August 29, 2018

Finding "User made places" in iNat

Hi. It seems like a silly subject to bring up however I for the longest time could not find "places" unless I already knew the exact names.
When trying to find places, especially user made places, DO NOT go to the places page of the website. Go directly to the Explore page. On the Explore page there is an option on the map named "Places of Interest" and it constantly updates and changes when you move the map or zoom in/out. You have to constantly click on this in order to drop down a menu. On the menu are some of the Places that fall within the map area shown. This does not mean that all places are shown on the drop down menu. Many of the areas on the map have to be zoomed in close in order to show the places that are in the smaller area. If an area has a large number of places in it then zooming in is required otherwise it is very easy to miss the places. Once you find some places then moving the mouse over the name highlights it on the map. Unfortunately the drop down menu of places and the list of observations to the right tend to block most of the map and make it very difficult to see many of the places without adjusting where the map is centered. Making the map full screen also looses the option for the Places of Interest.
This is as of 8/29/2018 and the system may change so hopefully this helps someone if they happen to read this.

RG

Posted on August 29, 2018 03:32 PM by observer26 observer26 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

August 18, 2018

Update: projects and such

As of 11/2/2018:
Made "places" for:
STATE PARKS:
Buffalo Rock State Park, (ob26) : a sizable state park in Lasalle County, Illinois
Illini State Park, (Marseilles,ob26) : a sizable state park in Marseilles, Lasalle County, Illinois
Matthiessen State Park, (ob26a) : a sizable state park in Lasalle County, Illinois
Starved Rock State Park, (ob26a) : largest state park in Lasalle County, Illinois

LaSalle County Park, Illinois:
Catlin Park, (LaSalle County,ob26) : sizable county run park

OTTAWA, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Allen Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
City Garden #1 (Ottawa, ob26) : small city garden downtown
East Side Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Fox River Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Green Street Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : park
Hollywood Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Jordon Block Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Kiwanis Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Lincoln-Douglas Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : a sizable city park with city pool
Old Central School Space, (Ottawa,ob26) : sport fields and open space where a school was
Peck Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : sizable park
Pembrook Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : private local resident park
Rigden Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Thornton Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Turnberry Park (ottawa,ob26) : city park
Varland Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Walsh Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park
Washington Park, (Ottawa,ob26) : city park

MARSEILLES, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Danielson-Stevenson Park, (Marseilles,ob26)
Guthrie Park, (Marseilles,ob26) : city park
John C Knudson Park (Marseilles,ob26) : small city park
Broadway Park, (Marseilles,ob26) : small city park

STREATOR, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Central Park, (Streator,ob26a) : city park
City Park, (Streator,ob26a) : city park
Marilla Park (Streator, ob26a) : a sizable park
Oakland Park, (Streator,ob26) : park by a school
Southside Athletic Park, (Streator,ob26) : a sizable park
Spring Lake Park, (Streator,ob26a) : a sizable park

SENECA, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Crotty Park, (Seneca,ob26a) : city park

OGLESBY, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Lehigh Park, (Oglesby,ob26a) : a sizable park
McPhedran Park, (Oglesby,ob26) : city park
Memorial Park, (Oglesby,ob26a) : a city park

LASALLE, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Hegeler Park, (Lasalle,ob26) : a sizable city park
Mary Hegeler Carus Park, (Lasalle,ob26): a sizable city park
Mattheissen Park, (Lasalle,ob26) : a city park
Mitchells Grove Nature Preserve, (Lasalle,ob26): sizable area outside of the city
Pulaski Park, (Lasalle,ob26) : a city park
Rotary Park, (Lasalle,0b26) : a large city park
St Marys Park, (Lasalle,ob26) : small city park

