Hello everyone,
Off the bat, I will easily admit that I am a newcomer to both the forum and darters, but over the last two years I have become progressively enthused by my research and after collecting a few rainbows while in Indiana, I have been totally bitten by the darter bug. As I live in CT, the first darter specie I have come in contact with was Etheostoma olmstedi. That was two years ago, and after a year of extensive research I went on a collecting trip in Indianapolis, while at a ALA Convention earlier this year and successfully collected Etheostoma caeruleus. The rainbows have definitely won a special place in my heart, and this is coming from a die-hard Cichlid buff. So now, with a little personal time taken off from work, I am attempting a day trip into Southern New York state to collect a few species that my research has had me believe to exist there. The following species are currently acknowledged to populate streams in both Southeastern and Southwestern New York:

Etheostoma blennioides (Greenside Darter)
Etheostoma caeruleum (Rainbow Darter)
Etheostoma zonale (Banded Darter)
Percina evides (Gilt Darter)
Percina caprodes (Logperch)

All of which I am looking to collect. The trick now is, to find verifiable locations where these species can be located and collected. I doubt Ill have much trouble finding logperches though . The other species may prove to be more difficult. I have scoured the internet, including this site, and found little in the way of exact localities other then Schoharie. So I am presenting a new topic in hopes of generating some advice from seasoned collectors and hobbyists. Preferably, I would like to stay as close to the Southeastern part of the state as possible, but I do understand that most will be found closer to the Southwestern areas. So, with that said, I would honestly appreciate any feedback on this matter as soon as possible. I am looking to collect this weekend (Sat or Sun), so I will need the info no later then the end of the week. I do apologize for the short notice, as it was very difficult to get the time off. Thanks to everyone in advance!

I doubt you'll find gilt darters, they're considered to be possibly extirpated in NY.

Don't you have Fantail Darters as well?

Don't you have Fantail Darters as well?

Well, I am not from NY, but yes, technically New York does have Faintail Darters as well, but I am not currently looking to collect them. Now, should I happen to stumble across them while looking for the others, I may consider keeping them, a pair or two, but I am not going to go out of my way lol

I doubt you'll find gilt darters, they're considered to be possibly extirpated in NY.

That's a honest shame. They are gorgeous and would have been a prized find. :S

If by chance you would run across Gilt darter in Southwestern NY, please do not keep them. That would be an important find. The NY biologist would be very happy to hear that they still have a population. Good luck!

If by chance you would run across Gilt darter in Southwestern NY, please do not keep them. That would be an important find. The NY biologist would be very happy to hear that they still have a population. Good luck!

I knew they were rare in the area, and only had intentions of finding Gilt Darters specifically for observation only. But since they are even rarer then originally thought, my natural tendency to lend a hand to conservation kicks in and has me ask; If I should find them, and record the coordinates as to where, to whom might I present this information to for logging? Part of the reason I love natives is because of the ability to aid in conservation, especially when its in our own backyard. Not saying I will find them, but to observe the Gilt Darters would be a truly rewarding discovery indeed!

The date for the collecting trip is now officially this coming Sunday. While I have gotten some interesting posts on here, none of them truly answer my main question as to locations where I may be able to locate these species. Please, as the date is drawing closer, I will honestly appreciate at least a couple leads. Thanks...

The date for the collecting trip is now officially this coming Sunday. While I have gotten some interesting posts on here, none of them truly answer my main question as to locations where I may be able to locate these species. Please, as the date is drawing closer, I will honestly appreciate at least a couple leads. Thanks...

The date for the collecting trip is now officially this coming Sunday. While I have gotten some interesting posts on here, none of them truly answer my main question as to locations where I may be able to locate these species. Please, as the date is drawing closer, I will honestly appreciate at least a couple leads. Thanks...

Sorry for the last post being duplicated. My browser glitched...

Sorry for the last post being duplicated. My browser glitched...

where abouts in NY are you planning on going?

I knew they were rare in the area, and only had intentions of finding Gilt Darters specifically for observation only. But since they are even rarer then originally thought, my natural tendency to lend a hand to conservation kicks in and has me ask; If I should find them, and record the coordinates as to where, to whom might I present this information to for logging? Part of the reason I love natives is because of the ability to aid in conservation, especially when its in our own backyard. Not saying I will find them, but to observe the Gilt Darters would be a truly rewarding discovery indeed!

