11 Comments
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Bitty Roy's avatar

I am glad I was gentle enough in my phrasing that you kept adding to iNat. It is tricky to correct users in such a way that they don't take it too hard, but make better observations the next time. Just like with students!-Bitty

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Bill Ward's avatar

Rudy, Very enjoyable reading. Keep up the great writing and send more!

Best

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Belonging Through the Wild's avatar

Hi Bill. Thanks. I can’t believe how many drafts I have to go through, and when I hit submit, and sleep on it, and see it the next day, it is just a mess! This will be a process for me, so hang in there:)

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Bill Ward's avatar

You’re off to a great start

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Carla Beaudet's avatar

Hello Rudy, Met you at Bob and Elaine's, foraging for mushrooms. Just today back from the WVMC annual foray where one of the speakers debunked the excellent story I told you about the carboniferous period and the evolution of white rot fungi. It's originator, a brilliant taxonomist, David Hibbit, recanted it, apparently when genetic evidence proved that the white rot fungi evolved prior to the brown rot fungi instead of the other way 'round. Boo hiss; it was a good story. So what did create the carboniferous layer? Likely climate change, an ice age.

Enjoying your writing, and looking forward to reading more. If I were more interested in the science than the foraging, I would be using iNaturalist regularly; every year at the foray, mycologist Shannon Nix gives a talk about the app. But I am retired now, and documentation of any kind, even, say, starting a Substack blog, feels a bit like work.

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Belonging Through the Wild's avatar

Hi Carla. My motto? If it feels like work, and you aren't getting paid, let it go :)

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Lurkr's avatar

This is great writing Rudy and I enjoyed it a lot. I have used iNat a bit but now I really need to check it out more. Thanks a lot for the inspiration! Stay happy!!!🤗

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Belonging Through the Wild's avatar

Hi Lurkr. I recommend visiting the website on your computer. You don’t have to log in. Pick: explore. In the Species box type…whatever your favorite thing is. Instead of typing in a species, be more general. Type ‘katydids’ or Sharks and when an option pops in the dropdown menu you like, choose it. Then for location, type a place from your childhood. The results always make me smile :)

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PinkTweets's avatar

We were just talking about Fernando about two hours ago! Your post is a bit like an iNaturalist

report of a Naturalist!

Thank you and thanks to Fernando for the work you are doing.

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Belonging Through the Wild's avatar

Ha! That’s great to hear. Fernando and I have been messaging back and forth today. Thanks for having a read and cheers :)

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Dusti Becker's avatar

That’s a fun essay and will encourage more people to get on iNaturalist! Thanks

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