jstarspots's Journal

Heaps of iNat observations loiter in limbo because users upload them without any associated ID of any kind. As someone who isn't an expert in many fields of ID, if any, this is a space I can still be useful at. I know what's a plant, mammal, bird, fungi etc. Sometimes I know ID to a lower level. So adding general IDs is something I can do to help out. I've started posting this message when I do it:

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I'm just adding a general ID to help this observation reach those who can ID it further.
https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/help#identification

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Basically I'm doing step 5.

If you want to try your hand at improving the quality of iNat data by IDing the "unknown" you can use the filters on observations to only show what "needs ID" and is "unknown."

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?iconic_taxa=unknown&place_id=6744&quality_grade=needs_id

Obviously we want to encourage everyone to keep their eye out for new sightings of Lapwings on Roundabouts.

For now we're searching through historical lapwing records for any that are visually obvious:
roundabouts, carparks, roadways.

If you know such a sighting please join the project and add it yourself.

Hopefully this project encourages everyone to think about these unusual and yet common birds and how they engage so bravely with our built environment.

Here is a list of the observations that are actually on roundabouts, or immediately around, as best we can figure. If we've missed one, link us up in the comments.

Roundabouts:

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/108758757

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/201657533

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/196717468

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/192299396

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/108758757

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/112035682

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/42445488
(a roundabout with a road through the middle!)

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/53671202

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/103298977

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/150280378

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/129039832

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/111100922

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/62280856

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/17509569

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/76504424

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/123068223

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/116405890

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/204683709

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/130619605

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/184660745

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Traffic islands at a roundabout:

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/188457855

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/188323237

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/180113328

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/47481062

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/22651115

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/9759850

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/143362950

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/113551443

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/98897662

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/78559373

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/39149905
(a triangular roundabout!)

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/36249441

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/33348208

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/27937379

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/1536388

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/182338964

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/148963987

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/54899253

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/113345284

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/36493082

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/5126021
(with fake sheep!)

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/45768839

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/79064639

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Special mentions:
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/35484119
A lapwing in a city of roundabouts!

https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/100424662
A lapwing nesting on a tiny circular traffic island in a carpark.

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Aus-done.
S.Am -done
NZ-done
S-ish Africa - done
N-ish Africa & W. Europe done.

5/April/2024. Having visually inspected hundreds of thousands of lapwing photos thus far, I'm taking a break before returning to attempt N.America and Asia.