Some months ago Dave Small, the president of the Athol Bird and Nature Club , put out call on the NEODES email list looking for folks to present at the group’s 2014 Dragonfly Institute.
After a bit of back-and-forth by email, Dave & I agreed to display my “Life Cycle of Dragonflies and Damselflies” exhibit for the duration of the institute and that I would present a session on “ode photography” (scheduled for 12 July).
Last Wednesday, I made the drive to Athol and with the help of Dave and three volunteers (whose names I am unable to remember at this juncture… sorry!), we had the exhibit hung in short order.
Yesterday, I again made the trip to Athol, to attend the inaugural session of the Institute. Dave gave an introductory lecture and then the group headed out to the nearby Tom Bog (located within the Harvard Forest) for some field work. The weather was iffy for odes (the temperature was around 60 F and the skies kept changing from bright sun to light sprinkles). We struck out as far as odes went! However, we had a nice walk, had fun looking at birds and plants and ended up at the Petersham General Store for lunch.
When I got back home Joan was in the garden. There, within minutes of arriving home, I was able to photograph both a male Eastern Forktail, the first of the year, on the asparagus in the garden! Moments later, a yellow-bellied sapsucker appeared in one of the oak trees along the road. I certainly don’t need to go far for wildlife!
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