What's that fluttering by? Is it a rare butterfly? A migrating bird? Let's find out!

A young girl with blonde hair looks at a small insect in a dish using a magnifying glass.

Let’s discover the life of the Tennessee River as it travels through 652 miles of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky!

With iSpy 652, you become the ultimate nature detective, armed with nothing but your smartphone and a keen eye for discovery. Simply add photos of any plant, animal, or other fascinating lifeform you encounter along the Tennessee River to iNaturalist and the community will help you identify what you’ve discovered before experts verify your findings. Hear a bird, but can’t get a photo? You can submit a sound recording instead. You could discover an emerging invasive species that scientists can work to control, or discover a new location for a native plant or animal! Hit this project's JOIN button to get updates in the app.

Join forces with fellow citizens across 22 communities enrolled in the Tennessee RiverTowns program and become part of something bigger than yourself. Every observation you make brings researchers and wildlife managers one step closer to understanding and conserving the incredible biodiversity of the Tennessee RiverLine. iSpy 652 is made possible through partnership with Discover Life in America.

How to participate:

  1. Download the app

  2. Create an account

  3. Join the iSpy652 project for your community

  4. Record your observations

  5. Celebrate being a citizen scientist!