[obol] Off Topic: Mass Dragonfly Flight at Yachats and Newport This Morning

[Range Bayer]

Hi,

    This morning (August 28) at Yachats, Betty Bahn, Sally and Michael
Noack, and Sally Lockyear counted about 109 southbound dragonflies during a
3 minute count starting at 9:50 AM about a block away from the ocean.
Betty noted that they were "kind of orangish" (which is like Sympetrum
corruptum [Variegated Meadowhawk] that have been involved in other major
flights along the Oregon Coast).  The flight appeared to be over by 10:15
AM.

    After learning of the Yachats dragonflies, Janet Lamberson had counts
of 100/45 seconds and 100/40 seconds at the OSU Hatfield Marine Science
Center at about 10:45 AM.  But at 11:10 AM, only 1/minute, so the flight
appeared to have tailed off there, too.

    Anyone else see this mass flight of dragonflies in one direction?  With
unaided eyes, counting the number flying north or south per minute past an
imaginary east-west line about 25-50 yards wide gives a useful index of
abundance.  Many dragonflies can be present and milling around in a
favorable area for dragonflies, but in a directional flight, the vast
majority are flying in one direction.

    In late August and early September, there may be a large flight of
dragonflies along the Oregon Coast, especially when there are strong winds
from the east and it is very warm.  These dragonflies are not flying in a
dense cloud but are generally spread out and can easily be missed.  A major
flight usually only lasts a few hours and is rarely more than 1.5 mi inland
from the coast.  Additional information about these flights is at
http://www.ent.orst.edu/ore_dfly/migrate.htm

    Cheers,

Range Bayer, Newport