Fort Tilden Migration Data
Fort Tilden is located along the beach near the western end of Long Island. Migration is conspicuous and easily viewed here due to the concentrating effect of the ocean and the narrow Rockaway peninsula. Data on southbound dragonfly migration has been gathered here since 1992. Studies were originaly done in conjunction with the hawk watch and, as it was learned that the greatest variety of species preceded the hawk migration, took on their own life. Presented in the table below are the earliest and latest date that each species has been recorded in migratory activity. The peak of each species' flight can be infered from the record daily high. Keep in mind that these numbers represent only a cross section of the flight. Dragonflies, especially the smaller species, must pass close to the observer to be seen and properly identified. Also, the Green Darner number is even more understated. This species is most abundant in conjunction with major hawk flights in mid September and has not been counted at that time.
Early Date | Late Date | Daily High | Date | |
Green Darner | 27 July | 14 Nov | 1055 | 25 Aug 1995 |
Swamp Darner | 21 July | 24 Sept | 754 | 10 Aug 1996 |
Eastern Pondhawk | 13 Aug | 2 Sept | 9 | 28 Aug 1994 |
Twelve-spotted Skimmer | 27 July | 1 Oct | 990 | 10 Aug 1996 |
Painted Skimmer | 27 July | 30 Aug | 35 | 29 July 1997 |
Great Blue Skimmer | 27 July | 15 Sep | 29 | 10 Aug 1996 |
Common Whitetail | 10 Aug | 10 Aug | 2 | 10 Aug 1996 |
Blue Dasher | 27 July | 8 Oct | 207 | 1 Aug 1998 |
Wandering Glider | 21 July | 13 Oct | 2420 | 30 July 1995 |
Spot-winged Glider | 21 July | 29 Oct | 512 | 27 July 1996 |
Carolina Saddlebags | 27 July | 22 Oct | 24 | 29 July 1997* |
Black Saddlebags | 27 July | 25 Oct | 251 | 28 Aug 1994 |
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk | 28 Sept | 25 Oct | 7 | 22 Oct 1994 |
Also recorded: 1 Calico Pennant 23 Aug 1995 in a swarm of migrants -- not definitively migrating but the nearest breeding site is miles away; 1 Comet Darner 29 Aug 1997 not in the act of migrating -- again the nearest breeding site is a considerable distance away; 1 Bar-winged Skimmer 18 June 1995 at a small fresh water pond -- this species does not reach New York in most years; *This date atypical of Carolina Saddlebags peak, which is normally late August. |