Since the launch of PARS we have received thousands upon thousands of voucher photos, many of which are outstanding examples of wildlife photography. Among these, certain photos stand out, whether it be for exceptional clarity, composition, behavior of the subject, or other reasons. We would like to start showcasing the quality of our best photographers with an annual photography contest. Entrants in the categories listed below will compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, and winning photographs will appear in the last newsletter issue of each year until 2022. First place winners may see their winning photographs in or on the cover of a future PARS newsletter, or possibly in the final publication for the PARS project. One photograph will be chosen as the ‘Best of Show’ grand prizewinner each year. Photographs will be judged on composition, creativity and clarity of the shot. Prizes are limited to certificates and ribbons, but you will achieve the esteem of the herping community.
Pittburgh Tribune Review Article about PARS
A recent article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review outdoors writer Bob Frye interviews a few of our Coordinators: Ed Patterson, Mark Lethaby Chris Urban, Brandon Ruhe and Jason Poston about the PARS Project.
In what often seems to be an ever-shrinking world, there’s still room for discovery.
Ed Patterson can speak to that.
Director of Indiana County’s parks system, he has been prowling those and other lands with purpose of late. He’s finding more than might be expected, too.
Read the Full Article: Citizen science meets technology in unique herpetology survey
New Timesheet System
Yesterday we launched a new timesheet system on PARS. The new system should be easier and less complicated for volunteers. The new system will eliminate the need to sign and submit separate timesheets on a monthly basis. Instead, volunteer hour timesheet submissions are embedded in the “Add Record” form and an e-signature is applied for each day when submitting your record. You can review your timesheets under My Account.
When you select a date that has no former records submitted, a timesheet box will appear on the bottom of the “Add Record” form.
Enter all time spent volunteering on that date. Upon hitting the submit button you acknowledge that you are signing a daily timesheet that will be generated for PARS volunteer match.
Once you have submitted time for a date, you will not be prompted to submit volunteer hours on additional records with the same date.
To see your time for the month or previous months you can go to the My Account button and select the Timesheet Forms button.
Here you will be able to see the time you have entered for the current month or select a previous month to view and/or download a CSV of that month.
If you spent time herping but collected no records, participated in a PARS/MACHAC event or other activities that count as volunteer time, you can use the “Extra Volunteer Time” form by clicking the “Add Extra Time” button.
In the “Extra Time Submission Form” you will be asked to enter the date you volunteered, the total time , the activity (if you do not see an appropriate choice, choose “Other”).
Upcoming Events – Spring 2015
For some exciting new scheduled events coming up for PARS for the year. Open to the public and volunteers, join us for our PARS Introductory Presentation, PARS Workshops and Herp Walks. We hope to see you there.
March 7, 7:00 p.m. – Swamp Tromp in the Moonlight, Bucks County
Heritage Conservancy Preserved Property in Quakertown (directions given at registration) To register, contact: Tammy, 215-345-7020, ext. 107
For details, contact Kyle Loucks:
Saturday, April 11 – PARS info table at Lehigh Valley Zoo
150 GAME PRESERVE ROAD, SCHNECKSVILLE, PA 18078
For details, contact Kyle Loucks:
April 18, 10:00 a.m. – PARS Introductory & Herp Walk – Indiana County
Pine Ridge Park @ Pine Lodge 857 Chestnut Ridge Rd Blairsville, 15717
For details contact Ed Patterson:
April 18, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm – PARS Volunteer Workshop Erie County
Asbury Woods Nature Center, 4105 Asbury Rd, Erie, PA 16506 http://asburywoods.org/
Call (814) 833-7215 to make reservations.
For details contact Mark Lethaby:
April 25 – HerpBlitz, Fulton County –
details to be announced Contact Tom Pluto:
April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. PARS info table at the Lancaster Native Plant and Wildlife Festival
Overlook Park, 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601
For details, contact Jake Cramer:
May 2, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – PARS Volunteer Workshop & Survey, Wayne County
Lacawac Sanctuary, 94 Sanctuary Road, Lake Ariel, 18436 www.lacawac.org
Call (570) 689-9494 to make reservations.
For details contact Marlin Corn:
May 15, 7:00 p.m. – PARS Update to the Lancaster Herpetological Society, Lancaster County
Manheim Township Public Library, 595 Granite Run Dr., Lancaster, 17601
For details contact Kyle Loucks:
May 16-17 – Climber’s Run Bioblitz, Lancaster County
226 Frogtown Road, Pequea, PA.
– details to be announced
For details contact Marlin Corn:
June 27, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – PARS Volunteer Workshop and Survey, Susquehanna County
Salt Springs State Park – Meet at the Wheaton House near the park’s main parking area
Call or email to register: 570.967.7275
For details contact Marlin Corn:
June 28, 1:00 p.m. – “Gone Herping! Nature Walk” ,York County
Richard M. Nixon County Park Nature Center, 5922 Nixon Drive, York, PA 17403
For details contact Kyle Loucks,
July 11, 7:30 a.m. – Herp walk, Delaware County Glen Providence Park,
500 Block of West State Street, Media, PA For details contact Kyle Loucks,
PARC Newsletter, MACHAC/PARS Featured
See the August edition of the Year of The Salamander from PARC. MACHAC President Brandon Ruhe was the August organizer for the newsletter and wrote the newsletter for PARC with contributions from the PARS team, Mary Beth Kolzsvary PARC YoSAL coordinator, and editing and organization by the PARC Year of the Salamander editorial committee. 
