Roadtrip Observations - Let Someone Else Drive
I'm fortunate in having a wife who enjoys extended road trips as much as I do. To make me even luckier, she enjoys doing the driving so that I can focus on my attention on the flora and fauna of the places we are passing through. During our recent trip through Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and California I started trying to photograph while we were on the move after noticing all the roadkill on the sides of the highway. This then morphed into shooting birds (mostly raptors) and some larger plants. This was difficult, especially up north where the posted speed limit is 80 MPH.
For years I've wanted to record a bird species in each and every county in the US. Now, with the advent of iNaturalist I want to have an observation with media in each of those counties. Yes, I'm an iNaturalist addict and proud of that fact! But, these observations do have scientific purpose especially in less visited areas of our country. It's a way to document what species you can while trying to get from Point A to Point B without time to stop.
Here is a map showing my progess on recording a bird in each county
Hopefully one day iNat will be able to create map like this for each person with their observations.
So, on your next trip I recommend letting someone else drive and have your camera ready. I suggest having a DSLR where you can set the shutter speed to at least 2000/sec but any camera where you can set it to take fast enough photos will work. Plan on taking lots of photos that are going to be immediately trash worthy, but hopefully you'll get a surprise, like I did with a Wolverine http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6676965. And, had I not been doing this, I wouldn't have gotten photos of a Common Raven eating a Deer Mouse http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/6676981.
So, take the challenge and give this a try. If nothing else, you'll pass the time trying to document species.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Badger (Taxidea taxus)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Gooding County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Gooding County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Gooding County, Idaho, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Raccoon (Procyon lotor)Observer
finaticDescription
Gallatin County, Wyoming, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Richardson's Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)Observer
finaticDescription
Gallatin County, Wyoming, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Gallatin County, Wyoming, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Gallatin County, Wyoming, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Mammals (Class Mammalia)Observer
finaticDescription
Kern County, California, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Raven (Corvus corax)Observer
finaticDescription
San Bernardino County, California, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
North American Deer Mice (Genus Peromyscus)Observer
finaticDescription
San Bernardino County, California, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Uinta Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus armatus)Observer
finaticDescription
Park County, Wyoming, US
Photographed through the windshield while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)Observer
finaticDescription
Park County, Wyoming, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)Observer
finaticDescription
Park County, Wyoming, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)Observer
finaticDescription
Teton County, Wyoming, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Human (Homo sapiens)Observer
finaticDescription
Silver Bow County, Wyoming, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Richardson's Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)Observer
finaticDescription
Gallatin County, Wyoming, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)Observer
finaticDescription
Madison County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)Observer
finaticDescription
Madison County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)Observer
finaticDescription
Jefferson County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rocky Mountain Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. hemionus)Observer
finaticDescription
Clark County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)Observer
finaticDescription
Clark County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)Observer
finaticDescription
Clark County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)Observer
finaticDescription
Jefferson County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)Observer
finaticDescription
Jefferson County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)Observer
finaticDescription
Jefferson County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)Observer
finaticDescription
Jefferson County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Raven (Corvus corax)Observer
finaticDescription
Clark County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Domestic Cattle (Bos taurus)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia)Observer
finaticDescription
Inyo County, California, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)Observer
finaticDescription
Beaverhead County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)Observer
finaticDescription
Beaverhead County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)Observer
finaticDescription
Beaverhead County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)Observer
finaticDescription
Beaverhead County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)Observer
finaticDescription
Beaverhead County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)Observer
finaticDescription
Beaverhead County, Montana, US
Photographed from the moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)Observer
finaticDescription
Malheur County, Oregon, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)Observer
finaticDescription
Canyon County. Idaho, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)Observer
finaticDescription
Elmore County, Idaho, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)Observer
finaticDescription
Bingham County, Idaho, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)Observer
finaticDescription
Modoc County, California, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rocky Mountain Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. hemionus)Observer
finaticDescription
Modoc County, California, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bluets (Genus Enallagma)Observer
finaticDescription
Modoc County, California, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia)Observer
finaticDescription
Sab Bernardino County, California, US
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)Observer
finaticDescription
Lassen County, California, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)Observer
finaticDescription
Modoc County, California, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Photos / Sounds
What
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Observer
finaticDescription
Harney County, Oregon, US
Photo taken from moving car while my wife was driving.
Comments
@gyrrlfalcon I know you love road trips.
Oh yes I do. But my dear @tui doesn't like the Road Kill project.
My spouse deserves so much iNat credit for both joining me on road trips, but also being a great spotter once we arrive at the destination... always so great to have another pair of eyes that's not attached to the back of a camera.
I couldn't agree more with what @muir stated. My wife is a great set of eyes to have in the field with me.
My spouse, too, is a great spotter! @tui
On behalf of all the spouses, thank you for recognizing that we're more than just trusted side-kicks! We may be the secret to iNat's success.
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