October 18, 2020: Micro-monsters

I recently came across an article about dragonflies that reminded me of a green-eyed monster I saw this past August.

The business end of a dragonfly.

What struck me in the article was the reference to dragonflies as "micro-monsters" based on the fact that they will eat anything they can get their teeth on.

OK, they don't really have teeth, but they do have very strong mandibles.

The main content of the article however, is about how dragonflies are being used for research into environmental health, in particular, mercury levels.  Because dragonflies are found on every continent except Antarctica, are physiolgocially similar around the world, and are relatively easy to catch (the article focuses on a high school in Vermont that does much of the field work) they provide a good baseline for studying mercury levels throughout the world.  [Ref: Nicolas Brulliard, "Mercury Rising?", National Parks Conservation Association, Spring 2017]

Mercury is a heavy metal found naturally in rocks and is toxic to wildlife and humans.  The burning of coal is one of the main contributors to mercury content in lakes and oceans as wind and rain distribute the released mercury around the planet.  That's why we need to limit consumption of fish such as swordfish and yes, even the fish from lakes in New Hampshire, because fish accumulate mercury in their flesh.  Dragonflies also accumulate mercury in their bodies, so by collecting samples of dragonfly larva for analysis these student-scientists are helping us better understand mercury levels in the environment.  The good news is that due to smoke stack scrubbers and reduced coal burning in the United States, mercury emissions have decreased over the past 30 years, though this has not yet impacted mercury levels in our fish.  [Ref:  David Neils and Kirsten Nelson, "Status and trends of mercury in fish tissue in New Hampshire waterbodies", 1992–201 6,  NH DES, Nov 2018]

It's been a couple of weeks since I've seen a dragonfly, but they are still around.  The latest I remember seeing one is November 4th, this pretty Meadowhawk that sought shelter in our house.

A Meadowhawk still active in November.

It also appears that all four members of the loon family are still here, at least part of the time.  It's getting more difficult every day to tell the chicks apart from their parents as the parents get more and more gray and the chicks gain darker coloring on their wings. 

Harold or Betty.  Note the light colored beak.

The most obvious difference is that the juveniles don't have the distinctive neck band that the parents have.

Striped neck ring and dark beak on the adult.

I'm still unable to tell the two chicks apart as they are quite similar in size and appearance.

Harold and Betty in a quiet moment.

As I went on my way one of the two waved goodbye to me.  They sure have huge feet already!

That's one big propeller.

Maybe the family is lingering at the lake to enjoy the last of the fall foliage - like many of us are doing!

Much of the color has now moved down to a lower elevation now, especially the maples leaves.

But you can still find color in the Lakes Region if you look for it.

The shore of Turtle Island glows crimson with blueberry bushes on a bright fall day.

Early today:  Fog and frost add to the splendor of morning.