PERU, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Baker Park, (Peru,ob26) : sizable city park
Centennial Park, (Peru,ob26) : city park
Central Park, (Peru,ob26) : small city park
Market Square, (Peru,ob26) : small city park
McKinley Park, (Peru,ob26) : sizable city park
Sunset Park, (Peru,ob26) : city park
Twenty-Eighth Street Park, (Peru,ob26) : city park
Veteran's Memorial Park, (Peru,ob26) : city park
Washington Park, (Peru,ob26) : sizable city park

NAPLATE, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Vittone Park, (Naplate,ob26) : city park

PRINCETON, BUREAU COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Zearing Park, (Princeton,ob26) : park

WEDRON, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Wilbur Thompson Park, (Wedron,ob26) : park

MENDOTA, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Blackstone Park, (Mendota,ob26) : city park
Mendota Lake Park, (Mendota,ob26) : large city park with lake
Kakusha Park, (Mendota,ob26) : sizable park with city pool

RUTLAND, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Stenger Park, (Rutland,ob26) : park

LOSTANT, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
Village Park, (Lostant,ob26) : sizable park

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
McKinley Woods, (Channahon,ob26a) : a sizable Forest Preserve in Will County, Illinois

Made Projects for:
Lasalle County Parks, Illinois: 1 project to include all smaller parks
Spring Lake Park, Streator, Illinois
Matthiessen State Park, Lasalle County, Illinois
Starved Rock State Park, Lasalle County, Illinois
Buffalo Rock State Park, Lasalle County, Illinois
McKinley Woods, Will County, Illinois
Illini State Park, Marseilles, Illinois
Shawnee National Forest, Illinois
Round Goby in Illinois Waterways

Posted on August 18, 2018 09:05 AM by observer26 observer26 | 2 comments | Leave a comment

August 8, 2018

August 2018 goals and Projects

Additional goals:
Revisit some locations and do a more detailed set of observations.
Attempt to document in extreme detail additional species so that ID is possible.
Attempt to diversify into micro species so that greater diversity can be documented.
Create projects for locations visited that will help to highlight areas that seem "overlooked" by the community.
Add enough species to project areas so that more observers could visit areas and confidently have a better chance at locating them and similar.

Projects:
Matthiessen State Park: I was added as a curator and I will continue to adhere to the original project goal while adding to and improving the project. Physically adding to the project seems to be necessary as this project is a Traditional one.

Matthiessen State Park, IL, surveying: I created this automated Collection project in order to make assessment of the park easier. This project will be used to update the previous Traditional project.

Starved Rock State Park, IL, surveying: I created this project with the hope that there would be more of an emphasis for this area to be looked at and appreciated. Being the largest park in Lasalle County, it deserves to have some representation on the iNaturalist system. The project is completely self contained and allows for the most accurate data representation and presentation. I just wanted to add this project and see in the future what is shown for the park.

Spring Lake Park (Nature Area): I created this project because the area is a very nice one that had no representation on the iNaturalist system. The project is completely self contained and allows for the most accurate data representation and presentation. I just wanted to add this project and see in the future what is shown for the park.

RG

Posted on August 8, 2018 01:05 PM by observer26 observer26 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 28, 2018

Donated Phone/Camera Received 6/24/2018: New Goals

I have to admit that my camera equipment so far has been limited by the lack of geo-tagging and/or gps tags direct to the photos. A great deal of time is spent on location. As of this week I managed to receive a new camera/phone that is hopefully going to be dedicated to getting locations set in stone. Eventually observations on this listing should include a precise location tag that should allow for better everything in my opinion.
July goals will hopefully include:
Full surveys of some previous locations in order to have a location map that improves previous observations already posted.
Mass entries of some locations due to the ability to survey and have exact locations.
Full exploration of areas that don't have adequate mapping in order to produce a "site map" that all can refer to.
More detailed listings of locations now that the locations of some species can be determined. Many species and sites had to be skipped to allow for decreased mapping discrepancies. I will try to revisit these species.
The increase of photo quality to what many other observers have.
The increase of species observable and photos achieved due to greater resolution and battery life.

