Introduction to Dragonflies & Damselflies





Instructor: Bryan Pfeiffer
July 19 - 20 (Rain Dates July 26 - 27) | $295
Course size: 10 students
Financial support available (contact us)
D
esigned for naturalists and scientists of varied abilities and interests, this seminar covers dragonfly and damselfly taxonomy, biology, behavior, and identification. Our plan is to learn and identify these insects (order Odonata) as much as possible in the field. For that we'll need sunshine so that odonates will be out and on the wing. In the event of rain, we’ve reserved a second weekend for field days.
Course Goals & Objectives
- Understand basic odonate biology (life cycle, habitat preferences, reproductive system)
- Learn or enhance their understanding of dragonfly and damselfly families and common genera
- Learn net-and-release technique, which is the most effective way to learn these insects
- Gain the skills to continue learning on your own after the course
About the Instructor
A field entomologist, writer, and consulting field naturalist, Bryan Pfeiffer is perhaps more than anything a teacher. Over the course of three decades, he has guided thousands of people to the discovery of birds, insects, and other nature in various wild places. Bryan is a co-founder of the Vermont Damselfly and Dragonfly Atlas, and formerly the chair of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas. He has collected, watched, and photographed dragonflies from the tropics of Central America to above the Arctic Circle. He’s a lecturer with the University of Vermont’s Field Naturalist Program and is a research associate at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Find him online at bryanpfeiffer.com.
Physical Requirements
The best way to observe dragonflies is to get wet and swing a net. Although students will certainly have the option to discover these insects on dry land by observing them through binoculars, catch-and-release is really the way to go. As odonatologists like to say, “Good things come to those who wade.” Students should expect to walk a mile or so over the course of a day, and wade into small ponds and streams. Participants should be comfortable outside in potentially hot, muggy, and/or buggy conditions for long periods of time. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about mobility and/or other accessibility needs.
Recommended Reading
The course syllabus and packet will include a suite of readings, but at least one field guide is all-but-essential for this seminar: Dragonflies of North America by Ed Lam. It covers only dragonflies (not damselflies). A second field guide (if you can find a copy) is Damselflies of the Northeast: A Guide to the Species of Eastern Canada & the Northeastern United States by Ed Lam. (Because this guide is out of print, Bryan will provide useful supplemental resources for the class.)
The course syllabus will include lots of details about field gear (hand lens, nets, clothing, etc.). Bryan and NBNC will have enough dragonfly nets for everyone.
Meals
Participants should bring their own lunches and snacks. Coffee, tea, and snacks provided in the mornings.
Timing
Course begins 9 AM on Saturday at North Branch Nature Center and concludes by 5 pm. Course begins on Sunday at a time and location of the instructors' choosing and concludes by 5 PM on Sunday.
Academic Credit / Professional Development
This course may qualify for 1 graduate-level credit for an additional $200 course fee. All BioU courses may be accredited by Castleton University. Participants interested in receiving credit must contact us at one month in advance so we have time to arrange course accreditation.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that home institutions will accept the credit. Participants pursuing academic credit will be required to complete an additional assignment above and beyond the course hours, including literature review, reflective writing, or a field-based project.
This course qualifies for 20 hours of professional development hours and continuing education units. Certificates of completion are provided at the conclusion of the course.
Cancellation Policy
While we realize that unexpected circumstances arise that are out of our control, North Branch Nature Center cannot guarantee refunds for registrations cancelled within 30 days of the course. If a cancellation occurs within this window, NBNC will attempt to fill the space from our wait list and provide a full refund. If the course needs to be cancelled by NBNC, we will provide a full refund.