2020 Ohio Dragonfly Conference! Join us June 5th-7th!

The 2020 Conference has been postponed to 2021!

Registration is now open for the 2020 Ohio Dragonfly Conference! This year it will be June 5th-7th based out of the Gorman Nature Center in Mansfield, Ohio.  Regular registration is $40 and student registration is discounted to $10.

The Ohio Odonata Society welcomes you to join us for the 2020 Ohio Dragonfly Conference held at the Richland County Park District’s Gorman Nature Center located in Mansfield, OH. This year’s conference will feature a well-rounded and diverse group of speakers represented from all around the state of Ohio with former Ohio Wetland Association President Ray Stewart highlighted as the Keynote presenting on “What do wetlands have to do with Climate Change?” There will be a variety of field trips offered ranging from photography focused to wet (kayak/canoe)

To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ohio-dragonfly-conference-2020-tickets-97296062141

Check back here for news!

Covid-19 Pandemic Updates:

2020 conference has been postponed until next year. New Dates TBD.

As of right now, the Ohio Dragonfly Conference registration IS open. However, given all the recent news about Covid-19, we will definitely play it by ear as we get closer. So feel free to register now if you want, and we can reimburse you if we need to. Or bookmark this page and register later.  I doubt we will fill up this year, so I wouldn’t be too worried about that. Your safety is our priority, so we want you all to be okay to watch dragons another day. We will work through this. – MaLisa

List of field trip types:

Dry Field Trip: We will be offering “dry” field trips to those that do not wish to get wet in the field. This trip will be light impact and is ideal for those that have health/mobility restrictions. Field sites are yet to be determined.

Photography Field Trip: This field trip is geared for folks interested in learning different photography techniques for capturing Ode images, while in the field. It will be lead by Kyle Bailey & Rick Nirschl. This trip will focus on the Mohican River Valley with River Cruisers, Clubtails, and Gray Petaltail.

Dry/Wet Field Trip #1: There will be two different “dry/wet” field trips to various sites in North Central Ohio. These field trips are oriented to be in the field in typical wetland/river/stream habitat. Please be prepared to get wet; however, there will dry areas also.

Dry/Wet Field Trip #2: There will be two different “dry/wet” field trips to various sites in North Central Ohio. These field trips are oriented to be in the field in typical wetland/river/stream habitat. Please be prepared to get wet; however, there will dry areas also.

Wet Field Trip: We will be offering a “wet” field trip, which will focus on canoeing/kayaking local waterways searching for Odonata in inaccessible areas by foot. The wet field trip destination has yet to be determined.

 

Agenda:

 

Ohio Dragonfly Conference 2020 Itinerary
Friday, June 5th
4:30 PM Registration opens
5:00 PM Arrival/social- see vendors
5:45 PM Opening remarks – Kyle Bailey
6:00 PM Dragons and Damsels 101 – Dan Hodges (Naturalist- Johnny Appleseed Metroparks)
7:00 PM Surveying Techniques & Methodology – Shane Myers (Naturalist- Former NW Ohio Dragonfly Survey Coordinator)
7:30 PM Keynote – Ray Stewart (Former OWA Founder & President)- What do wetlands have to do with Climate Change?
8:30 PM Dinner on your own
10:00 PM Evening light sheet to look for moths and other fun night flying insects
Saturday, June 6th
9:00 AM Summary of the Ohio Dragonfly Survey Thus Far – MaLisa Spring (OOS President – Ohio Dragonfly Survey Coordinator)
9:40 AM Official Survey is Done— What’s Next? – Jim Lemon (Former OOS board member & Former SW Survey Coordinator)
10:20 AM 2021 National Conference in Marietta – Dave McShaffrey ( OOS Board Member)
11:00 AM Find ‘Em & Shoot ‘ Em: Locating & Photographing Uncommon Dragonflies – Rick Nirschl (Amateur Photographer- Ohio Dragonfly Survey (Leader- most species documented))
11:40 AM Lunch (boxed lunch from Wayne’s Country Market or on your own)
12:30-6:30 PM Field Trips
7:00 PM Dinner Catered by Panera
8:00 PM Aquatic Invasive Plants and What Changes to the ‘Underwater Forests’ mean for Odonata – Mark Warman (Cleveland Metropark- Aquatic Invasive Species Project Coordinator)
8:40 PM Heads Up for the Hines Emerald Dragonfly – Bob Glotzhober (Emeritus Curator of Natural History, Ohio History Connection)
9:20 PM Palustrine Predators: The Important Role of Odonates in Wetlands and Restoration Techniques to Create Quality Habitat – Jenna Odegard (Mad Scientist Associates LLC)
10:00 PM Evening light sheet to look for moths and other fun night flying insects
Sunday, June 7th
9:00 AM Business meeting for Ohio Odonata Society- all are welcome to attend and OOS membership is included in the conference registration
10:00 AM Depart and self guided field trips based on nearby hotspot list

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