RG

Posted on June 28, 2018 04:51 AM by observer26 observer26 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 10, 2018

2018 Greenbrier check of Spring Lake Park, Streator, Illinois

I wanted to take a look at this group of plants at this park just to do so. Found some nice representative groups.
RG

Posted on June 10, 2018 02:31 AM by observer26 observer26 | 17 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

June 5, 2018

Greenbrier/Carrionflower collaboration outing 2018

Interesting day today meeting up with Janet Wright (janetwright) of the iNaturalist community who happened to be passed through the area. I had fun spending the day out doing something instead of being alone at home. I did appreciate the further opportunity to photography and explore more of the Starved Rock Area.
A shout out to Janet who gave me the excuse to be in the area at and around Illinois Canyon. If she had not accepted my help in finding some greenbriers I would not have had the observations today that I did. I hope to post the observations soon and attach some to this entry.
Some species today included:
Unusual/rare: Skipjack shad, round goby
Other: Bristly Greenbrier, carrionflowers, bloodroot, American white pelican, bluegill, green sunfish, waterleaf, raccoon, spiderwort, northern watersnake, false soloman's seal, mayapple

RG

Posted on June 5, 2018 03:25 AM by observer26 observer26 | 32 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 30, 2018

Channahon State Park Round Gobies

I had previously caught a few Round Gobies at this location back in 2009. Unfortunately the information turned over on them did not get posted to the USGS website and therefore there is no direct posting for these collections. I wanted to be able to show that this species is unfortunately at this location and I will try to show distribution and density if possible.
When photographing it is best to try and get the profile and then the underside to get the "eye spot" and the pelvic disk. I will try to include at least 3 photos showing these characteristics and then a photo showing location and/or relation to one another for the visit (group photo). A photo showing the number of individuals as they add up at a location for a visit can really help to show the density in my opinion. I do apologize if size is not fully illustrated but I will try to use a ruler if applicable.
When trying to catch Round Goby at this location it is best to look for the rocks and logs along the shore especially around the spillway and bridges although throughout the area could yield a fish. Use a standard hook in order to "pre-catch" any sunfish or natives and in order to try and avoid those fish "swallowing" the smaller hooks. Use a piece of worm and try to go as small as possible. Size 10 or smaller hooks are necessary in order to get the smaller gobies. The gobies have a very bad tendency to "strip" a hook of bait and so the smaller hooks can be eaten by them. The gobies also have a very bad tendency to pull the hook and line under the surrounding structure. The hook when pulled can then get caught on the rock, etc. that the goby is hiding under and the fish tends to get away. Do not be surprised if it takes multiple attempts and try to "bob" the hook gently up and down to get their attention. I do however find that gobies eat throughout the water column including the surface at time.
There does seem to be a good native population so catching them is sometimes necessary to get to the gobies. Feel free to retry areas and go over the same spot many times in order to catch the fish there. It is nice to be able to note all fish and include pictures.
RG

Posted on May 30, 2018 03:43 PM by observer26 observer26 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

McKinley Woods, Will County, Forest Preserve Round Gobies

I had not previously caught Round Gobies at this location so I am trying here for 2018. I wanted to be able to show that this species has the potential to be at this location and I will try to show distribution and density if possible.
When photographing it is best to try and get the profile and then the underside to get the "eye spot" and the pelvic disk. I will try to include at least 3 photos showing these characteristics and then a photo showing location and/or relation to one another for the visit (group photo). A photo showing the number of individuals as they add up at a location for a visit can really help to show the density in my opinion. I do apologize if size is not fully illustrated but I will try to use a ruler if applicable.
When trying to catch Round Goby at this location it is best to look for the rocks and logs along the shore especially around the rail bridge. Use a standard hook in order to "pre-catch" any sunfish or natives and in order to try and avoid those fish "swallowing" the smaller hooks. Use a piece of worm and try to go as small as possible. Size 10 or smaller hooks are necessary in order to get the smaller gobies. The gobies have a very bad tendency to "strip" a hook of bait and so the smaller hooks can be eaten by them. The gobies also have a very bad tendency to pull the hook and line under the surrounding structure. The hook when pulled can then get caught on the rock, etc. that the goby is hiding under and the fish tends to get away. Do not be surprised if it takes multiple attempts and try to "bob" the hook gently up and down to get their attention. I do however find that gobies eat throughout the water column including the surface at time.