I believe Doug Carlson is the main contact for this sort of information within the NYSDEC. I would imagine he would be excited if you observed a Gilt darter. If at all possable, take a picture, they are worth more than a thousand words. NYSDEC's website should be able to give you contact info.
Best of luck.

Well, the collecting trip was a pleasant success. Although the original plan nearly got canceled, after realizing the weather channel was wrong, I packed everything up and made a last minute venture to Schoharie, NY. There, at Fox Creek, I was able to collect Greensides (which I was ecstatic about!), Rainbows (but did not realize they were rainbows til after placing them into the tank at home ), and another species which is neither of the aforementioned, nor am I convinced it is a log perch either. In fact I have researched the living daylights out of this one and cant seem to come to a stable conclusion. But all in all, I came home with 8 healthy darters, and achieved my main goal of collecting at least a pair of Greensides. Finding the Rainbows was definitely an added bonus, but I am 99.9% sure that they are all males. I will be posting pictures up shortly for identification purposes, but mostly because I am dying to show off the gorgeous full grown (and IMO "show quality") Greenside male! Check back for updates, and thanks again to all those who chimed in on this thread!

Well, the collecting trip was a pleasant success. Although the original plan nearly got canceled, after realizing the weather channel was wrong, I packed everything up and made a last minute venture to Schoharie, NY. There, at Fox Creek, I was able to collect Greensides (which I was ecstatic about!), Rainbows (but did not realize they were rainbows til after placing them into the tank at home ), and another species which is neither of the aforementioned, nor am I convinced it is a log perch either. In fact I have researched the living daylights out of this one and cant seem to come to a stable conclusion. But all in all, I came home with 8 healthy darters, and achieved my main goal of collecting at least a pair of Greensides. Finding the Rainbows was definitely an added bonus, but I am 99.9% sure that they are all males. I will be posting pictures up shortly for identification purposes, but mostly because I am dying to show off the gorgeous full grown (and IMO "show quality") Greenside male! Check back for updates, and thanks again to all those who chimed in on this thread!

I just got home from the Fl convention yesterday at 4 am wish I'd known you were in the area. We just discovered the rainbows in Fox creek this spring, they shouldn't be there. Other then the greensides should only be tesselated, fantails and logperch in the area. You weren't too far from some nice redside dace as well. Gotta go rearrange some tanks made a haul at the conference.

I just got home from the Fl convention yesterday at 4 am wish I'd known you were in the area. We just discovered the rainbows in Fox creek this spring, they shouldn't be there. Other then the greensides should only be tesselated, fantails and logperch in the area. You weren't too far from some nice redside dace as well. Gotta go rearrange some tanks made a haul at the conference.

I would have loved to have gotten some Redside Dace as well. They would have made a pleasant schooling fish for my darter tanks. But, there is always next time. And trust me, I do plan on making another trip there in the spring when all are in breeding coloration.

As far as the Rainbows, there definitely is a population in Fox Creek, which leads me to wonder... If they are there, who is to say they haven't spread into other areas as well? I do have to comment that the specimens I found were very small, no bigger then an inch and quarter. So that would also lead me to believe that they are still a very young population, which would line up well with your first discovery last spring. Otherwise I would have caught some specimens that were comparable to the larger Greensides in size. This could be a very interesting start to a research project...HINT-HINT... lol

Now as far as the others that I have yet to properly identify, I will have pictures up very soon. I don't believe they are tessellated, fantails, or logperch, although I was hoping to catch some logperch... . But without jumping to conclusions before posting a picture, I would not be surprised to see that another species has gone farther then their normal range, much like the Rainbows.

I really wish I could have gone to the NANFA Conference this year, but I was not properly prepared in time. Typically I frequent the ALA and NEC Conventions, but I am looking to add NANFA to my "Pseudo-Vacation" destinations. Hopefully next year will be the ticket!

Your unidentifieds might be females, especially female rainbows. They can be strikingly different from the males.

Your unidentifieds might be females, especially female rainbows. They can be strikingly different from the males.

While I do not doubt that they might be, I currently have a tank of male and female rainbows to which I compared the unidentifieds to. Still waiting to get a free second to carefully take the pictures.

Just wanted to wrap up this topic since I have been overly busy. The unidentified darter species is in fact a fantail darter. After closer examination, the patterns became more apparent and I can now successfully say that I have caught three different species in one location, all in the same collection point. Thanks to everyone for helping me out with this one!