I searched within the Forum and iNaturalist itself and could not find a definition. Only after backing out of iNaturalist and searching Google using “what is an observation for a naturalist”, did I stumble across this in a post from a 2021 City Nature Challenge:
What is an observation?
Observations are the basic units of iNaturalist. An observation records an encounter with an individual organism at a particular time and location. This includes encounters with signs of organisms like tracks, nests, or things that just died.
I feel certain this or a close variant is elsewhere on iNaturalist, so why am I having such a hard time finding it?
And also is this a good overall definition? There will be follow up questions, (there always are) which is my favorite part, and that will be the first one. I saw other (non-iNat) definitions that were more general that alluded more to the practice of watching over longer periods. Since he often sees me hunkering or sitting on a garden bench and is invited to come see some creature I am looking at and what it is doing, perhaps another definition might make more sense.
Would whoever marked this solved marked it unsolved please? There was a second question I would still appreciate input for.
Recently there has been sort of a wave of my Forum topics being marked solved really quickly. It feels like they are being shuffles away. Perhaps I should just not post at all. : /
First of all, NO do not stop posting!
I’m sorry that got marked solved! I knew I had only answered the first question, that was easy. In wanting to think about the second question I got distracted by housework of all foolish things!
It seems incomplete. There’s nothing there involving the, well, involvement with iNaturalist. Why do this observing? What is citizen science? Those questions.
It is a bare bones definition of what an observation is.
(I went in and figured out how to unmark yours as the Solution and I edited the title. I think the Moderators are busy and it is good to know how to take something off their plate.)
An interesting thing to consider in the context of your question might be the many discussions around copyright that have happened on the forums. I know that observations have a separate copyright than their media, which suggests that media isn’t inherently part of the definition of an observation. Plus, we have the ability to upload observations without “evidence”.
So it seems that the heart of any definition of an observation must be the experience rather than the product of a photo, data point, etc.
I think the observation is the experience itself. On iNat, an observation is tied to a specific time and place, and it is backed up by evidence, which could be a photo, a sound recording, a drawing or even just a statement of, “I saw this thing.” Some kinds of evidence are more powerful than others, though. If the evidence can’t be evaluated by other people, then the observation is “casual.” Casual observations are not totally worthless, however. Besides being a way for observers to record their own lists, they also can provide clues as to where one might search for a species. If I see that an observer claimed to have seen Xenophora robusta at Muisne, Ecuador, that gives me at least a possible area to search. It is better than no information at all.
Absolutely not. As for its application within iNaturalist, I have no comment, as it seems relevant only to the iNaturalist platform and not to other fields.
I wholeheartedly agree that your Son’s point about the definition of observation is not only intelligent but also warrants deeper consideration. In my opinion, observation is a multifaceted concept. For instance, simply spotting a bird doesn’t constitute observation. Instead, observation entails a comprehensive understanding of the bird’s behavior, lifestyle, and habits.
To truly claim that I have observed Bird A, I must have gathered insights into its:
Nesting patterns
Mating habits
Egg-laying and breeding behaviors
Flight patterns
Feeding habits
Plumage changes
Behavioral adaptations to different habitats
Moreover, observation requires repeated encounters with the same species across various stages of their life cycle and in different seasons. This principle applies not only to birds but to all creatures.
In my view, watching and observing are not interchangeable terms. While watching involves casual observation, true observation demands a more in-depth and prolonged engagement with the subject.
I’m focusing on general observation rather than scientific observation, which would involve studying aspects like digestive or nervous systems etc. I hope I’ve articulated my thoughts clearly.
If I had to study all you listed before posting an observation, I would never make a single observation.
The purpose of iNat is to engage with what you see, when you saw it, not make a complete life study of it.
Admittedly I am quite confused; I thought you had replied in this thread before but when I came back to thank you your reply was gone.
@Birdraghu-youtube that is a wonderfully fulsome definition but what would one do if it is not feasible due to migration and/or other logistical impossibilities (nesting in places impossible to observe, etc).
I have watched my Nannotrigona perilampoides endlessly but since they reside in small pipes, my views of them remain limited to what they do when they exit. But I can tell you all about them outside their homes.
I forgot to give @jmillsand and @papernautilus many thanks for their astute point re: evidence (photo, recording, drawing).
Observations that start at or end up Casual represent experiences of nature just the same, though they get a little bit of a poor treatment sometimes, it feels like.
I’m not exactly sure if this is relevant but it might help to look at GBIF. The basic unit of organization at GBIF is the occurrence. There are multiple occurrence types (see below). For example, iNat observations are mapped to a subgroup of occurrences called human observation. In contrast, there is also a subgroup called machine observation. If we knew what GBIF meant by “machine observation”, that might suggest a modification to your definition.
Here’s a list of GBIF occurrence types:
Observation
Machine observation
Human observation
Material sample
Material citation
Preserved specimen
Fossil specimen
Living specimen
Occurrence
If I find a list of corresponding definitions, I’ll let you know.
When a conversation is marked as solved it still remain open.
I am usually slow to respond so a lot of time it is solved by the time I get around to do it.
Moderators only close it when they think it’s gone off the rails.
I think the official definition is simple and somewhat vague on purpose, to encourage posting about wildlife and discourage posts about other things.
What constitute evidence of the organism or support for identification very much depends on the subject and the observers skill, equipment and the ability to legally collect or not.
I understand that iNaturalist has its own definition of ‘observation,’ and I respect that. However, I’d like to share my personal perspective on what constitutes a true observation. In my view, observing goes beyond merely spotting or watching; it involves a deeper level of engagement and understanding.
While iNaturalist’s objectives and purposes are important, I believe that concepts like observation should be considered in a broader context, beyond the platform’s specific definition.
I acknowledge that it’s not always possible or necessary to personally observe every aspect of a species’ behavior. For instance, I may have observed the feeding habits, adaptations, and plumage changes of Brown-headed Gulls, but I may not have witnessed their nesting patterns, mating habits, or breeding behaviors firsthand, as they don’t occur in my area.
I’m content with observing (as much as possible) species that are accessible to me, whether in my backyard, city, state, or country, within the limitations of my location. These are merely my personal thoughts, and I recognize that everyone has the right to define terms in their own way.