Posted on May 30, 2018 01:06 PM by observer26 observer26 | 1 observation | 0 comments | Leave a comment

Starved Rock Round Gobies

I had previously caught a few Round Gobies at this location back in 2009. Unfortunately the information turned over on them did not get posted to the USGS website and therefore there is no direct posting for these collections. I wanted to be able to show that this species is unfortunately at this location and I will try to show distribution and density if possible. There is some potential to dig up these fish at this location due to the shoreline length and people visiting should not be targeting this species directly.
When photographing it is best to try and get the profile and then the underside to get the "eye spot" and the pelvic disk. I will try to include at least 3 photos showing these characteristics and then a photo showing location and/or relation to one another for the visit (group photo). A photo showing the number of individuals as they add up at a location for a visit can really help to show the density in my opinion. I do apologize if size is not fully illustrated but I will try to use a ruler if applicable.
When trying to catch Round Goby at this location it is best to look for the rocks and logs along the shore. Use a standard hook in order to "pre-catch" any sunfish or natives and in order to try and avoid those fish "swallowing" the smaller hooks. Use a piece of worm and try to go as small as possible. Size 10 or smaller hooks are necessary in order to get the smaller gobies. The gobies have a very bad tendency to "strip" a hook of bait and so the smaller hooks can be eaten by them. The gobies also have a very bad tendency to pull the hook and line under the surrounding structure. The hook when pulled can then get caught on the rock, etc. that the goby is hiding under and the fish tends to get away. Do not be surprised if it takes multiple attempts and try to "bob" the hook gently up and down to get their attention. I do however find that gobies eat throughout the water column including the surface at time.
RG

Posted on May 30, 2018 01:02 PM by observer26 observer26 | 2 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 25, 2018

Illini State Park Round Gobies

I had previously caught many Round Gobies at this location back in 2009. Unfortunately the information turned over on them did not get posted to the USGS website and therefore there is no direct posting for these collections. I wanted to be able to show that this species is unfortunately at this location worse than advised and I will try to show distribution and density if possible.
When photographing it is best to try and get the profile and then the underside to get the "eye spot" and the pelvic disk. I will try to include at least 3 photos showing these characteristics and then a photo showing location and/or relation to one another for the visit (group photo). A photo showing the number of individuals as they add up at a location for a visit can really help to show the density in my opinion. I do apologize if size is not fully illustrated but I will try to use a ruler if applicable.
When trying to catch Round Goby at this location it is best to look for the rocks and logs along the shore especially around the road bridge and docks. Use a standard hook in order to "pre-catch" any sunfish or natives and in order to try and avoid those fish "swallowing" the smaller hooks. Use a piece of worm and try to go as small as possible. Size 10 or smaller hooks are necessary in order to get the smaller gobies. The gobies have a very bad tendency to "strip" a hook of bait and so the smaller hooks can be eaten by them. The gobies also have a very bad tendency to pull the hook and line under the surrounding structure. The hook when pulled can then get caught on the rock, etc. that the goby is hiding under and the fish tends to get away. Do not be surprised if it takes multiple attempts and try to "bob" the hook gently up and down to get their attention. I do however find that gobies eat throughout the water column including the surface at times.
This area I consider to be the worst infestation I have found as of 2009.
RG

Posted on May 25, 2018 03:14 PM by observer26 observer26 | 9 observations | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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