big part of it - a lot of users’ observations of a blurry bug (including some of mine!) are never going to make RG. The only thing to do is to mark them as “can’t be IDd further” to remove them from …

There might be a seasonal component to this too. I, like I suspect many others, are more focused on making observations during the spring and summer months. In the winter, I’ll spend more time identifying. Since we tend to have more observers in the northern hemisphere, more of us are in the “making…

People are often quick to point out that number of needs ID observations usually does down in northern hemisphere winter, presumably because people stuck indoors by cold weather ID more and/or observe less. That’s relative though and overall I’m inclined to say you’re right, the numbers generally in…

I’m right there with you on everything you said. I’ve noticed things have been slower too and hoping it’s because seasonality. For me I always try to maintain a 1:1 observation:ID ratio (or better), with a focus on my state/county. I’m no master naturalist but between birds and common plants it’s p…

It takes almost no expertise at all to take a picture versus identifying an organism with any certainty. That’s just the nature of it. But the more data the better I suppose, not every user will ‘catch’ and become a naturalist (unfortunately). I feel like the CV actually provides some amount of eng…

but even so, just being interested enough to be on iNat, we can each tackle some part of IDs. I can see as I chew down from recent, that there are IDs swimming below the cream we skim off the top. People who never answer … is it the bee or the flower? Since there often is not enough info for an ID…

but even so, just being interested enough to be on iNat , we can each tackle some part of IDs. Very true. I know of other users that weren’t aware that anyone can make identifications. I wonder if there’s any use in a notification from the app along the lines of “Congratulations, you’ve made 20 o…

I would be wary of encouraging that. Rather let people learn as they go, and ask questions for the next step.

Are there too many new observations to identify?

General

Italopithecus September 8, 2020, 5:35pm 2

There are too few identifiers.
Also, there are possibly too many unidentifiable observations.

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Are there too many new observations to identify?

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