Orange County Herp BioBlitz on limited access lands

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Nature Nate
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Joined: August 24th, 2010, 10:14 am
Location: San Diego

Orange County Herp BioBlitz on limited access lands

Post by Nature Nate »

Where: Orange County, CA Aliso and Wood Park, Crystal Cove State Park, Bomer and Shady
Canyons, Newport Bay, Loma Ridge, Santiago Canyon, and more

When: April 18, 19, 25, and 26 (last two Saturdays and Sundays of April 2017

Who: NAFHA, USGS, and some local grad students

What: Surveying for rare herps in the area including (but not limited to) Arboreal Salamanders, Spadefoot Toads, Blackbelly Slender Salamanders (southern limit of their range), Horned Lizards, Coastal Whiptails, Skinks, Red-diamond Rattlesnakes, Rosy Boas, San Bernardino Ringneck Snakes,

Why:
Years ago USGS conducted pitfall surveys in Orange County at some of these locations. We would like to go back to survey some of these same sites to compare the efficiency of survey techniques (rapid BioBlitz vs. extended periods of trapping) and to monitor which species are still present in the sampled areas.

We also need to gather some tissues for ongoing genetic landscape projects of specific herp populations such as horned lizards.

This is survey is part of the regular sampling for covered species that USGS is contracted to conduct in southern California. This means that we have special access to some closed preserved lands that we need help surveying. This may be your only chance to be able to legally herp some of these parks and preserves. We will be conducting four days of surveys, two groups per day, two locations per group for a total of four locations surveyed per day. If you are interested in any of the dates above, please email me at [email protected]

Those of you who participated in last year’s Bioblitz at Crest canyon and beyond you know what the basic deal is, except this year we will hopefully have much more greenery and less dry conditions for our surveys. I have high hopes for the amount of biodiversity that we will have the privilege of experiencing this year in these unique environments.

Hope to see you all there!!
Nathan Smith
Education Specialist, California Chapter
North American Field Herping Association
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