A while ago, we figured out that Denmark could use some ID help, but I’m not sure of that is still true. I’m seeing a lot of good follow-up recently on my initial IDs and the number of unknowns has come way down.
1 Like
Bob has a project and a list
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/low-growth-countries-and-territories?tab=about
I am covering the ‘rest of Africa’. But Europe, Asia and South America are waiting. That help is so much appreciated by shiny new iNatters! As the identified obs accumulate the iNat suggestions become more relevant. Even Seen Nearby options.
Often tiny typos, or placeholder text. Once my notifications tell me the ID is confirmed by trusted people, I will delete my placeholder ID. Good intentions don’t equal - I know it is because …
2 Likes
Thank you, I forgot about this project, many surprising countries as always! It’s weird some of them that are covered so densely did’t contribute more, maybe it’s just because of number of countries in the world compared to 100% of year contribution.) btw description of it still says YIR 2021, was it updated?
@annkatrinrose I see Denmrk isn’t in this project, but that doesn’t mean they get enough iders ! I remember checking some pages last time it was brought up, will do more.
2 Likes
I wish I knew enough to help out anywhere besides eastern North America, where I live (and even here, there is SO much I still need to learn). Here’s a question for those of you who make IDs far and wide: how did you learn to ID beyond your immediate vicinity? Do you just stick with higher-level IDs? Did you learn, say, how to ID the 5 most common spiders or conifers or mollusks or whatever in some far-off country? Do you have stacks of field guides from foreign countries?
Not that I’m running out of IDs that need to be made just with what I already know, mind you!
3 Likes
I think you can start with group you already know, maybe by doing some higher-level ids and checking what further ids those observation get, most common species are observed on iNat and also most observations will be of those easier species, but definitely some plants and animals can’t be ided to species without searching for a key.
Thank you!
The countries are based in the 2021 year in review https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2021 so, no it has not been updated to reflect where we are in 2022. I was planning on waiting until the report came out for 2022 to change the countries. Although, I probably finished my list on the 26th of December when I posted about the project in the Needs ID’ pile, and identifications topic - so the country list may be slightly off 
Maybe I’ll audit it.
@fffffffff I know you know this but for low observation countries in Europe based on this project one could use this link and insert /identify into the URL between observations and ?
...observations?... ==> ...observations/identify?...
Or from the above link narrow it down to the showing country of choice.
2 Likes
I don’t have relevant field guides, nor attempt to learn new species.
I use the iNat suggestions carefully.
Mostly I feel like the GPS in our car, turn left for Insecta, and 3rd right for Lepidoptera. There are many specialist identifiers across iNat, and they need people like me to do the rough sorting for them first. The plants are hard, unless they have something distinctive to offer that provokes an iNat suggestion. I will tag in help, but only when it looks worth their time and effort.
These flower buds - musical note - 88 obs so far, getting closer to being included in the iNat suggestions. The conversation is a learning curve for me!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110376074
2 Likes
I love that GPS analogy! And I bet I can do at least a little rough sorting.
1 Like
Thank you, I decided to start with Moldova, only 40 pages.
3 Likes
Lot’s of overlooked good observations
1 Like
Yes, lots of insects and plants to look by experts!
p.s. Another place is Malta, tons of great plant observations, just need someone who knows them! https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?place_id=8240
2 Likes
We are coming up to the next City Nature Challenge. If your city is not competing, perhaps you could pick a city from one of Bob’s countries. Start IDing Unknowns there now. Maybe learn to recognise the handful that ‘everyone’ photographs there so you can clear those (the skilled identifiers just can’t do yet another page of the same old same old). Then help to ID for the few countdown days when it counts.
It is so tantalising to see exciting obs coming in, languishing, and then missing the cutoff.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022
I will be happy to tackle Malta after that. Shares my mediterranean climate, similar plants to the North African coast, and we spent a lovely 2 weeks there. Sadly during the hunting migrating birds season 
3 Likes
I just added a random country generator to the Low Growth Countries and Territories’s Journal for those who can’t make up their minds on the country to choose - you’ll have to figure out your choice of city from there. https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/low-growth-countries-and-territories/journal/63857-pick-a-low-growth-countries-or-territory
3 Likes
I will continue with my usual 3 filters. Cape Peninsula, Western Cape. And …
A bit daunted by Bob’s Rest of Africa - as I wasn’t IDing that for the last CNC. Will be much more exciting this year!
1 Like
I hope everyone has a Good Friday or delicious Seder (if you observe those holidays) this week. 16 more sleeps until CNC!
2 Likes
3 Likes
and then no sleep? 
4 Likes
…and the silver surfer says “Is that a new band?”