You know you're seriously into iNat when

[mira_l_b]

you name your children Inat and Tani (this one’s not true… yet!)

Unless someone has named a child iNat?

Just checking in…anyone give birth (or adopt!) since @biosam commented?

[mira_l_b]

…you realize that saying, “I use this awesome citizen science app” doesn’t even begin to explain your obsession (ahem…enthusiastic involvement) with iNat and you struggle to explain just how amazing the potential of this whole thing is. (sorry, not that funny…just sincere)

[juliereid]

That is really funny. Thanks for the laugh!

[field_daze]

#relationshipgoals

[dellfalconer]

when you need a new doctor. It may not have cardiovascular benefits but it’s so healthy to be active out in the world! I wonder if one can do species ID on a treadmill or something.

I should have mentioned we were specifically discussing cardiovascular benefits. I’m sure he is aware of the other health benefits :-)

[scubabruin]

These all apply to me and I thank you all for the chuckles and awesome reminders why we love this so much. iNat is definitely a verb for me too :).
A couple more to share:

…you’re hiking with friends or just walking up to the local coffee joint and you throw your arms out yelling at everyone with you to stop moving because there is a bird, spider, lizard, butterfly, etc. You grab your smart phone or handy camera (almost always with me nowadays) and try for the safety shot, then creep closer for the better angles and less blurry photos.

…make sure you’re at the front of a hike so no one will scare the critters away before you iNat them.

…point out raptors on every tree, telephone pole, and streetlight along the highway or road you are traveling on.

…warn family or friends you will be stopping for any potential new additions to species list.

…absolutely plan travel to new places with plenty of time set aside to properly iNat thereby seeing the wild and urban nature there.

[mira_l_b]

You grab your smart phone or handy camera (almost always with me nowadays) and try for the safety shot, then creep closer for the better angles and less blurry photos.

…you realize everyone here most likely read that and knew with precision what was meant but also what the state of mind is of someone prioritizing such photos. You also know the unique frustration and, dare I say, existential struggle, of having brief bouts of overconfidence and approaching the subject too quickly thus not getting the sacred “safety shot.” No shot= Arrrgggg.

[clay_s]

when you need a new doctor. It may not have cardiovascular benefits but it’s so healthy to be active out in the world! I wonder if one can do species ID on a treadmill or something.

I should have mentioned we were specifically discussing cardiovascular benefits. I’m sure he is aware of the other health benefits :-)

My doctor recommended that I should walk out at a swift pace for cardio benefits, and then observe on the way back for cooling down/my enjoyment.

[lhiggins]

When you wake up at midnight on the first day of the City Nature Challenge to try and be the first person to make an ID in your city’s effort. RIGHT @kestrel @amyjaeckerjones

[lhiggins]

In our trainings @natureinla we call the safety shot: “capture the moment” We use a series of awesome photos of a lizard that @maiz took…

[janetwright]

try for the safety shot, then creep closer for the better angles and less blurry photos.

This cracked me up. Sometimes 40 safety and creep-up shots.

[dellfalconer]

when you need a new doctor. It may not have cardiovascular benefits but it’s so healthy to be active out in the world! I wonder if one can do species ID on a treadmill or something.

I should have mentioned we were specifically discussing cardiovascular benefits. I’m sure he is aware of the other health benefits :-)

My doctor recommended that I should walk out at a swift pace for cardio benefits, and then observe on the way back for cooling down/my enjoyment.

Oh, that won’t work :-) What if I see something cool on the way out?

[lisa_bennett]

‘The safety shot’ - I totally do that but I didn’t have a name for it! I’ll be adding it to my vocab :) Thanks!

[kiwifergus]

I got to 5m away from a white faced heron today with about 20 safety shots starting at some 60-70m

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/25986105

[clay_s]

when you need a new doctor. It may not have cardiovascular benefits but it’s so healthy to be active out in the world! I wonder if one can do species ID on a treadmill or something.

I should have mentioned we were specifically discussing cardiovascular benefits. I’m sure he is aware of the other health benefits :-)

My doctor recommended that I should walk out at a swift pace for cardio benefits, and then observe on the way back for cooling down/my enjoyment.

Oh, that won’t work :-) What if I see something cool on the way out?

I know! I can’t look at both sides of the trail if I did it. I said recommended, not followed. :)

[ellen5]

When you suddenly want to enhance your yoga practice by posing like insects you have photographed

[mira_l_b]

I do West African dance like a Carolina Wren and a thousand other birds…why not insect yoga?

[jonwbecker]

I recently had a nightmare where there were snakes everywhere (a dream I’ve had occasionally throughout my life), but this time my main thought besides get away from the snakes was, “I wish I had a camera to photograph all these cool snakes for iNat. This would definitely get Observation of the Day.”

[whaichi]

You check your new notifications and, based on the username of the identifier, already have a good guess as to which observations of yours they’re identifying before clicking through to the photo.

[erininmd]

Sat down in my coworkers car after lunch on Friday and saw a fly on the backseat. My first thought was “Oh! I hope it stays still long enough for me to get a picture” https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/26126775