Mobile APPS for Nature Lovers

If you are an outdoor enthusiast or nature lover, the chances are you have seen amazing things on your adventures. You’ve probably even taken pictures of them and shared them on social media. If you’ve ever been curious about plants, animals or phenomenon that you would like to know more about, there’s probably an app for that. The really great thing about these mobile apps for nature lovers is that they allow you to become citizen scientists that also advance scientific research and broaden our understanding of the world around us. This post has gathered a number of apps that you can download to your mobile device to enhance your next outdoor adventures. I’ve included videos for most so that you can get a better idea of how each app is used.

iNaturalist

iNaturalist is an outstanding app that allows nature lovers to share biodiversity information to help each other learn about nature. It helps you identify plants and animals and interact with other naturalists around the world. You can use the app to share images or identify species of animals and plants you find in your outdoor adventures such as these beautiful hurricane lilies I found on my 4-acre property.

Creek Critters

If you’ve ever been fascinated by the little creatures that skim the surface of ponds and creeks apparently walking on water, this app is for you. It walks you through the steps of identifying these busy little bugs.

Project Squirrel

Scientists are studying the habits of squirrels and you can help them. It really doesn’t matter where you live or even if you have squirrels in your neighborhood. This app helps you become the eyes and ears of researchers by allowing you to report your findings on the area you monitor.

Project Noah

Project Noah is a global citizen science community. Members around the world are passionate about conservation and learning more about the plants and animals that inhabit the world. The site contains over a million geo-tagged wildlife photos submitted by members in 150 countries worldwide. Science teachers can use the images, videos and lesson plans in Project Noah’s Nature School  to enhance student learning.

Audubon Apps at a Glance

This page is a comprehensive list of mobile apps for nature lovers that are Audubon guides.

Nature’s Notebook

Nature’s Notebook is a program for observing and recording plant and animal life cycle events, like flowering and bird migration.

National Parks BioBlitz

Another great mobile app for nature lovers connects with the iNaturalist app to come up with specific projects for each of the national parks around the country. It helps park visitors have a more in-depth experience with all the parks have to offer and helps scientists gather valuable information. Here is a bioblitz example for Little River Canyon National Preserve in AL.

Leaf Snap

Leaf Snap is a series of field guides that uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. The site contains high-resolution images of leaves, flowers, fruits, petioles, seeds and bark.

Plant Net App

This app allows you to identify plants by photographing them with your mobile device. all the plants you photograph are collected and analyzed by scientists around the world to better understand the evolution of plant biodiversity and to better preserve it.

Tree Snap

Tree snap allows users to tag trees they find in their community or out in nature. Scientists use the data collected to locate trees for research projects.

Project Budburst

This app allows scientists an opportunity to help answer important questions around the effects of climate change on plans and animals.

Migratory Dragonflies

Did you know dragonflies migrate? Help scientists learn more about their migration patterns and support cross-border conservation programs by reporting your observations.

Audubon Bird Guide

If you love bird watching, but are not an expert, this mobile app for nature lovers who are birders is a great way to carry around a handy reference to over 800 species of North American birds.

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Birds Eye Birding

Wouldn’t it be handy to know when your favorite birds are in your area? This app not only lets you identify birds, but it also keeps you updated on where various species have been spotted in real time. You can even join in on posting your own bird sightings.

eBird

This app is an archive of information about bird distribution, audio recordings, and photos. It’s a great way to gather information about birds and share information and an invaluable resource to educators and researchers.

NestWatch

If discovering a bird’s nest gives you the same thrill as opening a present, you will love this app. Use this app to follow the progress of bird nests from all over, and use it to keep other bird watcher’s up to date on nesting in your area.

Back Country Navigator Topo Mapping GPS App

This mobile app provides valuable information about the terrain on trails you plan to hike. It can be used offline after downloading information into the app.

Trail Link Hiking Trail Locator

Use this app to discover trails that are truly off the beaten path. It is also great for helping you keep track of your location and guide’s your way. I could have really used an app like this while visiting Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, AL.

ALL Trails

Lists nearby hiking/biking trails and also allows nature lovers to track their path so they don’t get lost.

National Parks App

Use this app to learn more about national parks near you or close to your travel route. With more than 400 national parks in the US, you are never far from outdoor adventure when traveling the country. This app goes more into depth about each park than the standard park brochures.

Florida Trail Association App

Interactive app that allows you to stay up to date on Florida scenic trails, notices and closures, and other features.

Altimeter App

This app uses technology built into smartphones to allow you to get a very accurate measurement of your global position and altitude.

Smart Tools App

 This free app gives you access to over 40 useful utilities built into your smartphone and makes them easily accessible from one dashboard.

I’veGot1

This app is designed specifically for Florida folks to help conservationists battle the onslaught of many harmful invasive species.The IveGot1 app makes it easy for visitors and residents to identify invasive species and report them quickly.

Southeast Early Detection Network

If you live in the Southeastern United States, you can help a corps of scientists and conservationists monitor and minimize invasive species infestations. SEEDN is a reporting and outreach program that gets your observations directly to local and state personnel who review and report sightings.

Jelly Watch

If you enjoy gulf coast beaches and swimming, you are likely to have experienced the sting of a jellyfish. This app allows you to help scientists who monitor the types and current locations of these and other marine organisms by sharing your sightings and run-ins with these organisms.

Lake Observer

This app allows citizen scientists to share information about lake and water quality observations with a team of scientists that are members of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network

Marine Debris Tracker

The Marine Debris Program and the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative use information gathered by users of this app to help monitor marine debris. It is just one way those of us that visit the gulf and waterways can help clean up the pollution and debris that is harmful to our ecosystem.

Star Walk2 App

This is an augmented reality app allows users to point their phone toward the sky at night to easily identify stars, planets, and constellations in real time.

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Loss of the Night

According to the app description, “The Loss of the Night App invites citizen scientists worldwide to take part in a research project that measures light pollution by using the human visual system as a light meter. Specifically, participants are asked to look for specific stars, and report if they can see them from their location.”

S Cool Cloud Observations

This mobile app for nature lovers allows citizen scientists to share information with NASA scientists interested in learning how clouds affect our atmosphere. NASA S’COOL has now combined with the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program creating a larger community of cloud observers across 120+ countries.

Pressure Net

PressureNet is a citizen science weather app that helps track barometric pressure in various locations.

mPING

mPING allows citizen scientists to provide observations to researchers at NSSL. These reports help researchers refine algorithms that use NEXRAD radars to detect and report on the type of precipitation that occurs.

Aurorasaurus

This app is used by sky watchers to report aurora sightings and track the occurrences. It’s not very useful for those of us who live on the gulf coast as northern lights are an extremely rare occurrence here.

Fireballs in the Sky

The Fireballs in the Sky app allows you to get involved with the Desert Fireball Network research by reporting your own fireball sightings to scientists in Australia. They use your reports to track the trajectories of meteors – from their orbit in space to where they might have landed on Earth. This project is now unfunded, but still appears to be active.