Tag species and observations
Add observations from Media or from survey thumbs (deployment and walkover leaf icons)—pick species from GBIF suggestions, set IUCN status and counts, link survey and deployment, then filter the library by species, status, organism ID, or survey.
An observation is what you recorded in a photo or video: an animal, a blank trigger, a person, a vehicle, and so on. One image can hold several observations—two species in the same frame, or three individuals you want to track separately.
You manage observations in the same editor whether you open it from Media or from a leaf on a survey thumb. Attaching media on a survey creates a stub observation (often unclassified) so the file is already linked; the leaf is where you finish identification.
Prerequisites
- Field surveys on your plan
- Photos in Media (Upload your first photos), or attached from a survey / deployment
- A survey ready when you want clean study links (deployment recommended for fixed stations)
Where to open the editor
| Place | What to click |
|---|---|
| Media Library grid | Observations action on the card |
| Media edit panel | Edit observations |
| Survey → deployment thumbs | Leaf on the thumbnail |
| Survey → deployment create/edit → Media | Leaf on a linked thumb (after the deployment is saved) |
| Survey → Direct observations / walkovers | Leaf on a walkover thumb |
| Portfolio media tools | The same editor when you edit a library file |
You can add, edit, remove, and reorder rows. Changes save as you work.
What to fill in
| Field | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Observation type | Animal, human, vehicle, blank, unknown, or unclassified |
| Scientific name | For animals, choose from GBIF suggestions—avoid guessing spellings |
| Common name | Often filled when you pick a GBIF result; you can adjust it |
| IUCN category | Conservation status for badges and public privacy rules |
| Organism ID | Optional individual tag (for example a collar or band code)—sensitive if published |
| Count, life stage, sex | When you know them |
| Survey | Which study this detection belongs to (pre-filled when you open from a survey leaf) |
| Deployment | Which camera station—strongly recommended for fixed traps; leave empty for walkovers |
| Basis of record | Machine or human observation |
| Notes | Free text; avoid putting exact nest directions if the album may go public |
For walkovers, also confirm place on the media (map pin / location) when EXIF is missing or must stay soft for public Evidence.
Pick species with GBIF
- Open the scientific name field and start typing.
- Wait for suggestions.
- Select a match so names stay consistent across your library.
- Check that common name and related fields look right.
Blank, human, and vehicle rows do not need a species.
After you save
On the Media Library card you may see:
- A species label for the primary animal observation
- An IUCN badge when status is set
Use them as a quick check while tagging a large batch. Survey thumbs refresh after you close the leaf editor.
Find photos again (Add filter)
Search, file type, dates, and sort stay in the main bar. Conservation filters sit under Add filter:
| Filter | Finds |
|---|---|
| Species | Matches on scientific or common name |
| IUCN | Selected status values |
| Organism ID | Individual tags you entered |
| Survey | Photos with observations in those surveys |
Combine filters when you need a narrower set (for example one survey and one IUCN status). Within a single filter, multiple choices broaden the match.
Tips for multi-species frames
- Add a separate observation per detection instead of cramming names into notes.
- Put the animal you care about most first if you rely on the card label.
- Keep survey and deployment consistent for photos from the same camera event.
- Prefer attaching on the survey first, then leaf-tagging in batches, when you are working a trap card.
Steps
- Attach field images on a deployment or under Direct observations / walkovers, or open a field image in Media.
- Open the observation editor (leaf on the thumb, or Edit observations in Media).
- Set type to animal (or blank/human/vehicle as needed).
- Confirm survey and deployment (deployment empty for walkovers).
- Select the species from GBIF; add IUCN, count, or organism ID when relevant.
- Add more rows if the frame has more detections.
- Confirm the card label, then try a Media filter.
Verifying your setup
- Observations are still there after you reload the file or reopen the leaf.
- Survey and Media filters return the photos you expect.
- A survey export includes the rows you tagged.
- Threatened statuses are intentional before you enable public observations.
- Evidence of Impact shows identified and awaiting-identification items as intended.
Next in this flow
Data Governance for conservation