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An Introduction to the Dragonflies of Stanley Park If you don't take the time to seek them out then you'are likely to miss one of summer's most dazzling and amazing group of animals - the dragonflies, members of the order odonata. A cardinal meadowhawk ( Ischneura cervula ) male leaves its perch to "hawk" small flying insects   Vegetation growing around the edge of the pond provides habitat suitable for several species of dragonflies How Can You Find Them? Choose a hot, bright, sunny, summer's day and find a weedy, well vegetated area close to lake, pond, or wetland. When you've done this, you'll have found one of the preferred habitats of the adult (winged) dragonflies and the likely nursery area for young dragonfly nymphs. Two of my favourite dragonfly watching areas in Stanley Park are: Lost Lagoon's biofiltration marsh and Beaver Lake's observation platforms   Set a Good Example Be a Responsible Observer: Please stay on the developed trails and within designated viewing areas at all times Be especially careful not to pick or disturb shoreline vegetation as it provides dragonflies with critical perch sites, shelter, and breeding areas. Keep in mind that life for dragonflies in Stanley Park is not easy. Suitable habitat is limited, populations for most species are small, and predation pressure is high.

Stanley Park Explorer Field Guide   TOP Links and Resources Checklist B.C.    http://www.daveingram.ca/bcdragonflies/    Life History and Behaviour Identification    http://www.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/efauna/OdonataofBritishColumbia.html    Dragonflies of British Columbia by R. A. Cannings and G. G. E. Scudder Rare Species    http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/dragonflies.pdf    Ministry of Sustainable Resources PDF Resource Index    http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/news23_1/odonata.htm    Resources for the study of Odonata in Canada ( Rob Cannings ) Species at Risk    http://www.forestbiodiversityinbc.ca/uploadedfiles/Odonata-peripheral.pdf    Dragonflies at Risk in British Columbia Species at Risk    http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/bl08ramsay.pdf    Dragonflies at Risk in British Columbia     Stanley Park Explorer Copyright © 2003 All Rights Reserved http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.com Produced by Peter Woods Interpretive Programs and Design Services Vancouver BC [604] 644-0110 naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.com         Revised: Mar 05 2007