Around 2PM, in Clove Lakes Park near the pine trees on Forest Avenue, there were about 7-8 Common Green Darners flying around. The weather was humid with cloud cover after morning rain.
Catherine Barron
9/28/2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
9/25 Nature Section Meet/SI Dragonfly Atlas
At the SI Museum's Nature Section meeting on September 25, Seth Wollney made the announcement that the Section will be undertaking a five year study of dragonflies on Staten Island beginning in April 2009. The citizen science project will be called the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas (SIDA) and will try to better understand the general distribution and abundance of dragonflies on the Island. A migration study will be a component of the study. Four lectures and four field work sessions will be offered and a portal for the collection and analysis of data is being developed.
William T. Davis, a founder of the SI Museum, published a list of Odonata, suborder Anisoptera, in 1898 and 1913. We are fortunate that a one hundred year comparison can be done.
Paul Lederer, SI Museum Researcher who has been observing and collecting dragonflies for the last 12 years, gave a lecture and slide show on the clear wing dragonflies of Staten Island. He talked about how to ID and about the habits of the dragonflies.
To prepare for the 2009 study, there will be an identification workshop for Sympetrums (meadowhawks) at Long Pond on Sunday, 9/28, at 10 AM.
Catherine Barron
Recording Secretary
Nature Section
William T. Davis, a founder of the SI Museum, published a list of Odonata, suborder Anisoptera, in 1898 and 1913. We are fortunate that a one hundred year comparison can be done.
Paul Lederer, SI Museum Researcher who has been observing and collecting dragonflies for the last 12 years, gave a lecture and slide show on the clear wing dragonflies of Staten Island. He talked about how to ID and about the habits of the dragonflies.
To prepare for the 2009 study, there will be an identification workshop for Sympetrums (meadowhawks) at Long Pond on Sunday, 9/28, at 10 AM.
Catherine Barron
Recording Secretary
Nature Section
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Wolfe's Pond Park Dragonfly Study
On Sunday, September 21, 2008, five member of the Nature Section met at Wolfe's Pond Park for what have become very enjoyable field experiences. We were joined by a new face to the SI Dragonfly Atlas, Wayne Mones. After spending sometimes looking at many blue dasher, a few eastern pondhawk, and a common green darner engaging in their daily behaviors, we visited the bluffs in hopes of observing some migration behavior!
We were graced with many black saddlebags, wandering glider, and common green darners "staging" along the low bluffs. Black saddlebags were parching in the vegetation, affording us extended periods of observation of a species that spends most of its time on the wing. I was actually about to net one as it flew by, so was able to get a chance to see the species up close.
The next Nature Section meeting on September 25th will feature a lecture by Paul Lederer, Museum Researcher, and local dragonfly expert! The meeting starts at 7:30pm at the Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place.
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
Staten Island Museum
We were graced with many black saddlebags, wandering glider, and common green darners "staging" along the low bluffs. Black saddlebags were parching in the vegetation, affording us extended periods of observation of a species that spends most of its time on the wing. I was actually about to net one as it flew by, so was able to get a chance to see the species up close.
The next Nature Section meeting on September 25th will feature a lecture by Paul Lederer, Museum Researcher, and local dragonfly expert! The meeting starts at 7:30pm at the Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place.
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
Staten Island Museum
Monday, September 1, 2008
8/31 Clove Lakes Park
On 8/31, after 4PM, at Clove Lakes Park, there were Eastern Amberwings, Perithemis tenera, Blue Dashers, Pachydiplax longipennis, Wandering Gliders, Pantala flavescens and Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata. The Ea. Amberwings and the Blue Dashers were at Martlings Pond which is very still with algae and some small tree branches sticking up above the water.
Catherine Barron
Catherine Barron
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008. Crooke's Point- Migrating Species Study
It certainly looks like the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas is growing a good volunteer base! Thanks to Catherine and Tom for their continued participation, and welcome to Anne! And thanks again to Paul for being such a great group-mentor!
Today's field study at Crooke's Point, Great Kills Park, focused on migrant species, and observing migration behavior. It is commonly known that certain species of dragonflies migrate in spring and fall, but this behavior is greatly understudied. To add data towards the natural history knowledge of dragonfly migration, a sub-project of S.I.D.A., the "Migration Project", will focus on collecting migration data from selected points around Staten Island.
4 members of the Section, including myself, met Mr. Lederer (Paul) at the Education Station where we obtained temporary passes allowing us to drive/park a Crooke's Point. After 15 minutes of chatting about future plans for S.I.D.A. and observations members of the group made this week, we headed out to Crooke's for some field work.
