2nd Ohio Amphibian Research and Conservation Conference

If you have any interest in herps, biology or just enjoy the outdoors, I suggest you check out the 2nd Ohio Amphibian Research and Conservation Conference.  Ohio DNR has been putting on reptile and amphibian conferences every two years now for almost a decade.  They alternate the focus of each conference between reptiles and amphibians, so each topic is approached every four years.  This years event is March 20, 2012 at the ODOT Hilltop Conference Center in Columbus, Ohio. The keynote speaker is Dr. Tyrone Hayes, an amphibian ecologist from UC Berkeley, who will be speaking about amphibian declines.

Western Chorus Frog found breeding on March 11, 2006

I have made almost all of these conferences now and they are always full of top notch speakers, fascinating information relevant to Ohio reptiles and amphibians and provide a great opportunity to get together with a group of like minded individuals.  The past few conferences have probably attracted 100+ people in attendance from all walks of life and level of interest.  These conferences are pretty laid back, and provide a wonderful venue to celebrate herps and bring in the new field season.

Tiger Salamander roadcruised on March 15, 2008

The conferences are centrally located in Columbus Ohio.  You can obtain more information about registration (late now), location and scheduled speakers here.  Another selling point is that the past 2 or even 3 conferences I have attended were blessed with rain.  I have been able to get some early spring amphibian migrations in on almost every occasion!

Smallmouth Salamander roadcruised on March 13, 2010