Ode News an Occasional Newsletter About Dragonflies and Damselflies in Southern New England
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Ode News An Occasional Newsletter about Dragonflies and Damselflies in Southern New England Volume VI, Number 1 ISSN 1084-9750 May 1999 elcome to the 12th issue of Ode News, now in LATE 1998 SIGHTINGS W its sixth year of publication! Unusually warm weather during the first week of The last field season of the millennium is upon us December resulted in some extremely late dragonfly and it’s shaping up to be the most active yet. The sightings. On several days temperatures throughout local water table has fallen considerably since last southern New England exceeded 60°F and on the 7th summer and, barring the monsoons we experienced reached the mid-70s, setting records in many areas. last spring, most sites On that date in Rhode should be much more Island, Charles Brown accessible this year. found a Common Green Darner (Anax junius) and Dragonfly enthusiasts in an unidentified Meadow- New England will find hawk (Sympetrum sp.). At more activities than ever the Connecticut College this summer. Jackie Sones Arboretum in New is conducting her popular London, Jeremiah Trimble workshops at several recorded 40 Yellow- locations, and a number of legged Meadowhawks walks in association with (Sympetrum vicinum) on 3 various organizations have December and found a been scheduled. In dozen still flying on 9 addition, the Humboldt December. He also saw Field Research Institute in two Common Green Steuben, Maine is offering Darners on the 7th. two courses on odonata Ringed Boghaunter - female (Williamsonia lintneri) this year, taught again by by Jeremiah Trimble In a recent issue of Argia, Paul Brunelle. The Rhode Fred Sibley described his Island Atlas project has entered its second year and it observations of late dragonflies in western looks like another busy season in that state. Finally, Connecticut (“A beginner’s random observations on the Dragonfly Society of the Americas is holding winter dragonflies”, Argia 11(1): their annual meeting in the Adirondacks in July, 13-15.). Fred recorded numbers and occurrence of followed by the International Congress of Yellow-legged Meadowhawks at two ponds, one Odonatology at Colgate University in Hamilton, New about 20 miles inland in Naugatuck and the other on York. It looks like an exciting summer ahead! Read the coast in Fairfield. The last meadowhawk at the on for details on all of these events. inland site was on 29 November. However, at the coastal pond, meadowhawks were still numerous on Also in this issue Jim MacDougall describes last 2 December and a single Common Green Darner was year’s odonate course at the Humboldt Field seen nearby. Following several days of exceptional Research Institute in Maine, Michael Veit offers warmth, Fred returned to the pond on 9 December. some additional observations on hilltopping by Although the temperature had fallen into the 40s, dragonflies on Mt. Watatic, and Jackie Sones Fred caught and marked an amazing 70 Yellow- provides a note on identifying green darners. legged Meadowhawks! Several days of cloudy, normally cold weather ensued. When Fred returned Ode News Vol VI, No. 1 2 to the pond on 16 December, the temperature was FIRST 1999 ODES again in the 40s and there was a skim ice on the pond. Nonetheless, Fred found a single The first odes of the year in southern New England meadowhawk, one that he had marked on his appeared in mid-April. Ringed Boghaunters previous visit! This is probably the latest date an (Williamsonia lintneri) emerged in Rhode Island, odonate has ever been recorded in New England. where 33 exuviae were found on 15 April (fide Ginger Carpenter). Three days later, Harlequin Darners (Gomphaeschna furcillata) and Common Green Darners (Anax junius) were also noted in 1999 WALKS AND PROGRAMS There is a full schedule of activities planned throughout Massachusetts this season, from half-day walks to three-day courses. Some of these events are free, while others are scheduled by organizations, such as Massachusetts Audubon, and require registration and a fee. Many of these programs are weather dependent, so if in doubt call ahead. Saturday, 8 May: Concord & vicinity. Meet at With the Athol Bird & Nature Club. Meet at the 9:30 a.m. at the Nine Acre Corner convenience store Petersham Commons on Route 32. Leaders: Dave at the intersection of Route 117 & Sudbury Road in Small (508-249-2094) and Blair Nikula (508-432- Concord. We’ll be looking for the endangered 6348). Ringed Boghaunter (Williamsonia lintneri) and other early fliers. Leaders: Dick Walton (978-369-3729) Sunday – Tuesday, 1 – 3 August: Dragonflies and and Blair Nikula (508-432-6348). Damselflies of Cape Cod. Workshop at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellfleet. Monday, 14 June: “Dragonflies and Birds: Life Instructor: Jackie Sones, with Ginger Carpenter and History Similarities and Differences.” 