Fall 2003

Table of Contents

Migration isn't just for birds

Fall is a favorite season for many bird-watchers because so many different species migrate through our yards at this time of year.

But some mammals like bats and whales, butterflies like monarchs and admirals, and even dragonflies migrate in the fall, too.

Dragonflies? Yes, a small number of dragonfly species move in substantial numbers now. Dragonfly watching is becoming more popular thanks to more field guides on the market to help you tell them apart.

One species to look for in Washington is the Common Green Darner (Anax junius).

It’s one of the biggest dragonflies, at about three inches in body length with a wingspan over four inches. Its thorax is green, abdomen blue to purplish gray, and its clear wings have pale yellowish areas towards the tips that turn amber as it ages. Green darners are usually found near ponds or slow streams where they feed on midges, mosquitoes, and other flying insects. They seldom perch. In late summer and early fall you might see pairs of them flying in tandem over open water. Many of them migrate south out of Washington in October.