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Rare Species Reporting Form

New York Natural Heritage Program
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4757

Use this form to report an observation of a rare animal or rare plant. Your information will be reviewed for inclusion in our database of rare species locations.
Thank you for helping us grow the Natural Heritage database.

1. Complete this form for first-hand observations only. If the source of your information is a report, letter, or other document, please send it to the above address, or for Plants, email botany [at] nynhp [dot] org, and for Animals, email zoology [at] nynhp [dot] org.
2. Items marked with a * are required. Fill in other items if known and applicable.
3. Rare Birds: complete this form only for observations during the breeding season or at large concentration areas during migration or winter.
4. Enter GPS coordinates into this form, and/or attach a map with the location of the species clearly marked, or send a map to the address above.
5. Attach any photos of the species or location, or send photos to the address above.
6. Reports of rare plants and of some animals require photos or specimens to confirm identification. Only collect specimens legally, with appropriate landowner permissions and/or permits, and if there is no harm to the population.

Is this for a plant or animal? *

Plant

Animal

Select species from list sorted by scientific name or common name? *

Scientific name

Common name

Rare Animal Status List can be found here

Animal species by scientific name *

Other (not in list) *

Animal species by common name *

Other (not in list) *

Rare Plant Status List can be found here

Plant species by scientific name *

Other (not in list) *

Plant species by common name *

Other (not in list) *

Are you confident of your identification of this species? *

Yes

No, identification needs to be confirmed

Form Completed By *

Address

Email *

Phone *

Date Most Recently Observed *

Year

Month

Day

Date First Observed *

Year

Month

Day

Observer Name(s) *

Location Name | Local Place Name *

County *

Town *

Enter GPS Coordinates and/or Attach a Location Map (see below).

Describe Where Coordinates Taken

E.g., within population, observer's location at roadside, trail-head.

Source of Coordinates

Source of Coordinates

GPS Unit

Google Maps

Other...

Source of Coordinates Other...

GPS Coordinates

Lat/Long

NY State Plane

UTM

If State Plane Coordinates

Central

West

East

Long Island

If UTM, Datum

If UTM, Zone

coordinates1N A. Latitude or UTM/State Plane North

coordinates1E A. Longitude or UTM/State Plane East

coordinates2N B. Latitude or UTM/State Plane North

coordinates2E B. Longitude or UTM/State Plane East

coordinates3N C. Latitude or UTM/State Plane North

coordinates3E C. Longitude or UTM/State Plane East

coordinates4N D. Latitude or UTM/State Plane North

coordinates4E D. Longitude or UTM/State Plane East

coordinates5N E. Latitude or UTM/State Plane North

coordinates5E E. Longitude or UTM/State Plane East

Directions

Describe the precise location of the species and how to get there; include nearby landmarks (with GPS coordinates if desired), trails, and street names, and distances from the nearest street. Include directions to separate groups of organisms if needed.

Location Map

Attach Location Map with location of species marked, and that includes landmarks & roads. 2mb or smaller please. -OR-

Map URL

Enter web address (URL) of map stored online

Observation Data *

Animals: Enter the number of adults, juveniles, nests, shells, etc., and behaviors observed. E.g., 4 adults, 3 young, adults feeding young. Plants: Enter the number of units you counted, such as individual plants, clumps, floating masses, area of stems, etc., and the number or percentage of plants in flower and fruit, if known. E.g. 10 plants, 5 in flower, 5 in fruit. E.g. Hundreds of clumps with many stems each, all flowering. E.g. 2 large areas of ground cover vines, no flowers. If there are separate groups or locations, enter numbers or areas for each group if possible. E.g. 5 plants in north group, 7 plants in group beside river. Please provide some measure of effort: amount of time spent, area covered, person-hours of search time, etc.

Area Occupied

If applicable, enter the total estimated area occupied by the population, and specify units (e.g. square meters). If the area occupied is long and narrow, please indicate length and width.

Habitat Description *

Write a description of the habitat where the species is found. Include habitat type (woods, marsh, fields, etc.), most common trees and other vegetation, other species present, and if known soils (sandy, loamy, clay), hydrology (inundated, saturated, moist, dry), and any other features of the habitat.

Landowner(s)

Enter name of landowners, if known, and address and contact information.

Threats

Describe current or potential threats, or human or natural changes that would affect the population. Examples include invasive species, development, natural succession, deer browse.

Specimen *

Yes

No

Was a specimen taken?

Collector and collector's collection #

Collection or Repository

Where this specimen was sent.

Photo *

Yes

No

Was a photo taken? If yes, please attach a copy (below).

Photo File A

Photo Description A

Photo File B

Photo Description B

Photo File C

Photo Description C

Photo File D

Photo Description D

Photo File E

Photo Description E

Photo URL

Enter web address (URL) of photo(s) stored online