7:30 p..m. Blair Nikula. For more information call: 508-349- Evening program by Jackie Sones for the Hampshire 2615. (Fee) Bird Club at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 867 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. Wednesdays, 4, 11, & 25 August; Thursday, 19 August: Dragonflies & Damselflies in Depth. Friday, 2 July: In Search of Dragons and 7:00–9:00 p.m. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Damsels, I. 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p..m. Walk at Ashumet Sanctuary, Worcester. A four-week course with Wildlife Sanctuary in Falmouth. Leader: Jackie guest presenters and weekend field trips. For details Sones. To register call: 508-349-2615. (Fee) call: 508-753-6087. (Fee) Friday, 23 July: In Search of Dragons and Saturday, 7 August: Discovering Dragonflies and Damsels, II. 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p..m. Walk at Damselflies in Dartmouth. Walk in conjunction Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Leader: Jackie with Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Naturewatch. Sones. To register call: 508-349-2615. (Fee) For more information or to register call: 1-800- AUDUBON, ext. 7251. (Fee) Saturday, 24 July: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield. 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Saturday, 21 August: Berkshires Sanctuaries. Workshop conducted by Jackie Sones. Slides and 1:00 – 4:00 p..m. Workshop conducted by Jackie discussion, followed by a walk. To register call: 978- Sones. Slides and discussion, followed by a walk. 887-9264. (Fee) To register call: 413-637-0320. (Fee) Sunday, 25 July: Petersham & vicinity. 9:00 a..m. Ode News Vol. VI, No. 1 3 Rhode Island (fide G. Carpenter). In Massachusetts, 1999 International Congress of Odonatology Carol and Peter Trull saw a and Common Green Darner in 1st Symposium of the Worldwide Dragonfly Brewster on 18 April, and the Association (WDA) same day Jeremiah Trimble found a teneral male Eastern Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, USA Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) in July 11-16, 1999 Eastham. This may be the earliest the latter species has Co-organizers: ever been recorded in the state. Dr. Janet Rith River’s Edge Geographics, P.O. Box 453, Bemidj, MN 56601. phone: 218-751-2795 or 0154; fax: 218-751-0154 1999 DSA MEETING e-mail: [email protected] The 1999 Annual Meeting of Dr. Vicky McMillan Biology Department, Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346- the Dragonfly Society of the 1398 Americas will be held in the phone: 315-228-7713; fax: 315-228-7045 Adirondacks in upstate New e-mail: [email protected] York from Thursday, 8 July through Sunday, 11 July. The Colgate University cordially invites all those with an interest in dragonflies to meeting will be based at Paul a stimulating week of scientific sessions, informal presentations, films, field trips, Smiths College in Paul Smiths, and other special events at Colgate University in upstate New York. Afterwards, just north of the Saranac Lake participants are encouraged to attend one or both of two post-Congress tours, to the Adirondack Mountains and further afield to the lakes, forests, and rivers of region. Field trips will be run to Minnesota. A meeting of the IUCN Odonata Specialist Group is also scheduled a variety of sites, including the on July 11, 1999. Bloomingdale Bog and Ausable Scientific papers or posters on the behavior, ecology, taxonomy, physiology, River, and a good variety of conservation, or other aspects of the Odonata are invited. Informal presentations northern odonate species should (films, slide shows, etc.) are also welcome. The deadline for registration and be present. There will also be submission of Abstracts (250 words) was March 1, 1999, but late registrations and evening programs (for those abstracts will still be accepted to the extent that space permits. Please contact able to remain awake!). either Co-organizer if you are interested in attending, or see the Congress Web Lodging and meals will be available at the college for a cost of $135.50, which RHODE ISLAND ATLAS includes three nights lodging (linen and towels not included), three evening dinners, and three Following an extremely successful first year breakfasts. To make reservations, send your check (including six species new to the state), the Rhode (payable to: Dragonfly Society of the Americas) to T. Island Atlas Project, under the energetic leadership W. Donnelly, 2091 Partridge Lane, Binghamton, NY, of Ginger Carpenter, is gearing up for an active 13903 (e-mail: [email protected]). second season. An organizational meeting in late Alternatively, there are numerous motels and March attracted about 30 enthusiastic volunteers, campgrounds in the Saranac Lake area 15-20 miles suggesting that the state will receive great coverage from the college. in 1999. If you are interested in participating in the atlas, at any level, contact Ginger at the Nature This meeting immediately precedes the International Conservancy in Providence; phone: 401-331-7110; e- Congress of Odonatology, also in New York (see mail: [email protected].