Gamelands (17-Apr-2016)

Back to searching for salamander study sites for Kelly. Again, I can not give out locations. The sites that we visit are sensitive and if a lot of people start going to them the habitat can very quickly be ruined. Above is an adult Spring Salamander that we came across at one of the streams. 

For some a Hellgrammite may be the stuff of nightmares, especially one this large. To me they are just and aquatic larval insect that will eventually develop into a Dobsonfly. I would suggest not trying to pick them up. They do have large mandibles and they like to use them. You would certainly feel a bite from one this size. Like many creatures, they should not be feared, just respected. They like everything else has its purpose in the environment. 

Kelly found more Collembola in one of the streams. These are clearly a different color than all I have come across so far this year. I don't know weather it is just a variant or if this is a different species. Pretty sure I would have had to collect some and use a microscope to tell. 

Some snakes are finally slithering about. This Garter Snake was moving along one of the trails. Like the Hellgrammite snakes are nothing to fear. Keep your distance and they will leave you alone.

The common name for this flower is Bloodroot. It is not a flower I come across often. I would like to point out that it is unlawful to collect flowers from the wild on state lands. Take photos not plants to help ensure they will be in our woods for years to come!

Only four small piles for the day. I didn't take out that much trash and we didn't find any sites that would work for Kelly's study.

By the end of the day I was exhausted and as you can see I didn't even take the trash out of my pack for the photo. I think this may be the last study site search for awhile.

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Multiple Locations (14-Apr-2016)

Like other similar posts I am not giving out the specific locations for the sites that I visited in this post. My friend Kelly and I went out once again searching for sites that would work for her upcoming salamander study. We visited multiple streams on this trip and we really didn't have much luck finding the exact conditions her study needs. 

I have posted several photos of this species before. This is a Northern Dusky Salamander and will be one of the species included in Kelly's study. The streams we searched had Dusky Salamanders, just not in a high abundance. 

This is a Two-Lined Salamander. They too were in every stream we visited and in higher numbers. All of the sites though needed other variables to make them suitable. 

I grabbed what I could as we hiked along the streams or trails on the way to them. Everywhere seems to have trash and it wasn't hard finding items at every visited site.

At the location this trash was taken out of the main problem with the stream was there was too much human activity. The stream was disturbed, with rocks flipped/moved not long ago. In this case it looked like it was kids. There was even a fort built over the stream in one area. I like the fact that kids in that area are spending time outside, but I wish they had guidance to lessen the impact on the stream. 

In all I did not take a whole lot of trash out on this trip, but did get streams checked off Kelly's list. This also gave me an idea of areas that have a good amount of trash and I will be back to some of these areas for more thorough clean-ups.

At one location Trout Lilies were popping up all over the forest floor. Hopefully this is a sign that snow is definitely over for the spring. 

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

State Gamelands (31-Mar-2016)

I helped out again looking for sites for my friends graduate project. I don't mind sharing the photos of the critters that we came across, but to protect them and the streams in which they live I can not give out the locations of where we were. This is just the very start of Kelly's project and our goal is to locate streams which contain a variety of stream salamander species. Once she has decided on what streams to use the next step is to complete and submit her permit forms to the Fish and Boat Commission and possibly the DCNR. Yes, you do need special permits to conduct a study on amphibians in our state. We checked out three sites on this trip and as we were hiking in and out of the locations I was picking up trash as well. That you can find near the end of the post. The Salamander above is a Dusky Salamander. Two species of Dusky can be found in Eastern PA. 

I have shown Stoneflies before in this blog. This particular one is a Giant Stonefly. A good water quality indicator and an awesome insect. 

Two-Lined Salamander. Very common in not only streams, rivers as well. Many of these stream species you would rarely see on a riverbank. 

Spring Salamander. Always good to find a Spring Salamander. They are not as commonly seen as the Dusky or Two-Lined.

What is this? You might be asking yourself that. It is a Cranefly Larvae. It looks nothing like the adult cranefly and it is the only thing in a stream that I still find creepy. I do know people that won't even touch them though, so at least I am not bothered by that.  

Catching salamanders by hand is a delicate and sometimes frustrating endeavor. Here Kelly is carefully picking up a dusky salamander from the bottom of this clear stream. 

This downed tree presented a photo op that just had to be taken. 

From the first location of the day. I had cleaned this location last year and since then there looked to have been several parties at this spot. I will be going back to this area soon to do a more thorough clean-up.

The second location was much more remote. This was the only item that was near the stream. Did find more on the way in and out. 

Less than the first site and some of the bottles had been there for awhile. 

This was just from a short stop on the way home. I was surprised by the old 7-Up bottle. It was the first large one I have found. 

This was from Wednesday. After the memorial service I did find some time to make it out for a short trash collecting walk. This was taken off of the Macoby Creek in Montgomery Co. 

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this blog? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Some Trash and a Herp Survey (15-Aug-2015)

The main goal today was not to collect trash and I still ended up with almost a full bag. I was helping conduct a herpetological survey with professors from East Stroudsburg University and some other volunteers. If you are wondering, herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. From previous posts you may have realized I have an interest in them. For surveys like this specific sites are defined and the goal is to find as many species as possible, noting how many individuals were found, their specific location within the survey area and the habitat conditions. This information is then shared with the state, specifically the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and researchers. The data can then be compiled and range maps and rough population estimates can be made. The maps and population estimates help in determining the current status of a species in an area or the state as a whole. The rest of this post are photos of some of the individuals we found today. Because there are people who seek out and collect or kill some of these species, I will not be giving out any locations in this post. All of these species are important pieces in our local eco-systems and I do hope that if you happen upon one on a hike that you give them and their habitat the respect they deserve.

Redback Salamander

Juvenile Spotted Salamander

Two-lined Salamander

 American Toad

 Wood Frog

Green Frog

Garter Snake

Northern Water Snake

 Ringneck Snake