|
Annual Meeting Establishes 2014 Goals
- Over twice as many records were submitted to the MDP website in 2013 compared to 2012, and the number of migration reports increased by 700%.
- Ability to correctly identify dragonfly species remains the greatest concern expressed by MDP volunteers.
- Although large numbers of migrating Common Green Darners were seen along the Atlantic coast of the US in fall 2013, the majority of migrants observed in SE Mexico by Pronatura Veracruz partners were Wandering Gliders and Spot-Winged Gliders, with no large flights of Common Green Darner.
- Northward movement of Common Green Darners occurs earlier in the spring in the east compared to the west.
- Stable isotope analysis of wing samples indicates that Common Green Darners may continue to move northward from Gulf Coast states even into the late summer months.
- 3D virtual image of a Common Green Darner exuvia added to the website to assist in identification.
|
|
|
 | |
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
|
New developments to look for in 2014 include:
- Video tutorials to help you learn how to collect and submit data to the MDP website
- Online identification quizzes and tutorials
- Online short course training modules
- A guide to identifying, photographing, collecting, and preserving exuviae of Common Green Darners
- Spanish language versions of the MDP field guide and portions of the website
- Changes to the data entry pages to make them easier to use and navigate
- Guidelines for installing dragonfly pond habitat in your own backyard
- Additional short courses and workshops
These changes will be implemented throughout the coming year, but don't wait--the 1st day of spring is only 3 weeks away. Returning Variegated Meadowhawks and Common Green Darners have already been noted in California and Common Green Darners and Wandering Gliders are flying in Florida. Data collected across multiple years will help us assess the effects of weather on the timing of spring migration, so as the Polar Vortex begins to loosen its icy grip, it's critically important to start scanning the skies for those first-of-the-year sightings, and break a trail to your Pond Watch site to record the presence (or absence!) of our focal migratory species. Thank you for joining us in another year of migratory dragonfly watching!
|
.png){kind=small}
