Thought I would start a thread as a catchment for ideas and thoughts on any trick, shortcut, skill, modification, or novelty method that increases productivity and effectivity or remedies shortcomings in all things to do with being a naturalist outside of using the iNaturalist platform or the like. …

[image] What's in your field kit? Stainless steel chopsticks. Good for prodding things. from Whats in your field kit? Thanks for the heads up @crellow

Shrimpers and fishermen here in Louisiana swear by Victoria’s Secret “Amber Romance” fragrance as a mosquito/gnat repellent. Another great trick is to bathe with plain old yellow Dial soap before a day in the field. It’s a good tick and chigger repellent

[image] What's in your field kit? One thing I carry that has been extremely useful over the years and weighs virtually nothing is a sheet of Tyvek (or equivalent house covering material) folded over on itself and tucked in my bag. Rather use a non durable plastic bag as a rain cover or barrier…

King Phil Came Over For Grape Soda Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Now you’ll never forget the order :)

Neat to see a different way to remember the taxonomic hierarchy. The mnenomic I’d learned for it was: Dear King Philip Came Over From Glorious Spain (Adds Domain to the previous list)

This is a question rather than a tip - does anyone know how to switch lenses quickly and keep them both clean? I often need to switch between a zoom and a macro, and the time often allows the life form to ‘escape’!

Good question. I don’t know if it is possible. I remember getting things fouled up with dust at the Grand Canyon. I upgraded my camera body shortly after that so I just keep my predicted least used lens on the old camera body and take them both out with me. I found even in the best conditions I wou…

And I had always just done it similar to the way Big Bird did the alphabet - DKPCOFGS (deekaypeecoughguz). I prefer your mnemonics.

Things like this are why I have a bridge camera now. One lens built in and it goes from macro to telephoto with good-enough results for my needs.It’s also smaller & weighs less so I’m more likely to carry it with me when I’m out.

I’ve always gotten the best single zoom-macro lens I could, and made do within its limits. Not ideally suited for the extremes of wide-angle, telephoto, or macro photography, to be sure. But carrying and switching extra lenses has always been in the “nope” category for my field style…

Life Hacks for naturalists

Nature Talk

bobmcd July 1, 2019, 3:24am 2

from Whats in your field kit? Thanks for the heads up @crellow

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