iNaturalist – Connecting People, Nature, and Science

This week on The Backyard Naturalists, Debbie and Laurie welcome Allison Young, Director of Outreach Programs for iNaturalist, the global platform that's changing the way people experience nature. Whether you're snapping a photo of a butterfly in your backyard, spotting a rare bird on a hike, or identifying tracks in the mud, iNaturalist turns those moments into data that helps fuel research, conservation, and environmental education worldwide. Allison takes us behind the scenes of iNaturalist, from its humble beginnings as a grad school project at UC Berkeley in 2008 to a thriving community of over 3.5 million users who have contributed 260+ million observations from more than 130 countries. She shares amazing success stories—like the rediscovery of species thought extinct, surprising range expansions, and new species discoveries—proving that every observation matters. You'll also learn how easy it is to get started, why common species are just as valuable to document as rare ones, and how iNaturalist's unique mix of technology and community makes it "the friendliest place on the internet." Plus, Debbie and Laurie swap a few of their own backyard sightings and ideas for using iNaturalist in guided walks and local nature events.