iNat URL tricks and hidden features

General
1

I think that we need to talk about this.

I am a really active identifier (of true hoppers except cicadas) and I really would like to know (and share some tricks I use for sorting observations.

To start I generally prefer to use the Explore page one the Identify page when making is because of the larger thumbnails. I am a little particular about the browser size so I do not increase the size on the id page by using the “Command +” keyboard shortcut. My ids are very visual so I sort through tons of observation and only id a few which are rare, misidentified, or something never ided on iNat before. I personally see id’ing something new to iNat as a reflection of knowledge. I literally have a record of species I’ve been the first to id in my journal.

So I’ve learnt some tricks that help every once in a while.

1: anything that works in the Id page works on the explore page. want random order? Check it on on the id page and then copy that filter’s url - &order_by=random. Then at it to the end of the explore page. It works so well! Even the disagreements one will work. Just add disagreements=true to the end of the url.

2: I’ve learnt today that if you want to avoid a taxon (for me it’s cicadas which I do not know well) then find a species of the group (or even a species) and then press exclude for species or prey the “x” on any of the higher taxa. They will automatically be excluded from the results!

3: if you want to see all observation you (or another user) has ever id’ed, just add “ident_user_id=user” where user refers to the concerned user.

Did you get it? Or you knew these already???

Let’s see what you’ve got!

Also for iNat developers pls. do not mess it up by writing every feature there is… (I am sorry about it but then what will be the point of this post? I hope this is not a violation of guidelines to write this disclaimer)

2 Likes
2

Hi Aarav,

Have you explored the Tutorials category on the forum? https://forum.inaturalist.org/c/tutorials/

3

I am talking about tiny hacks that are not much discussed.

1 Like
4

check out https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/search+urls

7 Likes
5

What I do is go to the identify page and set all the parameters I want then remove “/identify” from the URL. Example https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?term_id=12&term_value_id=13&taxon_id=50741 becomes https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?term_id=12&term_value_id=13&taxon_id=50741

3 Likes
6

I have to do that to explore an iNat defined place. For whatever reason the search box in Identify pulls them up but the search box in Explore doesn’t

7

Thank you – this is amazing. My abilities are so limited since the great majority of what I know is experiential, but playing with this makes me think I really could do more. I feel hopeful, thank you!

2 Likes
8

You should be able to get these in Explore by using the search box under “filters” and “more filters” instead of the one at the top of the page.

5 Likes
9

I am not sure if this is exactly what is being discussed, but the search URL wikis are:

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-to-use-inaturalists-search-urls-wiki-part-1-of-2/63

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/how-to-use-inaturalists-search-urls-wiki-part-2-of-2/18792

2 Likes
10

that’s really nice to hear :smiling_face: and the community here is ready to help if you ever get stuck of course

3 Likes
11

The Identify page has an option next to the Mark as Reviewed tab to select larger boxes (images).

2 Likes
12

While not fully complete I wrote this Journal entry for this exact sort of thing
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/journal/noah_vale/113110-a-collection-of-tools-and-resources

1 Like
13

A quick search of the forum and elsewhere will find that this is already well discussed.
Glad everyone else has helped out despite the repetition.

1 Like
14

2: I’ve learnt today that if you want to avoid a taxon (for me it’s cicadas which I do not know well) then find a species of the group (or even a species) and then press exclude for species or prey the “x” on any of the higher taxa. They will automatically be excluded from the results!

What do you mean “press exclude”? Where is this “exclude” button?

[Edit] Nevermind! I found it! You have to click on the tiny little filters button in the upper left-hand corner of the species photo.

1 Like
15

I’ve collected a bunch and put them on my profile so I can find them easily again. Here’s a copy. Replace usernames and such as needed.

Some iNat resources:

7 Likes
16

See my above note.

Pls. do not mess this up… I really want people to enjoy the discussion. I know about website design etc. and love experimenting with urls, but having an entire guide will never have the same excitement as is in finding out small tips time to time. i am sorry about this but that is the case.

17

These are amazing…

1 Like
18

I’m not a developer and the forum is about sharing rather than gatekeeping. feel free to share little tips and tricks that are new to you-- but it’s not harmful to share the guide that the community has built together over time

7 Likes
19

I appreciate this thread, all of it.

I came to iNaturalist from a non-science, non-computer background, Do not mistake this for appreciating nature any less, not wanting to learn any less. On the contrary, I spend multiple hours a day out of doors, experiencing and watching and letting my brain tumble things into place.

Then I come back here to read. And often the discussions are still well above my understanding so I simply exit them and do not return. Eventually they close.

This thread is the first time I saw the link @bouteloua kindly posted though undoubtedly it has been shared multiple times before. It would not be a redundancy to have posted it again but a refresher, an opportunity for others (like me!).

We all come to iNaturalist from different backgrounds, from different places, with different levels of experience and language and time. Who is to say what day someone will see something that is helpful or useful to them?

Thank you again for starting this thread which allowed me to see that link so helpful to me at this time.

edit to add: unsure if any of this will be of interest to you, but there may be something here you do not yet know.

4 Likes
20

I use the explorer mentioned here to do all the filtering. https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/website-to-explore-inaturalist-data-feedback-wanted/70438/72

1 Like