Erin O'Connor

Joined: Aug 28, 2021 Last Active: Oct 5, 2024 iNaturalist

I'm a nature lover, amateur photographer, travel lover, and a gardener. I used to dream of creating a mini-botanical garden in my own yard (1 of everything, please), but now my gardening is focused on growing native plants to help support and provide an oasis for all the native creatures needing safe places to live amongst us humans.

I grew up in the Bay Area in California, going on small, mostly in-state naturalistic expeditions with my dad who studied botany in college (but had to settle for it as a hobby rather than a career), hunting for fungi, flowers or creatures for him to photograph. While he grew orchids, my own first interest was in cacti and succulents, and later in birding. I've since become more of a generalist - I'd like to get to see and record as much as possible, in as many places and habitats as I can get to.

One of the best things I've learned from using iNaturalist is that there is always more to learn, more to see, more to discover out there, even if you just explore your own yard. Some of the most wonderful discoveries for me have been those made simply by zooming in on tiny insects or spiders and finding the amazing patterns and colors one doesn't see without magnification.

I wish I had learned of iNaturalist sooner than I did (in late 2021), after having moved across country to upstate New York in 2012, but better late than never! I'm so grateful for it - it provides a home and use for many of the photos I've taken over the years, it's exponentially increased my exploration of and learning about my "new" home, and gives me a feeling of community and connection to others who appreciate nature as I do. I'm grateful to my fellow iNat users whose own amazing sightings give me new goals, and new places to visit, and whose input on my observations educates me or increases my self-confidence. Exploring and finding new observations to share on iNat has become my passion in life.

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