To submit a new site, please send the following information to PSO@pabirds.org
Sites vs Subsites: If you are describing a large area that should be divided up into smaller Subsites, fill out one submission form for the mother site and then one form for each Subsite.
Site Name - Official site name, if there is one (such as Moraine State Park, State Game Lands 105, etc.). Otherwise, give it a unique name. If it is a Subsite, give the mother name as well as the Subsite name (Moraine State Park - Bear Run Boat Launch, etc.).
Alternate Name(s) - How locals refer to the site other than the official name (Lake Arthur, The Glades, etc.). For Instance: Lake Arthur is an "official name", but it lies within Moraine State Park. So the larger entity (the park) takes precedence over locales within it. However, many locals refer to Lake Arthur as the park, so Lake Arthur would be listed as an alternate name.
County(s) - List all counties in which this property lies, unless the only birding areas lie within one county.
Coordinates - Latitude/Longitude of starting point such as an office/parking lot/etc. - Do not use the center of a park, etc. Use a parking area, park office, or other identifiable point that will get someone to this site using the GPS coordinates provided. Use decimal coordinates. Ie. 40.165818,-75.978474 (latitude, longitude).
You can get coordinates like these at GoogleMaps by right-clicking on the spot and selecting "What's here." The coordinates will appear in the popup box. You can then copy and paste them into your submission.
Site description - Give a general description of habitat (mix of woods and fields, reclaimed strip mine, marsh, lake, etc.).
Directions - (I know! Who needs directions in this age of GPS? But there are still some luddites out there...) - This is how to get to the site. Once they get there, birders will use the “Detailed Birding Directions” below. Give directions from the nearest town or major intersection or other spot easily found on a state map. Include mileage between turns; ie. "Go east 2.3 miles and turn right on Hampton Rd. Then go 0.3 mile to the parking lot on the right." When giving directions from a town, also give a street intersection as a starting point. (NOTE: You don't have to drive these roads to get the mileage, you can do it online at GoogleMaps Just plot your route and read the mileage off of each section.)
Birding Description - A brief description of the categories of birdlife for which it is noted (migrant passerines, shorebirds, breeding woodland warblers, waterfowl, etc.). If there are one or a few specialties (ie. species hard to find in PA or the county such as Clay-colored Sparrow, Prothonotary Warbler, etc.) list them. Also note where at the site to find them (about a quarter mile down the Humbolt Trail, etc.). Do not give a long list of species; that will be covered under the bird list section of the site.
Detailed birding directions - Describe where to go once you get there. If it is a small site, "Walk the well-marked trails that start at the parking lot." or "Check the fields south of the road for grassland sparrows." might be sufficient. If the site is large and requires a driving route or there are a number of hotspots to describe, do so here. You can be as detailed as you want. However, although listing every rare bird that has been seen there is not real helpful and only creates unrealistic expectations, the listing of unusual birds that are found here regularly is a good idea.
Ebird Hotspot: If the site has an eBird Hotspot assigned to it, list the link(s) here.
Photos:If you have some photos of the site that show the typical habitat, please include them. We are NOT looking for bird photos. However, if a photo of the lake includes some waterfowl, etc., that’s okay. Please include a brief description of the photo and the name of the photographer. Please label the photo with the name of the site plus a number (MoraineSP_1.jpg, MoraineSP_2.jpg, MorianeBoatLaunch_1.jpg, etc.).
Map: We will create a Google Map to accompany this site on the web, but if the site is large, and not all of the points of interest can be seen on a Google Map (such as trails, etc.), then if you could draw a map showing those features, it would be appreciated. You don't have to be an artist to do this. Send your best effort and we will edit it and make it look pretty... It can be a local park map with some handwritten notations or a GoogleMap with points of interest highlighted or a hand-drawn map. We will send the edited map back to you for confirmation.
Bird List: If you have a comprehensive list of species found here, please include it.
More Info: If the site has a website, list it here (most parks and preserves, etc. do).
Miscellaneous: Access restrictions, cautions (ticks, hunters, etc.), fees, or anything else that you feel is relevant to a birder visiting this site.
Your Name
Your email address - we need this so we can contact you regarding clarifications, etc.