Comments for The Daily Wing

Comment on How to Catch a Dragonfly by Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:59:54 +0000

Thanks, DW! I like the tennis analogy. Rather than meeting a tennis ball head-on as it approaches, wait just until it passes by and swing (from below and behind) as if to propel the ball along it’s current course.

And that net. Oh, I love that net!. It begins with a trip to Canada. To a Canadian Tire store. (It’s a big chain.) We may have domestic options; I’m not sure. Buy the long-handled Lucky Strike. It’s a cheap aluminum dip net. Cut off the fish netting. Then remove the sheet-metal screws that hold the ring to the pole. Buy an 18-inch basic Bio-Quip nylon net. And here’s the hard part: get that net onto the net ring. It takes patience and flexibility. It’s easy to bend and crimp that ring in the process. But I’ve done it successfully many times.

When you reattach the ring, punch two more hole and use slightly larger sheet-metal screws (two on each side). Then wrap the screws with electrical tape (so they don’t snag the net).

I LOVE this net. I learned it from Paul-Michael Brunelle. It swings faster than any net I own. And it’s a dependable prop for those awkward, unbalanced moments in peatlands.

I think I’ll blog specifically on the net soon.

Comment on How to Catch a Dragonfly by Dragonfly Woman

Dragonfly Woman — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 07:28:33 +0000

I love the description of how to catch a dragonfly! It’s fabulous! People constantly ask me how to catch them and I’m never quite sure how to describe how I do it (apart from saying it demands a lot of patience and persistence), but I think you nailed it. I’ll direct people to your description from now on! I’m also highly envious of your net. It sounds amazing. I might need to make one of those myself…

Comment on Little Blue Heron – Updated August 20 by Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:12:08 +0000

Yep, I believe this is a bird that hatched this year. If it were a yearling (just over a year old now), I suspect that by now it would be in the process of replacing its flight feathers and most to all body plumage with blue feathers. Good question, Rhonda!

Comment on Little Blue Heron – Updated August 20 by Rhonda Mace

Rhonda Mace — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:20:17 +0000

Would the white morph indicate that this bird was born here this year, or would it be a yearling born last year that got a bit lost in its travels?

Comment on Dragonfly Swarms by Pantala Flight | The Daily Wing

Pantala Flight | The Daily Wing — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:42:07 +0000

[...] I’ve written before in a post about dragonfly swarms, Pantala flavescens is a flying machine. It is found on every continent except Antarctica. This [...]

Comment on Farewell, River Run by Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:22:30 +0000

~~Thanks, Will. Sorry we missed you there. I gather you were running up Mt. Washington or something.~~

Oh, maybe that’s Sandy replying. I loved that photo of you!

Comment on Farewell, River Run by Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:19:26 +0000

Very nice Bryan!!

Comment on A Swarming Welcome to Michigan by Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:57:41 +0000

Hi Jean,

Nothing formal. If you’re looking for a field guide, go with Blair Nikula’s guide to Massachusetts:
http://www.odenews.org/MAguide.htm
And you’ll want Ed Lam’s damselfly guide: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/book.html

Send me your email and I can email you a Vermont dragonfly and damselfly list.

Best,
Bryan

Comment on Little Blue Heron – Updated August 20 by Kevin Hemeon

Kevin Hemeon — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:44:11 +0000

A summer for southerners. May winter take a long time to arrive. Someone may spot a blue morpho next. LOL

Comment on A Swarming Welcome to Michigan by Jane

Jane — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:03:44 +0000

Thanks for this, Bryan. Is there a list anywhere, on line or in print, of dragonflies/damselflies commonly found in VT?