Download Newsletter
WHFF 90.5fm PARS Interview
PARS volunteer John Jose discusses the Pennsylvania Amphibians and Reptile Survey (PARS) on WHFF 90.5fm Saturday morning shows, “Farm and Country”.
John’s interview starts at the 18 minute marker.
Thanks John for your volunteer efforts and for doing a great interview for PARS.
Upcoming Events – 2014
For some exciting new scheduled events coming up for PARS for the year. Open to the public and volunteers, join us for our PARS Introductory Presentation and Herp Walks. We hope to see you there.
Aug 9 @ 7:00 am
PARS Introductory Presentation & Herp Talk/Walk @ Glen Providence Park
Learn More
Aug 10 @ 2:00 pm
PARS Introductory Presentation & Herp Talk/Walk @ Bucks County Audubon at the Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center
Learn More
Sep 27 @ 10:00 am
PARS Introductory Presentation & Herp Talk/Walk @ French Creek State Park
Learn More
Oct 4 @ 10:00 am
Herp-Blitz Susquehanna County
Learn More
Mobile App is Here
We are pleased to announce the release of the mobile app created by mobile mapper to work with PAHERP. The mobile app will allow you to take records in the field and sync them to the database. Members will be able to access the mobile page to find the download links for Apple and Android along with the information you need to connect the app to your account.
Record Number of Acres Restored for Protection of Bog Turtle
Millbrook, New York, August 14, 2013
The winter of 2012-2013 was a big year for bog turtle protection in the Hudson Valley as restoration efforts started on a record number of acres. With funding from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and technical assistance from the Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation (MACHAC), six sites representing 140 acres were able to be permanently protected under a conservation easement and restored for bog turtle protection in Dutchess County.
“This represents more acres than have been restored by NRCS New York in all the previous years combined (2003-2011),” said Jason Tesauro, a turtle specialist with MACHAC.
Bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) are the smallest and one of the rarest turtle species in North America. They live in calcareous wetlands throughout the Hudson Valley.
Restoration of their habitat involves removing overgrown trees and invasive plants which can shade out the sunny areas bog turtles need for basking and nesting. A rich diversity of native plants, many of which are only found in these rare, calcareous (limestone) wetlands, can then thrive. This provides excellent habitat for the bog turtle. Sometimes livestock like cattle, goats, or sheep are pastured in the wetlands which help control the growth of unwanted vegetation. When grazing does occur, it is carefully monitored and only a few animals at a time are allowed so wetland plants aren’t overgrazed or turtles trampled.
NRCS through WRP has funded approximately 15 bog turtle protection projects in the Hudson Valley. Other projects in New York have been funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Defense Fund, and The Nature Conservancy.
“The WRP program has successfully restored millions of acres nationwide providing habitat for lots of wildlife including water fowl and rare species like bog turtles. On a volunteer basis, landowners can enroll wetlands that have been modified for agriculture. USDA NRCS pays the landowner for a conservation easement which takes the property out of agricultural production and prevents future development. We then work with the landowner to restore the wetlands back to their original function,” said Elizabeth Marks, a biologist with USDA NRCS.
With offices in nearly every county in the United States, NRCS works with landowners and communities to improve our soil, water, air, plants, wildlife, and energy use. If you have a farmed wetland or one containing bog turtles, or if you are interested in how you can protect natural resources on your farm or forestland, please contact your local NRCS office.
Source: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ny/newsroom/stories/?cid=stelprdb1176918
Surveying PA’s amphibians and reptile via riverreporter.com
July 2, 2013 —
All of the reptiles and amphibians identified last weekend during the first Upper Delaware BioBlitz (www.UpperDelawareBioBlitz.com) will have the double honor of being counted twice, first as residents of the Norcross Wildlife Foundation’s property in Starlight, PA, and also in the recently launched Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey (PARS).
The Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation (MAC HAC) is partnering with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in a 10-year project to establish a new amphibian and reptile atlas and are reaching out to all Pennsylvania nature enthusiasts for help.
A primary goal is to build an “army of citizen scientists” to help identify the distribution of herps throughout the state to enable better monitoring of changes to populations and ultimately provide more effective protection to them. Amphibians in particular are sensitive to environmental changes and all herps are increasingly impacted by loss of habitat.
Representatives of MAC HAC were on hand during the bioblitz, where more than 970 distinct species were identified in nine categories such as birds, fungi, mammals and more. To see some of the species catalogued by the BioBlitz Herp Team, visit paherpsurvey.org/search.php?r_county=803. Learn more about how you can get involved at www.paherpsurvey.org.
Read at riverreporter.com