Garden Route INaturalist

13/06/2026

Winter Work: Identifications Matter

Cold days, short light, the field slows down,
boots stay dry, no need to roam far.
But the work is far from done or still,
it moves indoors with steady skill.

A photo waits, a name unknown,
leaf or insect, feather or bone.
A question mark in every frame,
asking quietly for the right name.

Each ID adds weight, each check brings care,
turns “unknowns” into something clearer now.
A record sharp, a dataset strong,
fixing small gaps where names belong.

So while the wild rests under grey,
the mind can still help shape the way.
One careful ID, then another too,
and winter’s data comes alive through you.

12/06/2026

iNaturalist Update: The "Unknown" Filter Just Got Simpler
If you enjoy helping identify observations on iNaturalist, there has been a small but useful change to the "Unknown" filter in the Explore and Identify pages.

Previously, the "Unknown" filter showed both:
🔍 Observations with no identification at all
🦠 Certain identified groups, such as bacteria and viruses that do not belong to an iconic taxon

These were often confused.
Now, when you select the "Unknown" filter, it will show ONLY observations that have not yet been identified.

A few things to know:
🍃 The "Unknown" filter can no longer be used together with groups like Birds, Plants, or Fungi
🔄 Clicking "Unknown" will clear any other taxon filters you have selected
🔎 Bacteria, viruses, and similar groups can still be found by searching for them in the species search box
🔗 Existing saved links and bookmarks will continue to work as before

This update should make it quicker and easier for identifiers to find observations that need a first ID.

📝 Adding a broad identification, such as Plant, Bird, Insect, or Fungus, is often the first step in helping an observation move towards Research Grade and become more useful for biodiversity research and conservation.

Will this change make it easier for you to find and help identify truly unknown observations on iNaturalist?

Read more: https://www.inaturalist.org/blog/131849

To reduce confusion, we made a small change to the way the “Unknown” filter on Explore and Identify pages works. Key Takeaways The “Unknown” leaf outline button filter on Explore and Identify pages now only returns unidentified observations in results, rather than displaying all observations...

11/06/2026

Nature Photography Day!

15 June 2026 is Nature Photography Day and SANBI will be celebrating with you from 12 to 16 June 2026.

Visit any of SANBI’s botanical and zoological gardens, while you are there, take pictures and post on social media and tag SANBI’s social media platforms using the following hashtags:

Win a day visit to one of our botanical or zoological gardens.

Entries close 16 June 2026

10/06/2026

🌿 Garden Route BioBlitz 2026 Needs a Champion!
The Great Southern Bioblitz 2026, supported by SANBI, is calling for a local organiser to step forward and help bring this exciting citizen science event to life in the Garden Route.

This is your chance to help coordinate one of the region’s biggest biodiversity recording events, where nature lovers of all ages come together to document life across our landscapes using iNaturalist.

📅 Event dates: Friday 27 to Monday 30 November 2026
📌 Observation window: Uploads and identifications continue until 14 December 2026
🌍 A celebration of Southern Hemisphere biodiversity, community science, and discovery

Whether you are an individual, a group, or an organisation with a passion for nature, this is an opportunity to make a real impact by helping others connect with biodiversity and contribute valuable data for conservation.

📌 Are you up to the challenge of organising or co-organising the Garden Route BioBlitz?

📧 For more information or support, contact Suvarna Parbhoo at [email protected]. You can also send an email to [email protected] for assistance.

This is more than an event. It is a chance to inspire thousands of observations, strengthen local biodiversity knowledge, and grow the citizen science community in the Garden Route.

What could be discovered in the Garden Route if more people helped coordinate and connect communities to biodiversity recording events like this?

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/grgsb-compare-year-by-year

Importance of Tracking Yearly BioBlitz Progress Each year, the Great Southern BioBlitz takes place within one of three months: September, October, or November. This rotation means that over a three-year cycle, the full spring season of the Southern Hemisphere is covered, giving a fair view of season...

10/06/2026

Excitingly, there is almost certainly an insect within 10 feet of you right now ... the more you look, the more you find! And when you share what you see on iNaturalist, the community can help you figure out exactly what you found. No find is too "common," seriously. Happy bug-searching! 🪲🪰🐛

09/06/2026

Outramps April and May 2026

Outramps DiariesApril and May 2026

08/06/2026

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/garden-route-district-south-africa

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗦: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗛

Oceans cover most of our planet and quietly support almost everything living on land and in the sea. Even though they feel vast and endless, they are under increasing pressure from human activity.

🌊 Why oceans matter
• They hold about 97% of Earth’s water
• Support around 80% of all life on Earth, much of it still not fully known
• Produce over half of the oxygen we breathe
• Help regulate climate and weather patterns
• Provide food and livelihoods for billions of people
Different oceans also support very different life. From coral reefs filled with fish to icy waters where polar species survive extreme conditions, each system plays a unique role in global biodiversity.

🌍 Major threats facing marine life
Marine ecosystems are changing fast due to a combination of pressures:
• Climate change leads to warming seas, coral bleaching, and loss of polar ice habitats
• Overfishing and bycatch reduce fish populations and unintentionally harm turtles, dolphins, and whales
• Pollution, especially plastics and toxic waste, enters the ocean from land and moves through food chains
• Agricultural runoff creates low oxygen “dead zones” that cannot support life
• Coastal development destroys wetlands, seagrass beds, and breeding areas
• Industrial waste and sewage further stress already vulnerable systems

📉 The reality today
• Marine species populations have dropped significantly in recent decades
• Ocean habitats are declining faster than at almost any other time in history
• Only a small portion of coastlines remain in a natural, intact state
• The ocean supports over 90% of Earth’s species but is under serious strain

All of this is linked to human activity, creating pressure across the entire marine food web, from tiny plankton to large whales.

🌱 How citizen science fits in
Every observation matters. By recording marine life through platforms like iNaturalist, people help build a clearer picture of what is changing along our coastlines. These records support research, conservation planning, and long-term monitoring of biodiversity.

Even simple sightings along the Garden Route coast can add valuable data.

05/06/2026