6 Nature Apps to Discover Wild Florida
Florida is known for its wildlife, ecosystems, and landscapes—from mangrove swamps to upland forests. Exploring wild Florida isn’t just about stepping outdoors; it’s also about understanding what surrounds us. Technology now offers nature apps to help identify and connect with everything wild, from birds and plants to constellations and fish.
Whether you’re a hiker, camper, cyclist, birder, or family looking for hands-on adventures, these apps can help you dive into everything wild Florida, right at your fingertips. Here are six tools for your next journey into Florida nature.
Photo by Sara Sheehy
1. iNaturalist: Your Nature Exploration Companion
If you’ve marveled at a strange flower on a Florida trail or spotted a unique insect in your backyard and wanted to know more, iNaturalist is your go-to app. Built by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic, this app allows you to snap a photo of any plant or animal and instantly receive identification suggestions through a growing community and AI-powered technology.
Features
- AI & Community-Powered Identification: Upload a photo and get suggestions, or connect with experts worldwide who can confirm your observations.
- Record & Share Observations: Create a digital journal of your discoveries.
- Learn About Ecosystems: Explore what species others have identified near you.
How to Use It
While walking through Florida’s state parks, open iNaturalist, snap pictures of plants, butterflies, or even tracks in the sand, and add to an online record of wildlife that citizens and researchers alike can access. It’s like being part of a global nature movement!
Photo by Tandem Stills + Motion
2. Seek: Gamify Learning About Nature
Looking for a family-friendly way to explore wild Florida? Seek is like the playful sibling of iNaturalist (above), blending discovery with a gamified, educational experience. Perfect for kids (and kids at heart), this app offers simple identification alongside badges and challenges for exploring more.
Features
- Instant Identification: Just point your camera at a plant, animal, mushroom, or insect, and the app will identify it in seconds!
- Badges and Achievements: Earn virtual rewards as you log more species.
- Kid-Safe: No registration or data sharing required.
How to Use It
Take a family hike or visit one of Florida’s many springs. Challenge your kids to see who can identify the most wildlife with Seek while earning badges for their discoveries.
Photo by Sara Sheehy
3. Merlin Bird ID: Florida’s Feathered Friends
Did you know Florida is home to more than 500 bird species, from the distinctive roseate spoonbill to the adorable burrowing owl? With Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Merlin Bird ID app, spotting and identifying birds is easier than you think. You can even identify birds by their songs!
Features
- Photo and Sound Recognition: Snap a photo, or record bird songs and calls to identify species.
- Regional Bird Packs: Download the Florida-specific pack to discover the state’s unique avian inhabitants.
- Birding Tips: Learn facts about each bird and its habitat.
How to Use It
Heading to the coast (shorebirds!) or a local wetland (nesting birds!)? Merlin Bird ID makes wildlife watching fun. Simply open the app, answer some quick questions (like the bird’s size and color), and watch the app work its magic.
4. SkyView: Discover Florida’s Starry Skies
Florida’s wetlands, beaches, and remote backcountry offer more than wildlife to explore. Unplug and look up! The SkyView app transforms Florida’s night skies into a celestial map bursting with stars, planets, and constellations.
Features
- Interactive Sky Map: Point your phone at the sky, day or night, to identify stars and galaxies in real-time.
- Constellation Information: Curious about Orion or the Milky Way? Learn their backstories instantly.
- Augmented Reality (AR): See trajectories of satellites and planets as they move across the sky.
How to Use It
Plan a stargazing night somewhere like Big Cypress National Preserve or at Paynes Prairie Preserve. Bring SkyView, a cozy blanket, and some snacks, then watch as the app helps you identify constellations and planets overhead. It’s a fun and relaxing end to a day spent outdoors.
Photo by Sara Sheehy
5. Geocaching: Florida’s Treasure Hunt
Geocaching is like a high-tech treasure hunt that encourages you to explore nature while engaging with hidden treasures others have placed in wild Florida. Florida’s landscape offers countless opportunities for this activity, from the Panhandle to the southernmost Florida Keys.
Features
- Treasure Hunting: Use GPS to locate hidden caches near you.
- Leave and Retrieve: Take a small treasure, leave one behind! You might even find some Live Wildly stickers in a cache near you.
- Community-Driven Adventure: Connect with a large geocaching network.
How to Use It
Head to a hiking trail in Ocala National Forest or a quiet stretch of beach on the Gulf Coast. Open the app, follow the coordinates, and hunt for a hidden cache. It’s an exciting way to explore the outdoors with an adventurous twist.
Photo by Sara Sheehy
6. Built-in Identification Apps
Your cell phone’s camera and built-in identifier tools make it easy to learn more about the plants, birds, and wildlife you encounter. Simply snap a picture and hit ‘identify’ for your phone’s best guess at what you’re observing.
Features
- Photo Identification: Snap a photo of a plant, bird, or animal and let your phone identify the species. For instructions, check out Visual Lookup in Apple and Google Lens for Android.
- Instant Insights: Get quick details about habitats, behaviors, and conservation status.
- Nature Journaling: Save and organize your findings to track your discoveries over time.
How to Use It
Whether you’re strolling through Kissimmee Prairie or birdwatching near St. Augustine, simply open your phone’s camera or a built-in app like Google Lens or iOS Visual Look Up. Point, capture, and identify the natural wonders around you. It’s an easy way to connect with Florida’s incredible biodiversity.
Feeling inspired to explore more? Download one of these nature apps to enhance your next outdoor experience and consider sharing your discoveries online to encourage others to appreciate wild Florida!
