Does anyone else feel that they’re overdoing it when asking for IDs? Specifically, I’m talking about tagging multiple people at different times days after the post was made, if not longer? I just get frustrated at times with pictures or recordings just going for weeks or months with no attention.
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I’d say look closer at the species/genus that you guess (or VR/AI ID), is it common, are there many observations in this area/state/country, etc.?
If not, maybe tag someone, but before tagging look at the profile, some users explicitly request NOT to be tagged, or only at some periods, etc.
It’s always the same core issue, not enough specialists in some fields, so not enough identifiers… except for birds, mammals, maybe and even there, with exotic species when there is a doubt, out of range, etc. nobody reacts…
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Since we lack identifiers, can you start by making more IDs for others?
There will definitely be a slice of iNat where you can help. (I would like iNatters to aim at two and half times as many IDs for others as their own obs. That allows for the ones that need discussion before they achieve agreement)
Then you can ask for help in turn.
Tag one person at a time. Wait a while before you ask another one.
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I don’t mind getting tagged by observers requesting help, but it does get tiresome when I have one person tag me repeatedly to look at common species that they uploaded an hour ago. If someone has multiple that they want me to look at, it’s easier if they send the lot in an identify page rather than a bunch of notifications. Like this https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?taxon_id=133753&place_id=168236&user_id=neylon
If you have a project you’re working on and want an opinion, then sending me a DM requesting extra ID focus can be effective. I’ve had people ask me that, and I’ve asked others.
However, if memory serves I think it’s only a couple of thousand identifiers doing something like 70% of ID’s. The amount of observers we’re getting is growing at a much higher rate than the amount of identifiers. In North America this is field season, so I spend more time out collecting my own observations, and do more ID in the winter. So I’d 2nd @DianaStuder and suggest adding more ID’s as well.
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Do try identifying. It is fun. Just over 12 hours for me to pick a beetle out of Unknowns, a taxon specialist to take it to subfamily, and an even more taxon specialist to make it obs 15 for a ssp.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/233805144
And I didn’t even have to ask for help - they have their taxon filters set, ready to pounce on suitable obs. Win win all the way. I am on a steady learning curve,
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I’ve been on iNat for six years. I consider myself a “more casual” user comparatively. I’m here to enjoy sharing who I find with the rest of you. I do not post with “life” “unknown” or as some do “something”. I have never requested an ID. Yes, old observations DO get attention. I go in and out of IDs for others. (I’m working only with my phone as internet, not easy for vision)
I know there are folks doing actual big time important things on and with iNat. They may need the speed.
In my opinion, the others like me, the ones contributing with few given ids should be patient. Our observations are important, the want of instant gratification seems
perhaps an internet side effect.
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You might also see this thread for some comments by IDers about how they feel about tagging practices: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/requesting-an-i-d/51402
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To give advice, it would help to know more about your situation. If what you mean is that you have submitted a lot of observations that are identified as best you can do them but no one has come along to help, I would suggest you work on building a network. Find someone interesting in your area and “follow” them, and identify their stuff or make helpful or positive comments on it. They are likely to reciprocate and even get into discussions with you. Do it again. Building a network is one of the most satisfying and fun aspects of iNaturalist. And identifying other people’s observations is a great way to build a network.
If on the other hand what you mean is you have one or two observations that you have worked your butt off trying to identify and just can’t make it out and really want help, try tagging one of the top identifiers (I usually go for someone a little way down the list, who’s in my region or at least country) and don’t just tag them, explain what efforts you’ve made and resources you’ve used. They’re more likely to invest in you if they think you really care. And thank them if they respond.
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I estimate I’ve asked for IDs on about 0.5% of my observations. Right now, my tendency is to ask for an ID only when I’m sure I’ve documented the features I think are diagnostic, have an authority for my own ID, and want to check my ID with someone. If it’s a taxon about which I know little (arthropods, tardigrades, fungi, algae, the list goes on…), I assume I probably haven’t included that diagnostic characters in my observation & so can’t expect an ID.
This is just my personal approach. Not trying to impose this on you or anyone else, just trying to answer your question honestly. Everyone has a slightly different approach to iNat, each of us has to figure out how to fit in to the iNat community.
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For Chironomids, re tagging me for interesting things that have gone months or longer without ID is ideal. I check all Chironomid observations uploaded a few times a day. I do not need to be tagged for when people upload a Chironomid. Unless its like really special or something.
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I’ve had this worry of tagging identifiers too often too. If you’re fine with waiting for an ID, you could try sending an identifier a private message with links to the observations you want them to look at. This could be at the end of every week or month. An added bonus of this method is that the identifier can more easily return to your observations. It’s often difficult to find a tag after it’s been viewed. With a message, it’s always in the same place.
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Concurrent to this discussion in an Indian Inat whatsapp group we were discussing about the lower % of RG observations. And one of the issues clearly is lack of local identifiers for the less well known groups.
As a coordinator of a Inat events / projects I do tag people – usually for others and very occasionally for myself.
I know there are id events as well but the never receive the same “intensity” as the challenges and the blitz. Also identifying to Genus / Species is harder (if done correctly) – it means more “effort” to look at what the organism is and making sure it is as accurate as possible.
Also when I do tag folks and they respond I usually say a thank you. And if they have made many identifications usually on one of them only say thank you for this and the other ids (so that their in box is not full of thank you responses).
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For some taxa and evidence types, it is not uncommon for them to go weeks, months, or years before being resolved to genus or species. Some observations never do get resolved. Maybe because the people capable of doing so have not arrived yet or because the observation lacks the information for it. I have observations that took 6 years to become RG. I also have 6 year old observations that are not RG yet, and that may never be.
As I accept it, the goal of observing is not to get to an answer as fast as possible. Rather, it is to hope for the most accurate community ID and welcome it being refined in the future. You can also try out researching how to refine your own IDs. I recommend asking for help after you have already made an attempt yourself. As an identifier, I do not mind being called into help with IDs. But it feels better to know the person asking for help tried to help themselves a bit first or has specific questions.
Tagging multiple people is something I reserve for correcting erroneously IDed observations where you need multiple opinions to shift the community ID to the correct ID. Or, in cases of highly unusual observations that experts will be interested in. Going days (or even months) without being RG is not a serious occasion warranting tagging multiple users on iNaturalist, in my opinion. I would save it for observations that really interest you.
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I agree to the sentiment “Be the change you want to see” … IDing is done by volunteers, people like you and me. But the compareably few IDers can only do so much to deal with the incoming flood of observations… there are just so many. ID for others and the favour might get returned back to you… and/or you learn more about your own observations along the way.
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I pretty much always ID with date sorting set to random to help that.
There’s an immense amount of red ear slider photographs that have been sitting waiting for ID’s
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