Left: Paul, Anne, Catherine and Tom examine a female Blue Dasher and use field guides to confirm ID, Aug. 31, 2008. Photo by Seth Wollney
The activity was bountiful! The winds weren't blowing in the best direction for migration, so the dragonflies were staging above the dunes, and some bushes. Almost immediately, Paul netted a damselfly in the dune grasses. Although S.I.D.A. is currently not atlasing damselflies, Mr. Lederer is keeping tract of what species are found on the island.
One thing can be said for the "migrant dragonflies", they certainly stay on the wing! With a little study the group was able to learn how to ID the common species. The most abundant species was black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata), with a few common green darner (Anax junius) and wandering glider (Pantala flavescens). A male and female twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella), and a handful of blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) were observed. Paul succeeded in netting a female Blue Dasher which the group was able to get study up-close. This is one of the only species whose females are commonly seen encountered in the field.
Above: Paul Lederer, Museum Researcher, showing the group a Blue Dasher, Aug. 31, 2008
Bottom Right: Anne and Catherin examine the dasher before she flies off, Aug. 31, 2008
Photos by Seth Wollney
Before the walk, Tom and I visited the "salt flats" where we observed our first Spot-winged glider (Pantala hymenaea). Paul tells us that about 10% of the Pantala (or gliders) you see on Staten Island are this species, but it's often difficult to seperate it from wandering glider. The only field mark to split the two species is a small spot at the base of the hind wing. Luckily, the individual we observed was perched in some phrags!
**Next Field Study and Walk**
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Get a lot of rest, this will be a long day! The current plan is to start at 8am at the Conference House for the Nature Section walk. Following this walk, S.I.D.A. will meet Mr. Lederer at Sharrot's Pond around 10:30 am. From there we may visit Blue Heron Park, or somewhere else on the south shore.
In other News:
-E-mail inquires can now be sent to statenislanddragonflyatlas@birdingonstatenisland.com
-An official home page for S.I.D.A. is currently in the works!
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
Staten Island Museum
Today's field study at Crooke's Point, Great Kills Park, focused on migrant species, and observing migration behavior. It is commonly known that certain species of dragonflies migrate in spring and fall, but this behavior is greatly understudied. To add data towards the natural history knowledge of dragonfly migration, a sub-project of S.I.D.A., the "Migration Project", will focus on collecting migration data from selected points around Staten Island.
4 members of the Section, including myself, met Mr. Lederer (Paul) at the Education Station where we obtained temporary passes allowing us to drive/park a Crooke's Point. After 15 minutes of chatting about future plans for S.I.D.A. and observations members of the group made this week, we headed out to Crooke's for some field work.
Left: Paul, Anne, Catherine and Tom examine a female Blue Dasher and use field guides to confirm ID, Aug. 31, 2008. Photo by Seth WollneyThe activity was bountiful! The winds weren't blowing in the best direction for migration, so the dragonflies were staging above the dunes, and some bushes. Almost immediately, Paul netted a damselfly in the dune grasses. Although S.I.D.A. is currently not atlasing damselflies, Mr. Lederer is keeping tract of what species are found on the island.
One thing can be said for the "migrant dragonflies", they certainly stay on the wing! With a little study the group was able to learn how to ID the common species. The most abundant species was black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata), with a few common green darner (Anax junius) and wandering glider (Pantala flavescens). A male and female twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella), and a handful of blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) were observed. Paul succeeded in netting a female Blue Dasher which the group was able to get study up-close. This is one of the only species whose females are commonly seen encountered in the field.Above: Paul Lederer, Museum Researcher, showing the group a Blue Dasher, Aug. 31, 2008
Bottom Right: Anne and Catherin examine the dasher before she flies off, Aug. 31, 2008
Photos by Seth Wollney
Before the walk, Tom and I visited the "salt flats" where we observed our first Spot-winged glider (Pantala hymenaea). Paul tells us that about 10% of the Pantala (or gliders) you see on Staten Island are this species, but it's often difficult to seperate it from wandering glider. The only field mark to split the two species is a small spot at the base of the hind wing. Luckily, the individual we observed was perched in some phrags!
**Next Field Study and Walk**
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Get a lot of rest, this will be a long day! The current plan is to start at 8am at the Conference House for the Nature Section walk. Following this walk, S.I.D.A. will meet Mr. Lederer at Sharrot's Pond around 10:30 am. From there we may visit Blue Heron Park, or somewhere else on the south shore.
In other News:
-E-mail inquires can now be sent to statenislanddragonflyatlas@birdingonstatenisland.com
-An official home page for S.I.D.A. is currently in the works!
