Is it fine to submit observations by family members?

[AbidAnimalLover]

A while ago my older brother took some photos of a butterfly, and since he knew about my observations in iNaturalist and wanted to help out, he asked if his photos could be submitted from my account, and this is not the only instance of this. So I want to ask if its fine to do so, even with credit.

[birdsandbugs21]

Generally guidelines say that the account should reflect one’s own experiences with nature. There are cases to be made for accounts specifically for museums or collections including observations of those collected specimens, but if you did not see, hear, or otherwise experience the organism, I would suggest your brother make an account. You could show him how to do it, and maybe he could start iNatting on his own too.

[ruth-palsson]

I know it is against iNat guidelines, but I do have a few observations on my account where the photos were taken by one of my sons. He will never make his own account! And for whatever reason, I wanted the sighting recorded. These are clearly labelled as “Photo by Matt….”.

[thomaseverest]

Similar thread (and my thoughts) here:

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/can-i-post-photos-taken-by-others/49500/5?u=thomaseverest

[cthawley]

Posting observations by others is not recommended on iNat, but a couple individual observations will be tolerated. I agree that it is best to encourage others to make their own iNat accounts and post from there. @thomaseverest’s explanation is a good one.

I would also note that, while organizational accounts are allowed, they are not intended to be primarily for posting observations but managing things on iNat. So staff have noted that

@birdsandbugs21

accounts specifically for museums or collections including observations of those collected specimens

shouldn’t really be on iNat. iNat isn’t intended to be used for institutional collections, but for observers’ own personal experiences of nature. A staff response on a similar thread (you can can many with similar questions on the forum):

@tiwane

If done rarely, yes. But iNat is first and foremost a community and a place for people to document and discuss their perosnal interactions with nature, from which data are generated. It’s not a data repository for data generated elsewhere. I’d encourage the person to make a free iNat account and post their photo to it.

[youssefelnahas]

I have a couple of observations by friends- with their permission, labeled as such and they expressed that they have no interest in joining iNaturalist themselves. I try not to make a habit out of it but for certain important observations I assume the scientific value exceeds the cost of using the platform ‘incorrectly’

[silversea_starsong]

It’s fine. It’s slightly discouraged, but people have been doing it for a while. There are even “duo” accounts where two people both post to it. It might be in the guidelines, but it doesn’t become an issue unless you start uploading tons of them that way.