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Welcome DSA members to the first annual meeting to be held in Virginia! We have held two recent regional meetings, but this is our first time hosting the full event. Our focus will be on sampling and adding to the knowledge of Virginia’s extensive Odonate fauna. Virginia has one of the highest species totals (195) of any state including 139 dragonflies and 56 damselflies.
Welcome DSA members to the first annual meeting to be held in Virginia! We have held two recent regional meetings, but this is our first time hosting the full event. Our focus will be on sampling and adding to the knowledge of Virginia’s extensive Odonate fauna. Virginia has one of the highest species totals (195) of any state including 139 dragonflies and 56 damselflies.
The dates for the main meeting will be June 9 - 11, 2017. We are planning on pre-meeting field trips in areas southeast of Richmond for June 7 -8. The post-meeting will continue in Staunton, heading farther west into Highland County to some high elevation private lands.
The dates for the main meeting will be June 9 - 11, 2017. We are planning on pre-meeting field trips in areas southeast of Richmond for June 7 -8. The post-meeting will continue in Staunton, heading farther west into Highland County to some high elevation private lands.
The pleasant small city of Staunton will be our HQ. It is located at the junction of I-64 and I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley, about a two hour drive west of Richmond. Another major airport is Washington-Dulles, which is about a 2.5 hr. drive. Staunton will give us convenient access to the extensive mountainous areas to its west, as well as the interesting sinkhole ponds that lie to the east near the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Mary Baldwin University will be the site of our annual meeting and banquet.
The pleasant small city of Staunton will be our HQ. It is located at the junction of I-64 and I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley, about a two hour drive west of Richmond. Another major airport is Washington-Dulles, which is about a 2.5 hr. drive. Staunton will give us convenient access to the extensive mountainous areas to its west, as well as the interesting sinkhole ponds that lie to the east near the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Mary Baldwin University will be the site of our annual meeting and banquet.
Our motel HQ in Staunton will be the Sleep Inn, 222 Jefferson Highway, Staunton, VA, 24401. This is right on I-81. Call the hotel directly at 540 887-6500, option 2 by May 15, and refer to the Dragonfly Society to reserve the rate of $99 Fri - Sat, and $89 weekdays. Dorm rooms are also available at Mary Baldwin University.
Our motel HQ in Staunton will be the Sleep Inn, 222 Jefferson Highway, Staunton, VA, 24401. This is right on I-81. Call the hotel directly at 540 887-6500, option 2 by May 15, and refer to the Dragonfly Society to reserve the rate of $99 Fri - Sat, and $89 weekdays. Dorm rooms are also available at Mary Baldwin University.
Our pre-meeting hotel is the Quality Inn at Ft. Lee, about a 30 minute drive south of the Richmond airport. Try to get a room in the back, as there is a small pond there. This will give us the best access to our pre-meeting sites which will include Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery and the Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Rivers Centerin Charles City County, and Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve in Sussex County. The fish hatchery ponds have a nice diversity of odonates, and Herring Creek is a site for Enallagma weewa (Blackwater Bluet). The adjacent Rice Rivers Center gives us access to the tidal lower James River, where we should find Enallagma durum (Big Bluet). Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve and the Nottoway River in Sussex County have a different set of species including Libellula flavida (Yellow-sided Skimmer), Enallagma dubium (Burgundy Bluet), and Telebasis byersi (Duckweed Firetail).
Our pre-meeting hotel is the Quality Inn at Ft. Lee, about a 30 minute drive south of the Richmond airport. Try to get a room in the back, as there is a small pond there. This will give us the best access to our pre-meeting sites which will include Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery and the Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Rivers Centerin Charles City County, and Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve in Sussex County. The fish hatchery ponds have a nice diversity of odonates, and Herring Creek is a site for Enallagma weewa (Blackwater Bluet). The adjacent Rice Rivers Center gives us access to the tidal lower James River, where we should find Enallagma durum (Big Bluet). Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve and the Nottoway River in Sussex County have a different set of species including Libellula flavida (Yellow-sided Skimmer), Enallagma dubium (Burgundy Bluet), and Telebasis byersi (Duckweed Firetail).
Our main meeting field trips will be divided into two general areas and participants can alternate Friday or Sunday. The area east of Staunton at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains contains the sinkhole pond complex known as Big Levels which includes Maple Flats. This area was studied and the odonate fauna described by S. Roble in 1999. This paper with species list can be accessed on the meeting website. West of Staunton are a considerable number of river and small pond sites to visit in the George Washington National Forest plus a variety of other public and private lands. Species we will look for include Gomphus descriptus (Harpoon Clubtail) and Calopteryx angustipennis (Appalachian Jewelwing). This area includes Highland County, a sparsely settled and high elevation county. Cell phone reception west of Staunton may be poor to non-existent.
Our main meeting field trips will be divided into two general areas and participants can alternate Friday or Sunday. The area east of Staunton at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains contains the sinkhole pond complex known as Big Levels which includes Maple Flats. This area was studied and the odonate fauna described by S. Roble in 1999. This paper with species list can be accessed on the meeting website. West of Staunton are a considerable number of river and small pond sites to visit in the George Washington National Forest plus a variety of other public and private lands. Species we will look for include Gomphus descriptus (Harpoon Clubtail) and Calopteryx angustipennis (Appalachian Jewelwing). This area includes Highland County, a sparsely settled and high elevation county. Cell phone reception west of Staunton may be poor to non-existent.
Our post-meeting field trips will remain in the Staunton area for one additional day, Monday June 12. We will go farther afield to areas near the West Virginia border, including some private lands. There is a known location for Calopteryx amata (Superb Jewelwing) which we will visit.
Our post-meeting field trips will remain in the Staunton area for one additional day, Monday June 12. We will go farther afield to areas near the West Virginia border, including some private lands. There is a known location for Calopteryx amata (Superb Jewelwing) which we will visit.
This is beautiful country and we know you will enjoy it. Hope to see you there!
This is beautiful country and we know you will enjoy it. Hope to see you there!
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