The Search for Damsels and Dragons

Odonata Survey 2020 - South Central Wisconsin

Graham Steinhauer wrote a blog on July 22, 2020 requesting volunteers to assist with an odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) survey on properties that Madison Audubon has an interest in. The post includes tactics for hunting odonates and advice on where to find them. 

We decided to conduct baseline monitoring at Goose Pond Sanctuary, Otsego Marsh, Erstad Prairie and the adjacent Schoeneberg Marsh Waterfowl Production Area, and at the Martin’s Wildland property near Rio where Madison Audubon holds a conservation easement. Odonates are rewarding to look for because they're active critters, have vibrant colors, are easily found, and there are many species. They are habitat restricted, and we think it’s important to know what species are present on our properties. When Goose Pond goes dry in future drought times, it will be interesting to monitor odonates and record what species are present and how long they take to return. Goose Pond was bone dry in the drought of 2012. 

Another reason to conduct the survey was to assist the DNR and the Wisconsin Dragonfly Society who are conducting an odonata survey to update odonata records for the state. 

Dan Jackson, an odonata specialist and record reviewer for the WI Odonata Survey, wrote to us, “As you can see by the previous sighting dates, Columbia County is very under-surveyed. It is great to see some effort under way and I would love to have these sightings input into the Wisconsin Odonata Survey (WOS) and Odonata Central (OC) with pictures so that I can vet them and get current dates recorded! That is especially true for the Halloween Pennant, Familiar Bluet, and Black Meadowhawk reports since there aren’t any or aren’t any modern sightings of those species.” On August 18th, 2020 Dan presented a virtual odonate program as a Madison Audubon monthly meeting.  

Note, the text below was updated on Feb. 11 to include a new species addition that was identified by Dan Jackson over the weekend, the skimming bluet (a new county record).

There are 75 species of odonates on the Columbia County list, and we found 29 of them! Overall, 17 species of dragonflies and 12 species of damselflies were found. We were very pleased with the first year results even though we did not begin in earnest until around July 20th. In 2019 there were no Odonata observations for Columbia County. In 2020 there were 284 observations from 86 day entries. Around 90% of the observations were from our volunteers.

Jim Otto added the orange bluet and Richard Armstrong added the skimming bluet to the Columbia County Odonata species list. Richard also found the only horned clubtail dragonfly at Otsego Marsh, a species that has not been reported in Columbia County since 1996. We also found halloween pennants and familiar bluets that Dan hoped we would find.  

Skimming bluet photo by Richard Armstrong

A horned clubtail photographed at Otsego Marsh by Richard Armstrong. Prior to this photo, the last time it was reported in Columbia County was in 1996

Richard Armstrong wrote, “Chasing and trying to photograph dragonflies is almost as crazy as trying to photograph warblers. Neither of them want to sit still.”  We found that odonates are fast and wary and do not like to have their photos taken. Damselflies are very difficult to focus on and not easy to identify.  Thanks to Dan Jackson for all his help with identifications, comments and advice on taking photos.

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Jim Otto’s 2020 Odonata Adventures

During the summers of 2015-2019 I kept busy as a field volunteer for the second Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas (WBBA). The field work for WBBA is completed, so what to do during the socially distanced summer of 2020? 

I was pleased to learn that Madison Audubon was beginning a two-year Odonata survey on and near their Columbia County properties. Beginning in early July, camera in hand, I hiked the Audubon properties searching for dragonflies and damselflies to photograph and identify. There was always something to see:  prairie and wetland plants, birds, deer, butterflies, … plus MANY of the Odonates.

Jim Otto, Odonata hunter. Photo by Mark Martin

On my first trip to the Erstad Prairie, I found what has become my favorite dragonfly, the Eastern Pondhawk. The adult females and immature males have a wonderful kelly green and black color pattern, while the adult males are blue.

Another day at Erstad Prairie I had an insect net with me. I set the net down to look at something (I don’t recall what) with my binoculars. When I reached to pick up the net, I noticed that on the net was a spider holding an orange-colored damselfly: an immature Eastern Forktail (I have no idea what species the spider was.)

When I hiked the Schoeneberg Marsh paved trail that goes north from the Priem Road parking lot, I spotted a dragonfly that I did not recognize. It was flying back and forth over the trail, hunting I assume.  I decided to wait for it to land so that I could take a photo. So, I waited, and waited, … and waited. It flew for more than twenty minutes before finally landing.  I then got a couple of poor, but usable photos.  This dragonfly was the only red saddlebags that I saw last year.

Come September, the number of “Odes” flying had dropped. By that time, I had found a total of 25 different species: 16 dragonflies and 9 damselflies.   My best find was the orange bluet photographed at Erstad Prairie, a new species for Columbia County according to the Wisconsin Odonata Survey website.  Not bad for a beginner like me! I look forward to seeing what other species will be flying in 2021.

Photos below by Jim Otto

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Eastern Amberwing

Eastern Forktail and spider

Eastern Pondhawk (female)

Thanks to everyone that has been part of this survey.  Please contact us at goosep@madisonaudubon.org if you would like to hunt for damsels and dragons this summer.