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
Staten Island Museum
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Aug. 24, 2008 - 1st Field Trip
On Sunday, August 24, 2008, Paul Lederer lead a group of 4 members of the Nature Section on a dragonfly study at Pouch Camp. With nets in hand the group walked to the edge of Lake Orbach to look for some dragonflies. The day was cloudy, with the threat of rain looming over head which unfortunately meant lessened dragonfly activities. Mr. Lederer took the moments of slow activity to engage the group in discussion about general dragonfly knowledge which led to discussion of specific identification. At some point, Paul did net one of the few Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis), allowing the group to get close up looks of this very common species.Above: Blue Dasher (Platydiplax longipennis), Aug 24, 2008. Photo by Jarred Sutton
Left:
Paul Lederer, founder and lead-researcher of the Staten Island Dragonfly AtlasPhoto by Jarred Sutton, Aug. 24, 2008
Above: Group studying on the dock at Pouch Camp. Paul Lederer (left), Seth Wollney (standing, middle), Tom Dulski (sitting, middle), Catherine Barrons (right). Photo by Jarred Sutton.
After a while, the sun finally broke through enough to inspire some male blue dasher to patrol the edges of the lake, joined a few minutes later by a smaller number of slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta). Mr. Lederer was able to knock one the slaty skimmers with his net which made it possible for the group to get another in-hand study of these beautiful insects. While recovering, the bug allowed the group to use a loop for a magnified study of his cerci. Right: Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta), Pouch Camp, Staten Island,
August 24, 2008, Photo by Jarred Sutton
Other species noted were: eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera), common green darner (Anax junius), and single, female, yellow-legged meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) was found by Seth Wollney, and Tom Dulski on the opposite side of the pond before the group met.
Above: Yellow-legged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum), Long Pond Park, 8/7/08.
Photo by Seth Wollney (c) 2008
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
Opening Blog
Greetings Dragonfly Enthusiasts!
This is the first blog-posting of the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas (formerly Survey). The purpose of this blog is two-fold, to let current volunteers know what's going on, and to encourage new volunteers to join in the fun and get surveyeing.
Paul Lederer proposed the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas (Survey) to the Staten Island Museum in 1996. Mr. Lederer wished to continue the work on Staten Island Odonata started in the late 19th century by William T. Davis. As often is the case on the island, we are fortunate to have the bonafide work of Mr. Davis to provides us with baseline data upon which we can base our current studies in many areas of Staten Island interest. Likewise, it is hoped that our current work will provide interesting historic insight to future generations.
In the summer of 2008, the Section of Natural History of the Staten Island Museum joined Mr. Lederer in the efforts to gain a current understanding of the Dragonflies of Staten Island. Over the next 5-years, the Section hopes to enroll new volunteers to assist in surveying for the atlas project. Similar project of much great scales have collected Odonata data in New York and other states over the past few years.
The remainder of the 2008 season will focus on learning how to identify dragonflies on the wing, and get closer looks when possible! The field work (survey) will start in April 2009. Between now and then workshops, and lectures are being planned for volunteers, and dragonfly enthusiasts. The first lecture in this series, given by Mr. Lederer, will be held at Nature Section meeting on September 25, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Staten Island Museum.
Happy Dragonfly Watching!
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
This is the first blog-posting of the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas (formerly Survey). The purpose of this blog is two-fold, to let current volunteers know what's going on, and to encourage new volunteers to join in the fun and get surveyeing.
Paul Lederer proposed the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas (Survey) to the Staten Island Museum in 1996. Mr. Lederer wished to continue the work on Staten Island Odonata started in the late 19th century by William T. Davis. As often is the case on the island, we are fortunate to have the bonafide work of Mr. Davis to provides us with baseline data upon which we can base our current studies in many areas of Staten Island interest. Likewise, it is hoped that our current work will provide interesting historic insight to future generations.
In the summer of 2008, the Section of Natural History of the Staten Island Museum joined Mr. Lederer in the efforts to gain a current understanding of the Dragonflies of Staten Island. Over the next 5-years, the Section hopes to enroll new volunteers to assist in surveying for the atlas project. Similar project of much great scales have collected Odonata data in New York and other states over the past few years.
The remainder of the 2008 season will focus on learning how to identify dragonflies on the wing, and get closer looks when possible! The field work (survey) will start in April 2009. Between now and then workshops, and lectures are being planned for volunteers, and dragonfly enthusiasts. The first lecture in this series, given by Mr. Lederer, will be held at Nature Section meeting on September 25, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Staten Island Museum.
Happy Dragonfly Watching!
-Seth Wollney
Section of Natural History
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