# Data Extraction from Observation Fields

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/data-extraction-from-observation-fields/34872>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** question\
**Created:** [August 26, 2022, 6:12pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/data-extraction-from-observation-fields/34872 "2022-08-26T18:12:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 6

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**Author:** ![pisum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@pisum](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/pisum)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/data-extraction-from-observation-fields/34872/6 "2022-08-28T14:04:38Z")

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you can find the available parameters for the API’s observation histogram endpoint at: [https://api.inaturalist.org/v1/docs/#!/Observations/get\_observations\_histogram](https://api.inaturalist.org/v1/docs/#!/Observations/get_observations_histogram)

i _think_ the data for your graph, assuming place\_id=64492 (Northeastern US) and taxon\_id=119933 (genus Reticulitermes), could be obtained via this API request:

[https://api.inaturalist.org/v1/observations/histogram?interval=month\_of\_year&date\_field=observed&field%3ATermite+Imago(s)=Flight+Evidence&place\_id=64492&taxon\_id=119933](https://api.inaturalist.org/v1/observations/histogram?interval=month_of_year&date_field=observed&field%3ATermite+Imago%28s%29=Flight+Evidence&place_id=64492&taxon_id=119933)

it returns:

```auto
{
   "total_results":12,
   "page":1,"per_page":12,
   "results": {
      "month_of_year: {
         "1":0,
         "2":0,
         "3":6,
         "4":19,
         "5":101,
         "6":18,
         "7":1,
         "8":0,
         "9":0,
         "10":0,
         "11":0,
         "12":0
      }
   }
}

```

you can use your favorite scripting language or data analytics tool get the data from the API and create whatever kind of chart or graph you like.

for example, this page will visualize the data in a bar chart like yours:  
[https://jumear.github.io/stirfry/iNatAPIv1\_observation\_histogram?interval=month\_of\_year&date\_field=observed&field:Termite%20Imago(s)=Flight%20Evidence&place\_id=64492&taxon\_id=119933](https://jumear.github.io/stirfry/iNatAPIv1_observation_histogram?interval=month_of_year&date_field=observed&field:Termite%20Imago(s)=Flight%20Evidence&place_id=64492&taxon_id=119933)

or here’s an example of a line graph done in R: [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/1m-observations-this-month/2582/4](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/1m-observations-this-month/2582/4)

and here’s an explanation of how to make a bar chart using Excel: [https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-excel-api/22378#step-5-optional-column-chart-of-observations-by-day](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-excel-api/22378#step-5-optional-column-chart-of-observations-by-day)

let me know if you need any other information.

…

EDIT: i just remembered that if

> [@Arman](#):
>
> I’d like to make comparison graphs of species to directly compare their flight times, or even compare the flight times of individual species within different geographical regions

iNat has an “experimental” [Compare tool](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/compare), which could help you create comparison graphs like so:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/3/f/3fa3f284b26caa0af415beedb651615b31040a18.png)

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