Technology does not have to be a bad thing! If kids (and adults!) are going to have a phone in their hand, let’s use it to learn more about the nature around us! Download the apps below to identify aquatic insects, birds, plants, mushrooms, and more.
Aqua Bugs
Created by the Izaak Walton League, this app helps you identify aquatic macroinvertebrates. You can go through a simple dichotomous key with photos to find the correct ID, or look at a full list of macroinvertebrates to learn more about each one. Download ahead of time, no internet needed to use this app!
Download for Free:
Apple Store
Google Play
Merlin Bird ID
Use this app to identify birds, either by sound, with a photo, or using a simple key to find the right bird. You must download packs to access the correct birds for the region, so download the “US: Midwest” pack to identify birds in the James River watershed.
Download for Free:
Apple Store
Google Play
iNaturalist
Identify plants and more with just a photo! iNaturalist uses citizen science data to match your image with the correct name, and if you submit your observation, you are contributing to the citizen science data as well.
Download for Free:
Apple Store
Google Play
Shroomify
Found a mushroom you can’t identify or want to learn more about one you just heard of? Use the Shroomify app’s dichotomous key to narrow down your identification, see a list of common mushrooms for each month, and find information about foraging.
Download for Free:
Apple Store
Google Play
