Becoming a Trail Naturalist

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

@AndreaL details ways we can become more aware of the nature that surrounds us in wilderness, check out the full article at the links below:

Becoming a Trail Naturalist in Issue 38

Becoming a Trail Naturalist: Hiking & Observing Nature - Republished on the TrailGroove Blog

Issue 38 Page 1

[Numbers]

Every walker interested in being a trail naturalist should join and contribute to iNaturalist.

https://www.inaturalist.org/

This is the best global citizen science naturalist site. On the trail, you can provide significant information showing new locations for plants and animals. World-wide experts quickly help you identify items shown in your photos, and you can preview what others saw on the trail.

iNaturalist started in 2008 by UC Berkley. In 2014 iNaturalist became an initiative of the California Academy of Sciences and a joint initiative with National Geographic Society in 2017.

[AndreaL]

iNaturalist is a great resource. Thanks, Numbers!

[RogerMoore]

Great article. Long ago I spent many a weekend learning to track. That extra knowledge has made all of my hikes better.

I’ve found lion tracks all through California, identified birds and animals that I have never seen and even tracked deer to their bed on occasion.

I’m looking to become a better birder now. Thanks!

[AndreaL]

Thanks, RogerMoore. Lion tracks are definitely an exciting addition to a hike! Good luck with the birding. 

[ppine]

Being a "naturalist" is what makes being out there so rewarding.  There is actually more to see off the trail. 

The term is left over from the NPS days when they had people in ranger suits giving talks to people at campgrounds.  Now they mostly have law enforcement agents instead. 

I am always looking for plant ecologists, foresters, range people and wildlife biologists to talk with in the wild.