Columbus Audubon

Join us at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center for a day focusing on the common dragonflies and damselflies of Ohio and their amazing adaptations and lifestyles. The speakers will be Bob Glotzhober, Jim McCormac, and Janet Creamer. Topics include identification, life history and ecology, migration and more. Activities will include field observation and identification, as well as tips for photographing these beauties in the field.

The cost of the workshop is $30 per person, which includes lunch. For more information or to register, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (614-545-5481).

Jim McCormac also has more information about the workshop, as well as dragonflies and damselflies, on his blog.

Here's some more information about the speakers and their topics:

Bob Glotzhober's program, Dragonflies 101,emphasizes dragonfly and damselfly biology and natural history, as well as understanding their unique behavior and ecological relationships. This is a great introduction for amateur naturalists or students who want to expand their knowledge of this fascinating and addicting group of aquatic insects.

Jim McCormac's program, Hunting Dragons: Seeking Ohio's Damselflies and Dragonflies, is a brief whirl through the fascinating world of Ohio's dragonflies, punctuated with many macro images of these beautiful creatures. We'll look at some of their interesting behaviors, habitats, and appearances, and share useful tips for photographing these six-legged speedsters.

Janet Creamer will help us peek into the miraculous lives of damselflies and dragonflies in her program, Not a Fairytale: The Real World of Damsels and Dragons. These creatures have alien-like life cycles and amazing agile flight patterns that are still studied to this day. Learn about the dragonfly's ability to withstand tremendous force, over three times that of a human. Also, discover why they are beneficial and welcome additions to your native plant garden.

Speaker Biographies:

Robert C. Glotzhober is the Senior Curator of Natural History at the Ohio Historical Society. Bob finds almost any area of natural history of interest and enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for the wonders of nature with groups. He has worked for 32 years with the Ohio Historical Society. During that time he has planned educational programs in natural history, written text for several exhibits, written numerous articles for both popular and scientific audiences, coordinated land management at OHS's natural areas, lead public hikes, given educational talks, been involved with recovery of bones from Pleistocene mammals, and coordinated a state-wide survey of dragonflies and damselflies. Previous to coming to OHS he spent three years working as a naturalist for the National Wildlife Federation, one year as a naturalist with the Michigan Audubon Society, and three years teaching high school biology and general science. Glotzhober has a BS in Education from Concordia Teacher's College in Seward, Nebraska and a MS in Zoology from Michigan State University. He is a member of several local, state and national conservation and scientific organizations. In 1989 he was appointed by the governor to the Ohio Natural Areas Advisory Council, and was reappointed every three years through 2004, and acted as Council chair for more than seven years. He served on the Federal Recovery Team for the Hine's Emerald Dragonfly. In 2008 he was awarded the Wildlife Diversity Conservation Award by the Ohio Division of Wildlife for his work with dragonflies and damselflies in Ohio. In 2011 he was given the Distinguished Professional Interpreter Award by the Great Lakes Region of the National Association for Interpretation.

Jim McCormac works for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, specializing in nongame wildlife diversity issues, especially birds. Prior to that, he was a botanist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. He was inaugural president of the Ohio Ornithological Society, and served for seven years as secretary of the Ohio Bird Records Committee. Jim was the 2009 recipient of the Ludlow Griscom award, given annually by the American Birding Association to individuals who have made significant regional contributions to ornithology. He is author of Birds of Ohio (Lone Pine 2004); The Great Lakes Nature Guide (Lone Pine 2009); and Wild Ohio: The Best of Our Natural Heritage (Kent State University Press 2009). The latter won the 2010 Ohioana Book award. Jim writes a column, Nature, for the Columbus Dispatch, and has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific and popular articles in a variety of publications. He is at work on a book about wood-warblers, which is slated for release in 2013.

As a child, Janet Creamer had lofty aspirations of becoming a Solid Gold Dancer. But one too many overturned lamps forced her into the great outdoors of southwestern Ohio where she discovered her true calling. Janet currently works as an assistant park manager and naturalist in Indianapolis, Indiana. Though she lives in Indiana, she grew up in Lebanon, Ohio and frequently visits the buckeye state. Janet is a volunteer with the Ohio Heritage Naturalists, a field trip guide for Flora-Quest, and a committee member in charge of field trips for the Midwest Native Plant Conference. She also writes for the Indy Parks Nature Blog and the Midwest Native Plants, Gardens and Wildlife blog. She enjoys sharing her love of birds, plants and insects with children and the young at heart.

All photos Jim McCormac, copyright 2012