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