2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

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gretzkyrh4
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2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

2014 New Year’s Day Herp Challenge

With 2014 less than 2 weeks away, I thought it was time to announce the 2nd Annual New Year’s Day Herp Challenge. This year to garner a little more involvement and competition, I’ve spoken with incoming SE Chapter president, Josh Holbrook, about making this year’s contest a cross chapter endeavor. As with last year’s contest, we’ll be following the scoring format proposed by Chrish for 2013 (see below).

If you’re interested in taking part speak up below and be sure to post your results the evening of the 1st. Good luck everyone.

Chris

------
Here's the 2014 scorecard for those who want to keep track as people begin submitting records:

SC Chapter
http://www.naherp.com/reports/national- ... 2014-01-01

SE Chapter
http://www.naherp.com/reports/national- ... 2014-01-01


And Chrish’s scoring format:


Three ways to win:
(a) Overall Points Winner (see scoring system below)
(b) Most Taxa (total species observed)
(c) Most Records (total records submitted to NAHERP)


Overall Points Scoring System:
(a) 10 points/taxon/county (species level)
(b) 1 point/vouchered record (limit 10/species/county)

Here's an example of how scoring will work (provided by chrish)

So if contestant A stays in their home county and enters 4 taxa:

25 Acris crepitans = 10 points + 10 (maxed out the number of points for Acris in one county)
5 Ambystoma texanum = 10 points + 5
20 Trachemys = 10 points + 10 (again maxed out)
5 Alligators = 10 points + 5
10 Incilius nebulifer = 10 points + 10

They get 40 points for the records (only the first 10 Acris and Trachemys count), 50 points for five taxa for a total of 90 points.

If contestant B enters 7 taxa from one one county:

2 Acris = 10 points + 2
3 Hyla versicolor = 10 points + 3
3 Incilius nebulifer = 10 points + 3
2 Lithobates clamitans = 10 points + 2
3 Eurycea quadrigittata = 10 points + 3
5 Pseudacris fouquettei = 10 points + 5
2 Nerodia fasciata = 10 points + 2

They get 20 points for the records but another 70 points for the for the 7 taxa for a total of 90 points.

Contestant C find four taxa in two counties and enters:

1 Hyla chrysoscelis (county 1) = 10 points + 1
2 Hyla chrysoscelis (county 2) = 10 points + 2
1 Acris crepitans (county 1) = 10 points + 1
1 Acris crepitans (county 2) = 10 points + 1
2 Alligator (county 1) = 10 points + 2
1 Alligator (county 2) = 10 points + 1
1 Incilius nebulifer (county 1) = 10 points + 1
1 Incilius nebulifer (county 2) = 10 points + 1

Person C gets 10 points for their records plus 80 points for having 8 different "county-taxa", so they end up with 90 points.
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beanie
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by beanie »

I'll be participating.
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

Anyone else interested?

So far we only have four participants that I am aware of:

1. gretzkyrh4
2. beanie
3. Josh Holbrook
4. ritt
5. jeffro
6. Tamara D. McConnell
7. Coluber Constrictor
8. dbh
9. brennan
10. Rich in Reptiles

Hopefully, a few more catch this post now that the Christmas holiday is behind us.

Chris

**10 participants and counting**
dbh
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by dbh »

I will give it a try.
David
jeffro
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by jeffro »

I somehow missed this post when it was posted. I'll be participating as well.

Jeff
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

Alright, looks like our participant count has reached double digits with 3 days to go:

Here's the list including a few questionables:

1. gretzkyrh4
2. beanie
3. Josh Holbrook
4. ritt
5. jeffro
6. Tamara D. McConnell
7. Coluber Constrictor
8. dbh
9. brennan
10. Rich in Reptiles
11. PrimitiveTim
12. greensnakeman?
13. ratsnake?

Looks like I'll have my work cut out for me tallying the scores if numbers keep growing (and i'm completely okay with that).

Chris
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

We're up to 17 potential participants and counting. Time to start coming up with plans of attack.

1. gretzkyrh4
2. beanie
3. Josh Holbrook
4. ritt
5. jeffro
6. Tamara D. McConnell
7. Coluber Constrictor
8. dbh
9. brennan
10. Rich in Reptiles
11. PrimitiveTim
12. greensnakeman
13. ratsnake?
14. soulsurvivor
15.Tim Borski
16. dery
17. Daniel D Dye

Chris
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beanie
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by beanie »

Hope we miss the rain they are calling for.
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ratsnake
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by ratsnake »

Sure, why not. I am in. The weather should be good, mid 60s and full sun. I have a new spot that has been loaded with herps on previous visits.
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by ratsnake »

Looks like TX vs LA. I am way out gunned. Lol
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

Glad you'll be able to join in Mark. I think you're the only Texan to join in this year. We've got a few from AL and plenty from FL though. Good luck and happy new year.

Chris
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beanie
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by beanie »

I'm anxious to see all those Burm vouchers from Florida :lol:
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

Tim Borski already promised tons of corns and invasives on the SE Chapter thread. Not sure they'll manage any burms, but you're bound to see more than a few exotic lizards on some of the lists.
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ratsnake
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by ratsnake »

I am screwed! I don't think I will beat the Florida guys.
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Tim Borski
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by Tim Borski »

Chris, I'm not going to be posting tons of corns...you can only do 5 per county right? I've changed my strategy and am going fishing. (But I'll make it a point to still see more than twelve species of herps, ok?)


Tim
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Tim Borski
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by Tim Borski »

Btw, I'll assuredly see 5 brown anoles, Med geckos, Agamas, Curly tails, Iggies, crocs, etc...if it's not cool to simply voucher the first one in each county should I cede now? My plan is to pretty much only take pics of stuff of interest. Am I screwing myself?

Tim
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Tim Borski
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by Tim Borski »

ratsnake wrote:I am screwed! I don't think I will beat the Florida guys.

Don't worry about it. get out in the field and have fun.
(The folks in FL have their hands full with stuff that shouldn't be there. Consider yourself lucky!)

Tim
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ratsnake
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by ratsnake »

Do frog calls count?
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

ratsnake wrote:Do frog calls count?
Yes. You can count calling frogs on your species list. If you're going to attempt to voucher the records on NAHERP, you'd need to include a photo voucher or recording though.

Chris
gretzkyrh4
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by gretzkyrh4 »

Tim Borski wrote:Chris, I'm not going to be posting tons of corns...you can only do 5 per county right? I've changed my strategy and am going fishing. (But I'll make it a point to still see more than twelve species of herps, ok?)


Tim
Good luck fishing, Tim. I've spent my evening tying flies in preparation for the weekend as well (picked up an 8 wt as my old 2 wt stream rod wasn't going to cut it for reds). Getting back into the swing of tying, but haven't delved into anything as complicated as the famed Borski's Chernobyl Crab some of the folks down here swear by.

By the way, 12 species would have made you a legitimate contender in last years contest.

Chris
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Tim Borski
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Re: 2014 New Year's Day Herp Challenge

Post by Tim Borski »

It'll take more than 12 to beat it this year...


Tim
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