Report :: DragonflyIndia Meet 2016 :: Gorumara National Park, West Bengal

ProsenjitDawn, Arjan Basu Roy, Vijay Barve

The third DragonflyIndia meet was held from 26th August to 29th August, 2016 at Gorumara National Park, West Bengal. The scientific gathering already started in Kolkata as the participants arrived there before the meet. Total 23 participants from 8 different states and one from Sri Lanka participated in the meet. 

The meet initiated with an introductory session of the participants, followed by several oral presentations, workshops and field visits. The four days meet featured two plenary talks about general Odonata taxonomy, biogeography and distribution in West Bengal; two complete workshop on Preservation and Identification of Odonata Specimens and Outreach for Odonates; four participants’ presentations about cytogenetics and behavioural biology of damselflies and one guest lecture on Past, Present and Future of Odonatology in Sri Lanka. Special discussions about larval studies, field identification and photography were everydays' routine programme. 

Most important part of the meet was the regular field visits to different habitats of Gorumara National Park and a Mid-meet field visit to Samsing, Neora Valley National Park which resulted in listing of total 66 species of odonates, more than 115 species of butterflies, 90 species of birds and many more faunal groups. The recorded odonates during the meet include Coeliccia c.f. renifera which is new state record for West Bengal and few more rare species such as Agrionoptera insignis, Amphithemis vacillans, Coeliccia bimaculata etc. 

The four days meet was quite successful with a pleasant sunny weather throughout except the morning in Samsing that was visited by a sudden break of heavy rain.

With four colourful days the meet ended up in a successful gathering of odonate enthusiasts. On behalf of the organizing committee I convey our heartiest greetings for the participants for their cooperation and patience. I want to congratulate all my seniors and friends from DiversityIndia and Nature Mates-Nature Club, Kolkata for such a successful event. Thanks are also due to the International Dragonfly Fund and Worldwide Dragonfly Association for their every support. We will look forward for the next meet to be more successful and fruitful.

To get information of future DragonflyIndia meets keep visiting this blog or become member of DargonflyIndia yahoo group by sending empty email to dragonflyindia-subscribe@yahoogroups.com 

DragonflyIndia Meet 2016: Gorumara National Park, West Bengal

The meet was great success. Here is the report.
 

 Agrionoptera insignis Male

Place: Murti, Gorumara National Park, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
Dates: 26th to 29th August, 2016 (4D/3N).
Registration fee: 2500/- per person including food, stay and local transport (ex New Mal Junction). 
Small bursaries are available for student participants on first come first serve basis.
Capacity: 25 people maximum.

Mortonagrion aborense Male

We are happy to invite you in the third DragonflyIndia Meet in northern part of Bengal. Gorumara National park, situated in the Indo-malayan ecozone consists Terai-Duars savanna and grasslands of the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrub-lands biome and Lower Gangetic plains moist deciduous forests of the tropical and subtropical moist broad-leaf forests biome covering an area of about 80 sq. Km. Primarily famous for housing a good population of Indian one horned Rhinoceros, this park also hosts several interesting species of plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Some of them includes Painted frog, Tokay Gecko, King Cobra, Indian Peafowl, Pied Hornbills, Leopards, Gaur, Elephants and many more.

Agriocnemis clauseni Male

During the meet we will get a chance to explore the area in search of the flying jewels, Dragonflies and Damselflies. Daytrips to several water bodies and rivers and forest will reveal some interesting findings to us for sure. A daylong trip to Samsing, outskirts of Neora Valley National Park, will take us to the Eastern Himalayan foothills as well. The meet will feature field identification guidance and workshop by renowned odonatologists Parag Rangnekar and David Raju, data collection methods and ecological studies of odonates by Pankaj Koparde and several other talks and student presentations.

This time DiversityIndia is going to work shoulder to shoulder with Nature mates – Nature Club, Kolkata and the West Bengal Forest Department to organize the meet with a great success and International Dragonfly Fund is encouraging us with a partial financial support.

Amphithemis vacillans Male

The meet will definitely be exciting for all the nature lovers because not only odonates but varieties of butterflies and birds are also there to catch your eyes.

For registrations contact:
dragonflyindiameet@gmail.com
Prosenjit Dawn prosenjit.dawn@gmail.com
9830335664
Arjan Basu Roy naturemates@gmail.com
9874357414

DiversityIndia Meet 2016 : Moths and Butterflies : Devalsari Uttarakhand

Place: Devalsari (Deolsari), Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand 
Proposed Dates: 2-5 June 2016 (4D/3N) 
Costs Rs.7500/- per person including food, stay and local transport (ex Dehradun), guide fees, community fees and a butterfly brochure. (Small scholarships available for deserving candidates.)
Maximum capacity: 15 people 

We propose to organize a DiversityIndia meet to learn and document biodiversity of Devalsari region with special focus on Moths and Butterflies. We will set Moth Screens every night to attract moths and nature trails to document Butterflies and other biodiversity during daytime. Sanjay Sondhi a moth expert, who has done extensive research in the region will be conducting training on moth identification. The main focus is going to be systematic documentation of biodiversity, especially Moths and Butterflies. Devalsari, tucked away in the Aglar Valley, in Tehri Garhwal District, the home of the Jaunpuri's. The snow-capped peaks of the Mahabharat range in the Middle Himalayas, looming in the distance, marvelous deodar, oak and rhododendron forest, surrounded by terrace fields of Bangsil, Mauldhar, Udarsu and Naogaon villages.

The Pali Gad stream flows through Bangsil into the Aglar River, winding its way through a forest landscape with altitudes varying from 1,200 m at Thatyur up to 3,048 m at Nag Tibba, the highest peak in the area. The Shiva Temple at Devalsari, is said to have been built in the 1800's, is surround by tall deodar trees.
The local partner for this DiversityIndia meet is the Devalsari Environment Protection and Technology Development Society, a local youth group that is committed to promote nature-based livelihoods and promote nature conservation. More about them can be seen at www.devalsari.org. Devalsari is home to an array of biodiversity.

Mammals: Leopard, Barking Deer, Giant Red Flying Squirrel, Himalayan Water Shrew, Goral, Wild Pig, Black Bear, Otters...all this and more can be seen here.

Birds: Special birds that can be seen here include Chukar Partridge, Striated Laughingthrush, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Black-faced Warbler, Whiskered Yuhina, Golden Bush Robin, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird and lots more...

Butterflies: Some of butterfly specialties are Common Punch, Siren, Brown Argus, Jewel Fivering, Stately Nawab, Western Courtier, Fawn Hairstreak, Silver Hairstreak and Albocerulean amongst many other West Himalayan Specialties.

Contact Sanjay Sondhi (or Arjan Basuroy) for registration.