Is there an Observation Field for this?

General
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1

Hi everyone!

I’ve been thinking about creating a new Observation Field for a project, but before doing that I wanted to check if something similar already existed. Browsing OF I was overwhelmed by the huge number of results—many of which weren’t even related to my search terms—so I eventually gave up.

What should I do? Should I keep trying to look for a similar Observation Field, or just go ahead and create a new one?

Here’s the idea, in case someone can help me: A text-based Observation Field named “It was found…”

  • under a rock
  • under bark
  • under other refuge
  • out and about

I still need to refine the wording of each option, but that’s the general concept. I plan to use it for Dermaptera observations, though it could apply to many other organisms.

2

Do you want to limit the options to those four… or will the field be plain text without a drop-down?

3

I think I want to limit the options to those four.

4

Seems like you’d want to add a new one then. I’m not sure there is any guarantee that it will remain only those four options but it seems likely that it would. There are so many out there and anyone wanting a new one would come to the same conclusion that you have.

5

If/when Observation Fields become searchable, the term “refuge” will have multiple meanings including areas set aside for protection of natural resources. I might suggest the synonym “cover” or other suitable word instead.

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6

Good News! They are searchable!
www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields

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7

Searching the term cover returns 6 pages of results, but searching the term refuge returns NO results!

So that’s more good news.

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8

I agree! It’s too general

9

I browsed these pages and most of them are talking about cover as % of an area (e.g. canopy cover), or have the word “discover” in their name. None were using the term as in shelter.

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10

Thanks, I was looking for this link.

Is it possible to search for observation fields used in Dermaptera observations, sorted on count descending?

1. I found three separate Observation Fields: ‘Under Stone’ ‘Under Bark’ and ‘Under Cover’

You can use these three Observation Fields. I did not understand ‘out and about’ but maybe this is ‘Under Cover’ =no.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observation_fields/18649

  1. Or extend this observation field ‘In or on wood, on or under bark’ with ‘Under stone’
  2. ‘‘Under Cover Type’’ can include all of your options… cause it is free text
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