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 📷 Scissor-tailed flycatcher by Pratyaydipta Rudra/RPS 2022
Sharing nature sightings is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can get involved in conservation. It’s something you can do whether you’re new to nature or have years of experience, and every sighting helps biologists learn a little more about our state’s natural resources.
🐦 Read on to find out what to share and how to share it, and how to get your nature-sharing feet wet later this week!
 🎥 Dr. James Hung shares why nature sightings are so valuable.
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As passionate and dedicated as Oklahoma’s biologists are, they can’t document every incredible animal and plant found in every corner of the state every hour of the day. Instead, they conduct targeted surveys during key times, often on public lands, and rely on nature enthusiasts to help fill in the knowledge gaps throughout the year.
Sharing sightings not only makes you more aware of the natural world around you, but can also be key to statewide conservation efforts.
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 📷 Plains box turtle
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Contributing to conservation can be as simple as sharing the details of observations made in your backyard, during your commute, or on your recent hunting or fishing trip. Specific what, when, and where details of your nature sightings can help biologists track the status of fish, wildlife, and plants across the state.
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 📷 American white pelicans by Stephen Ofsthun
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Sharing the details of your nature sightings can be a lot like skipping the perfect rock across the water. Documenting the specific what, when, and where details can help you remember your wild encounters ... help fellow naturalists plan their next adventure ... and help biologists design their next survey or study. Here are just a few examples of how Oklahoma sightings have been used for conservation:
🐢 When the Wildlife Department updated “A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Amphibians and Reptiles,” it used sighting details shared on platforms like iNaturalist and HerpMapper to expand the known ranges of multiple species. These more accurate range maps can be especially helpful when planning new survey and research projects.
🦅 When naturalist Stephen Ofsthun reported a tagged American white pelican he photographed at Lake Thunderbird to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory, he helped biologists with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game learn more about the travel patterns of pelicans hatched in their state.
🌱 Before Amy Buthod, botanist for the Oklahoma Biological Survey, heads into the field to inventory our state’s plant communities, she searches several databases to identify plants that may be growing in her survey area and those with incomplete records. iNaturalist has been especially helpful, with 139 observations of 51 taxa tracked by the Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory made in 2020 alone! Buthod doesn't just use iNaturalist to connect to nature, it has also helped her connect with people! A fellow iNaturalist recently reached out about a federally threatened plant that was previously unknown to occur in Oklahoma. Buthod confirmed the sighting within a week and the duo will soon publish their finding.
🐟 When the Wildlife Department receives reports of aquatic nuisance species like bighead carp, biologists can collect important data about the invasive species and track their infiltration in the state’s waters. The bighead carp invasion into Oklahoma has proven bizarre so far…reports seem limited to adult animals and biologists have not yet seen signs of recruitment. Additionally, the existing population hasn’t seemed to boom as it has in other states and waterways. The more bighead carp the Wildlife Department can get from anglers, the more we can learn.
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One Oklahoma mom is building a bridge for her family to explore the natural world by sharing sightings on iNaturalist.
"Being present and engaging with my children in this modern world can be a challenge. To think that using an app and a smartphone to get more connected with nature and my kids doesn't seem obvious. But combining the two worlds of technology and nature has created a bridge that is expanding our knowledge of the outdoors and our time together in it."
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Identifying plants and animals can be a daunting but worthwhile endeavor. Building identification skills can take years, calls for a lot of patience and attention to detail, and often leads to memorable – if not sometimes hair-pullingly frustrating – time spent in nature. Thankfully, countless resources are available that suit a variety of learning styles.
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 📷 Coastal Plains leopard frog
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The hardest thing about sharing nature sightings might just be remembering to share nature sightings! To help you build the habit, we’ve created a “See. Share. Science-A-Thon.” on iNaturalist. Simply login or create a free account by May 6 and upload your sighting details (and photos if you have them!). Our project wraps on May 13, but you can continue to see nature, share your sightings, and be a scientist throughout the year!
📰 If you're looking for even more ways to get involved in conservation, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, the Wild Side. Each issue features Oklahoma's nongame fish and wildlife and the people that work to conserve them. Our next newsletter will land May 25.
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