# Using Collection Projects to Explore

**URL:** <https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813>\
**Category:** Tutorials\
**Created:** [December 17, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813 "2025-12-17T18:41:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sc\_beetles](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/sc_beetles/32/59511_2.png) [@sc\_beetles](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/sc_beetles)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813/1 "2025-12-17T18:41:05Z")

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Scenario - I want to view observations of the nominate species “red spotted admiral”, but exclude the ssp “red spotted purple” in N. Carolina & S Carolina

I can use explore and edit the URL:

[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place\_id=43,30&taxon\_id=60607&without\_taxon\_id=58585](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=43,30&taxon_id=60607&without_taxon_id=58585)

**OR**

I can open up the collection project I use for more complex filters. Very easy to add multiple places, exclude taxa, add annotations etc. I have one, saved as my user name for such things. I often find it simpler. I can then use that project name in regular explore mode.

 ![1000005180](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/inaturalist/original/3X/a/f/af16d4283410a26f9c9fd8cc745c09ea683b12a9.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![IDfanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecd19e/32.png) [@IDfanatic](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/IDfanatic)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813/2 "2025-12-17T20:07:56Z")

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Both works. What’s more complex about the project filters? I was getting away quite well with the URLs.

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**Author:** ![janetwright](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/janetwright/32/519_2.png) [@janetwright](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/janetwright)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:17pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813/3 "2025-12-17T21:17:32Z")

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Yes! I have a collection project I use to filter for plant phenology (budding, flowering, fruiting) by changing the taxon and the annotation rule. It’s quick and I don’t have to look up any code.

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**Author:** ![sc\_beetles](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/sc_beetles/32/59511_2.png) [@sc\_beetles](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/sc_beetles)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813/4 "2025-12-17T21:25:32Z")

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I like it for Caterpillars or if I have to filter on more than a couple taxa or places.

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**Author:** ![thomaseverest](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thomaseverest/32/63220_2.png) [@thomaseverest](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/thomaseverest)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/using-collection-projects-to-explore/73813/5 "2025-12-17T21:32:35Z")

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I have also done something similar:

[https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/thomaseverest/77252-search-tools-for-mollusks-by-habitat](https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/thomaseverest/77252-search-tools-for-mollusks-by-habitat)