SpiderIndia Meet 2017 : Announcement

Note this page is going to change frequently over next few weeks. So keep visitng frequently.

Much awaited 1st SpiderIndia Meet announcement is here:

Date 17-19 February 2017
Venue: Kolkata

We plan to visit ZSI Spider collection, do some field work, presentations in the evening and plenty of time for networking with fellow Spider enthusiasts. 

Program Starts at 9.00am on 17th February 2017 and will be finished by 6.30pm on 19th February 2017.

Day 01 Starts at 9.00am ZSI Visit : Evening presentation.
Day 02 Ecopark and Banabitan Visit : Evening presentation
Day 03 CKBS or Botanical Garden Visit : Taxonomic Workshop / Presentations : Concluding Session (end by 6.30pm)

This is a tentative plan. May change. But starting and finishing time will remain same.

Stay at Jadavpur
All presentations and workshops at NM office, Bijoygarh.

This meet is organized on non profit basis and expected expenses including stay, simple food, local travel and park entry fees is going to be Rs. 4000/- (2500.00 for participants who are having own arrangements for stay at Kolkata.) Please register by paying Rs. 3000/2000 as advance, remaining payment (Rs.1000/500) at the time of meet. A limited number of scholarships are available for students.

We have limited seats so book yours by quickly registering for the meet. For registration forms or any questions contact naturemates@gmail.com / vijay@diversityindia.org

This is an event of DiversityIndia and organized by Nature-Mates Nature Club, Kolkata.

See you at the event.

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