HELPFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
Invertebrate Identification & Pollenator Information
- How to identify an insect or spider: https://www.insectidentification.org/bugfinder-start.php
- How to identify all plants such as flowers, fruits, grass, trees, vegetables: https://www.whatsthatbug.com/
- App available for Android and Apple:
- Picture Insect: Bug Identifier
- Seek by iNaturalist
- US Department of Agriculture Pollinators Page: https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/midwest/topic/pollinators
Plant and Tree Identification Sites
- How to identify a tree: https://www.arborday.org/trees/whattree/
- How to identify all plants such as flowers, fruits, grass, trees, vegetables: https://plant.toolpie.com/
- Upload a picture and the AI identifies it: https://whatistheplant.com/
- Guide to Indiana trees located in the Nature Park at DePauw University
in Greencastle, Indiana: https://www.depauw.edu/files/resources/trees_at_the_Nature_Park.pdf - app: “PictureThis – Instantly Identify your plants”
Bird Identification Tools
- app: “Picture Bird: Instantly Identify Bird”
- app: Merlin Bird ID phone app– Identifies birds by song!
Resources about plants native to Indiana
- Indiana Wildlife Federation: https://indianawildlife.org/education/native-plants/
- National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants
- Native Plants Unlimited, LLC: https://nativeplantsunlimitedshop.com/
Managing Native and Non-native Wildlife
- Mammals of Indiana: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/nongame-and-endangered-wildlife/mammals/mammals-list/
- Indiana Wildlife Federation: https://indianawildlife.org/education/native-animals/
- National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Resources
- US Department of Agriculture Midwest Climate Hub – Pollinators: http://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/midwest/topic/pollinators
Habitat Certifications
- Home Certification guide from the Red-Tail land conservancy: https://fortheland.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/OUTR-0223_Growing-Home-Certification-Guide.pdf
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/texas/backyard-conservation
- National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat Certification: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify
Rainwater Collection
- State of Indiana rainbarrel guidance: https://www.in.gov/idem/health/greening-our-backyards/rain-barrels/ Guide.pdf
- State by state guidelines as to the legality of rainwater collection (thankfully it is legal in Indiana!): https://worldwaterreserve.com/is-it-illegal-to-collect-rainwater/
Building and Managing Soil
- USDA information about humus:https://www.nrs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/jrnl/2010/nrs_2010_smith-k_002.pdf
- National Geographic information about humus: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/humus/
- USDA National Resources Conservation Service: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil
Articles of Interest
- History of the Marion County natural environment: Barr, Robert & Hall, Robert & Wilson, Jeffrey & Souch, Catherine & Lindsey, Greg & Bacone, J. & Campbell, R. & Tedesco, L.P.. (2002). Documenting Changes in the Natural Environment of Indianapolis-Marion County from European Settlement to the Present. Ecological Restoration. 20. 37-46. 10.3368/er.20.1.37. You can also view the article HERE.
- Soil Survey of Marion County, Indiana. 1978
Resources for Out-of-State Friends
- A friend from Alabama shared this list of plant identification sites AND MORE! https://www.avasflowers.net/preview/flower-identification-resource-guide
Additional Resources
- Coming Soon!