Looking for ways to explore and learn more about Maine’s environment? Check out these NRCM staff picks! If you have other apps you use, please share them with us at nrcm@nrcm.org.
LEAF SNAP: Abben Maguire (Administrative Assistant/Accounts Payable Coordinator) uses this handy plant ID app to identify mushrooms, plants, flowers, and more! Fun fact he learned from the app: Queen Anne’s Lace is also “wild carrot.”
Hiking around Florida Lake, by Josh Caldwell
ALL TRAILS: Daniel Harris (Application Analyst) uses this for finding trails throughout the state. It gives detailed information about the trail including a description, directions, and even reviews.
SKYVIEW: Another app recommended by Daniel that is great for identifying features of the night sky. He uses it a lot with his daughter!
PICTURE BIRD: Beth Comeau (Communications Manager) loves this bird ID app because it helps identify by sound or photo.
TIDES: Marlisa Simonson (Senior Director, Philanthropy) finds this app useful for information about tides where you are as well as those in other locations.
GAIA GPS APP: Codi Riley-Havu (Gifts, Records, & Stewardship Coordinator) says this app is great for trails and says it is especially detailed in elevation changes.
FAROUT: Formerly known as Guthook, this app was developed by a former NRCM Rising Leadership Team member! A variety of staff use this app, which includes more than 35,000 miles of trails and waterways including Maine sections of the Appalachian Trail.
PEAKFINDER: Wondering what mountain you are looking at? I recommend checking out the PeakFinder app. It uses GPS with real-time rendering from your camera to identify peaks.
iNATURALIST: Allison Wells (Senior Director, Communications & Public Affairs) can’t say enough great things about this app, which connects you with the community of researchers, fellow naturalists, and scientists studying the plant or creature you are trying to identify. It records and identifies more than 30,000 species with its built-in image recognition software.
Abben Maguire using Merlin to ID a bird the app correctly identified as a Swamp Sparrow.
PHOTOS ON iPHONE: While not necessarily an outdoor-specific app, did you know that you can identify plants and flowers right from your Photos App if you own an iPhone? All you have to do is find any photo containing a plant or flower, swipe up, and click on the “Look up – plant” button! It pulls up photos and Wikipedia links for more information! Who knew? Now you do!
MERLIN: Abben also shares this app with us and says, “If you did not already recognize the calls of robins, cardinals, and Blue Jays, they will become second nature after your first week with the bird identification app Merlin. You may be tempted to have it active and running when you are on your nature walks! Before you know it, you’ll be training your ears to warblers, sparrows, Bobolinks, and more. I recently used it at the Smithfield Plantation in Litchfield to identify Red-winged Blackbirds, Yellow Warblers, and Swamp Sparrows.”
—Sarah Bierschwale, Digital Content Manager
Originally appeared in NRCM’s 2022 Explore Maine publication
Banner photo: NRCM staff hiking Mt. Abraham in Franklin County. Photo by E.Theberge/NRCM
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