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The North Coast Odonata Survey, (NCOS), has been initiated to
accumulate data on the distribution and abundance of Odonata
(dragonflies and damselflies) in Northern Ohio. Funded at this
time by Lou Gardella, the Survey is intended as a long-term
project. Ten counties are covered by the NCOS and they are:
Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina,
Portage, Summit and Trumbull.
The
Ohio Odonata Survey (Society) has collected voucher specimens
throughout the state for the past 10 years. Were the voucher
specimens breeding at the collection site, or just using the
site for feeding? This is one of the questions that NCOS is
attempting to answer by establishing which sites are being
used for breeding, the species, and the abundance (total
number of individuals) of that species at each site. As a
volunteer, you will select the survey site and routinely
survey it for the season (May through November). The time
commitment is up to the volunteer, but we suggest that the
site be visited no less than every two weeks. Odonata are not
early risers, so late morning or early afternoon is generally
the best times of day.
A Survey Manual has been developed to familiarize you with
Odonata terms, common names, the survey areas, and provide you
with surveying instructions and input forms. This manual
is available in PDF format at the top of this page or by
contacting North Coast Odonata.
Click Here
Two basic forms have been developed for the North Coast
Odonata Survey: the Site Description Form and the Site Visit
Form. These forms are necessary to provide the data to NCOS
and are available in this section of the site as PDF's for
printing or can also be electronically submitted online. The
Site Description Form contains site code, site name, volunteer
and location information, site type, water movement, clarity,
bank margin, water and shore plants, surroundings and human
influence. This form is filled out only once unless the
site has a major change, (fire, damming, development etc.).
The second form, the Site Visit Form contains volunteer and
location information, temperature, cloud cover, species
observed and the number of individuals of that species. This
form is filled out for each visit to that site.
North Coast Odonata –
www.OhioOdonata.com
is the Website for NCOS and in the future will have articles,
sightings and photographs from NCOS volunteers. Survey
information, species lists by county, and information about
North Coast Odonata is currently provided on this site.
If you are interested in participating in the
North Coast Odonata Survey
contact Lou
or call 216 475-4865. Lou can assist you with selecting and
documenting a site, and determining how to begin.
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