Slaty Skimmer
This Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) is not hanging out in the desert, though it may look like that from this photo. Much of the region is running a strong rainfall deficit from the past few months with many areas abnormally dry and some in the midst of moderate drought. This combined with higher than average temperatures and aggressive destruction of vegetation in areas around ponds like this one (I promise there is a pond out of sight in this photo with actual water) can make what was a favorable area for insects and thus birds and other wildlife far less attractive and beneficial. Water...
Read MoreMale Eastern Pondhawk
I was able to spend a little time checking out a couple of usually good spots for dragonflies last week. This lovely male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) was waiting for some females on a leaf on the edge of a pond. June is usually the beginning of the main part of our flight season, and this is the best time of year to get out and find some odonates. Whether they are zipping by capturing prey, mating, ovipositing, warming themselves or more you should explore any type of wet area near you to find them busy as can be in the summer sun. If you need some creative plans for the...
Read MoreDragonfly Season
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser is excited it is dragonfly season once again – what about you? Yep, this is more nature art, or art of nature, but it really is all the same. Photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project while on assignment for The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreBlue Dasher
It is odonate season, finally! Our various dragonflies and damselflies are emerging and migrating our way now that there is plenty of food in the air. Here is an up-close look at the Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis). While we at RTPI do not have any specific dragonfly monitoring programs underway this year we will be recording them during all of our other work in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey. This includes programs such as Project Wild America and Bridgeport WildLife Guards, from avian and reptile study sites, Natural History Atlas locations, at Stratford Point and...
Read MoreCommon Green Darner
RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser was pretty excited when he told me he had our first of the year dragonfly yesterday, this Common Green Darner. These darners are migrants just like the neotropical avian migrants that are patiently waiting to flood the woods in the Northeast. Photographed for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut while on assignment for The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
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