Meet the Pre-Mavericks
UPDATE 28 July cleared Pre-Mavericks for South Africa
27 July we have 105 members, plus JP and I
UPDATE 7 July. To find your own Pre-Mavericks (the ones that slipped thru the cracks down the years) replace my name with yours - but you do need to join the project first.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=casual%2Cneeds_id&lrank=subtribe&project_id=156949&user_id=dianastuder&place_id=any
5 people PMed me. Hurt, startled, a little angry to be labelled Maverick? 'Why pick on me, what did I do??'
Made a copypasta for them, but this journal post is for the - wondered, but not enough to ask outright.
The project is automated - think of it as a useful way to display a filtered list. NOT personal.
A Maverick on iNat, is when 3 people agree, and your ID is different. Usually means 'mine is wrong' but you can also be a Proud Maverick, where you see something in the pictures that shows you your species is right.
Replace my name with yours to see your own Mavericks
https://www.inaturalist.org/identifications?user_id=dianastuder&category=maverick
Since iNat requires more than two thirds to reach consensus and Research Grade - I wanted to know while I was still the one holding consensus back. Before the third ID has to be added against my 'wrong'. It racks up steeply, 2 wrong needs 5 against etc.
This brought us to the Pre-Mavericks project
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pre-maverick
Maverick is an iNat concept (but pre-maverick is mine). Does that help?
Background. I was chatting to @jeanphilippeb. Be careful what you wish for, it may come true. I would like to find ... And days later he came back with a carefully crafted link. Try this? JP is leaving the improved Pre-Mavericks in the project as 'someone is using that data'
First I encourage you to clear your own Mavericks. And get your own feeling for, why I tidy up. But it's too little too late.
If like me, you are a second level identifier (not necessarily a taxon specialist) I encourage you to tweak the Pre- Maverick link to your comfortable tiny slice. Your taxon, or your location, or your combo of taxon and location. You can triage between - what is blindingly obvious, add your informed ID and move it to Research Grade. Side with the Proud Maverick, because you agree the other 2 are wrong (now you need to - @mention some support, or target the Pre-Mavericks with your version of 'Please reconsider'). The middle chunk you may be able to @mention to a better ID, or Mark as Reviewed and move on. Easy and rewarding to move a chunk of obs to a finer taxon level.
A little daunting when you first tackle your chosen slice of Pre-Mavericks. Then move up a taxon level, or out a location level. When I publish this journal post I will have cleared Pre-Mavericks for the Cape Peninsula, then the Western Cape (South Africa) And those are now in my daily slices to ID.
Turning to Pre-Mavericks for Rest of Africa (beyond our border). Over 2K animals but another K with plants. Will take me some time as this is harder in every way. Not so many identifiers to call on. MANY unknown taxa, not simply a new to me species, but whole swathes of biodiversity! Also lots of obs trapped at Pre-Maverick by passive taxon swap / merges so worth another @mention if they are still active.