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Richard Armstrong designed and created the Dragonflies of Madison Audubon’s Goose Pond Area poster.  Additional surveyors that provided poster photos are JD Arnston, Mark Martin, Jim Otto, Linda Pils and Graham Steinhauer.  

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Written by Mark Martin and Susan-Foote Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary residents managers, Graham Steinhauer, Goose Pond Sanctuary land steward, and Jim Otto, volunteer, with poster by Richard Armstrong, volunteer.

Cover photo by Jim Otto

Nelson's Sparrow

Nelson’s sparrow photo by Mike McDowell

Mike McDowell, along with two other birders, reported in an eBird checklist a high count of 12 Nelson’s sparrows on October 10th, 2020 at Goose Pond Sanctuary. His report from The Vera & Marshall Browne Prairie stated, “There were easily more”.

Prior to 1995, Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrows and saltmarsh sparrows were considered the same species. Sam Robbins wrote in 1991 in Wisconsin Birdlife that sharp-tailed sparrows were uncommon fall migrants from late August to mid-October. Sam wrote that “A. W. Schorger found them near Mazomanie (Dane County) regularly from 1926 to 1929, with a sighting of as many as 20 birds on 24 September 1927.” It would have been interesting to know what the high count of Nelson’s sparrows and how many individuals stopped in fall migration at Goose Pond.

Nelson’s sparrow range map by Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology provided an excellent description of this secretive wetland sparrow, “A richly colored sparrow with a saffron-yellow eyebrow and whisker marks framing a grayish cheek. The interior-breeding form of Nelson’s Sparrow, this yellow color continues strongly onto the throat, breast, and sides, with streaking on the breast and flanks.”  

Steve Theissen from Stoughton is one of Wisconsin’s best in locating fall migrating Nelson’s sparrows. This sparrow is difficult to find in migration. In addition to knowing the identification you also have to know their fall migration habitat.  

Steve wrote on October 9th that, “Jim Otto had mentioned large numbers of pine siskins in the prairies at Goose Pond. I walked some of Browne Prairie and was treated to a few large flocks of siskins. As usual, I headed for sparrow habitat. I was trying to see a probable Nelson’s sparrow, which flew, and I happened to check out a song sparrow. In the same bush there were two Nelson’s. Besides these two, I’d say there were three more small sparrows in the area. There were lots of savannah, song and swamp sparrows. This area would have a lot easier viewing, early, with low winds. Quite windy, today.”

Other birders reporting Nelson’s sparrows were Deb Turski (2 on Oct. 10th), Cicero Stewart (2 on Oct. 11), Aaron Holschbach (4 on Oct. 18th), Logan Carlton (1 on Oct. 18), and Tim Fenske (1 on Oct. 21). Nelson’s sparrows were on the 1978 Goose Pond Bird List. While Steve’s Nelson’s sparrow observations were the first ever reported at Goose Pond on eBird.

There were other sparrow species found in the same area. On October 10th, Mike McDowell found one LeConte’s sparrow, a first eBird entry for Goose Pond. Also reported on eBird were 44 savannah sparrows (high count for Goose Pond), 18 song sparrows, and 38 swamp sparrows reported by Aaron Holschbach. Mike also found two Lincoln’s sparrows and Dennis Casper also reported two on October 20th. All the sparrows were feasting on seeds in this diverse habitat.

The sparrow habitat that Steve was searching was in Jill’s Prairie about 1,000 feet south of the Browne Prairie bench along the trail with tallgrass prairie on the west side and a weedy food plot and wetland habitat on the east side of the trail.  See satellite photo.  The star is the Browne Prairie bench.  The photo shows the “flat” covered by water. Along the west side is where the sparrows were found.

In most years the 20-acre “flat” is leased to a local farmer and cropped. In addition to providing funds for habitat management the harvested cropland provides a place for waterfowl to feed on waste corn. On average the flat is cropped nine times in ten years. 

The basin filled with water in March of 2019. Water levels dropped last summer and annuals such as smartweeds, barnyard grass, and water plantain along with other moist soil forbs, grasses, and sedges germinated.  

Photo by Arlene Koziol

Annuals are quick to grow and set seeds. This is the habitat that Steve searches for Nelson’s sparrows. Steve mentioned that he frequently sees Nelson’s feeding fresh green grass and sedge seeds, and other annuals. He also mentioned that, ideally, the moist soil is not covered completely by vegetation.

In addition to the moist soil habitat Nelson’s were also found in the adjacent food plot dominated by foxtail grass and sorghum and in the prairie restoration. If the flat was planted to prairie the prairie species would die out in high water years and overtime the area would be dominated by reed canary grass.

Nelson’s sparrow, photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Steve also wrote “In Dane county there are two public areas where birders have had fair success, in finding Nelson’s sparrow. The Swan Pond Waterfowl Production Area; about one mile northwest of Oregon, south of Highway M and just west of Lake Barney and the Brooklyn State Wildlife Area. The time to look is the third week of September to mid October.”

About 75% of the flat is covered with water and if water levels drop next summer birder watchers may again be able to view Nelson’s sparrows. Hopefully birders will be able to find 12 in one million. At least three-quarters of North America’s one million Nelson’s sparrows breed in Canada.  

Written by Mark Martin and Susan Foote-Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary resident managers