Is there an appropriate/approved method for finding/contacting potential expert identifiers? I’ve been on iNaturalist for two years now, and its become painfully obvious that my area lacks suitable experts in a number of areas, ranging from big (the fungi/lichen kingdom) to small (such as the oenoth…

I usually look for the users listed in the “Top Identifiers” section that is visible when using the web client (not as easy in the mobile versions). For example if you know the genus or family, I would generally contact the top 2–3 users listed as top identifiers for the genus or family.

… and ensure (by visiting their profile) that they accept being summoned.

It’s perfectly acceptable to tag identifiers to look at your observations, but I’d caution you to use local identifiers, ones from your state, province, or region, not the top experts worldwide. I make lots of plant IDs for my region, but when people tag me in on an observation from the other side o…

Help to ID. You can use the newer filters for Geomodel Anomalies or Disagreements . Look at the backlog from CNC 25 and tackle whatever you can help. Pick over your local Needs ID mountain. From those notifications you will learn who your active local identifiers are - and what they are interested i…

[image] lynnharper: So maybe people make IDs as a way of saying thank you? I definitely do that

When someone IDs my stuck, maverick or unclear observations, I sometimes go through that user’s observations to see if there are any that got stuck without any reason or just because they needed a higher level of expertise than usual.

Also, try to make friends! iNat has an option to subscribe to an user. You can find identifiers who are willing to help and ask them to subscribe to your profile. Then they would see your observations in their notification list and have a simple option to go ID them (see screenshot). [изображение_…

[image] lappelbaum: [image] lynnharper: So maybe people make IDs as a way of saying thank you? I definitely do that Or, sometimes if I have in mind to tag someone, I will first go through their observations and review as many as I can – then tag them.

Fungi are definitely tough; I’m in the midwest, I’ll give a glance at your obs and see if there are any fungi that I can pick out, but as @lynnharper said, often times microscopic or chemical characteristics are needs to get fungi down to species level. Mushroomexpert.com is a decent starting point …

Etiquette/Method for Finding Identifiers?

General

bouteloua June 8, 2025, 1:37pm 6

check out https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-to-get-identifications-for-your-observations/26429

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Etiquette/Method for Finding Identifiers?

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