Now if that isn't a sweet ccompliment, I don't know what is. That you. It's nice to know that you have an inkling of the patience that went into this little project.

Believe me, April, making it was a pleasure. These Causey, grotesque creatures hypnotize me. Thanks for commenting.

Aw, Cori, you sure know how to show your appreciation! Thanks. I’m just sorry to be done filming them for a long time. What fun they are!

I should clarify that while I was well into adulthood before I knew they were called "dragonflies," I knew long before that time, that they would not, in fact, sew my lips shut. 😐🤐

@@SimplyGobsmacked I laughed out loud at your story, including the addendum. Thanks.

I consider dragonflies little miracles, can’t get enough of them. So I’m glad you totally enjoyed them, and thanks for telling me once again that I have “the best narrators voice in YT.“ By the way, I also appreciate your peace sign. Believe it or not, we have a neon peace sign hanging in our den.

Thanks, Mrs. Johnson. I made it just for you. ... And a few others.

Oh, me too, Brandon. I love filming them.

I sometimes see large dragonflies like that too, but since I never see them perching, I have no more idea how to ID them than you do. Interesting, though, isn't it?

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME yeah i never see the big ones landing anywhere. Just always flying over our house/ yard in the evenings in continuous circle patterns. Still a neat summertime sight.

@@georgiacopperhead4947 for sure.

Yeah, they're impressive all right. I can't get enough of them.

JoAlwood is the best! I was looking forward to this video!

@@kevin84lee Yeah, I remember telling you, when you commented on an earlier movie about dragonflies mating, that I'd be posting this one on the 28th. It's nice to know that was info you wanted.

I know, I know. Aren't they bizarre and intriguing? Learning more about them was a treat for me, and I love to hear from someone who got a kick out of it too. Thanks for commenting.

Since this movie covers the topic pretty thoroughly, I can't imagine finding an excuse to make more dragonfly movies. 🤥😮‍💨☹

They're easy to film on perches, but in flight? Oh yeah!

I understand about loving them. I feel sort of bereft now that I no longer have an excuse to spend hours filming them.

Love to hear it, Kevin! I’m publishing every fourth Friday now, and in case you can’t survive that long without an Alwood fix, you can browse through the 300 movies that are already up. 😉

Sure. If I could ever get a camera on them! (Anyway, thanks for the compliment.)

Would it be fair to say that your image of a car crawling through toxic waste marks you as someone who would dig the dragonfly’s darker side? No offense intended, you understand. In fact, I can appreciate that attitude.

I forgot to say that I also agree with you about this beautiful predator’s unmatched agility, and I’m glad you liked the way I explained things.

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Indeed. I honestly believe that they may be the most efficient predators on the planet. I do a lesson on these amazing creatures every year for my 3rd grade class, and I'll be referring them to your video in future!

@@speedgriffon2504 I do love the idea of helping third graders learn to appreciate these fantastic creatures. Thanks for telling me that.

You're right, Lou, this took hundreds of hours to film and put together. And it was a labor of love. I'm disappointed that I no longer have a reason to film the dragonflies. I'm interested in your ponds. We have two manmade stream beds that run at a slow trickle. They attract lots of birds but not much in the way of frogs or dragonflies--just damselflies. And I'd love to film frogs. Any tips?

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Hundreds of hours, incredible and worthwhile. I find that generally frogs prefer stagnant water, I think b/c that also attracts insects (including of course mosquitos) and allows plant life, especially important to feed tadpoles. The depth and edges are also important, must have no straight deep edge that can disable the frog to exit, and generally 2-4’ deep. It should also contain areas for them to hide in the water (using rocks, logs, etc) from predators. And the amount of sun is important… they like to sunbathe in the pond on an “island” (rock, log, lily pad) but there musn’t be so much sun that the pond overheats or completely evaporates. I normally see them discover new ponds quickly (usually after a hard rain, they will move and seek another location), but I have a case this summer of a new pond not yet attracting any frogs. I think it is just too far from where I know they are currently… so I will make more in between and just be patient. FYI you know you’ve got ‘em when you hear a little splash as you approach the pond (they are very hard to see since are so still and camouflage very well). Also, the type of water to attract birds is the opposite… birds tend towards flowing, clean, fresh, very shallow water for bathing and drinking. I have a bird bath by my porch that has a battery-powered motor to produce some waves. This both makes it visually attractive to the birds and prevents mosquitos laying eggs. And this month it is in near constant use… so fun to watch. I have future plans to add a misting system towards the bath (using condensate water from AC/heat pumps/dehumidifier… no minerals to clog) and this will additionally make the hummingbirds happy.

@@silentlou4375 Thanks for the detailed explanation. There's no way to adapt what we have. That's what I guess I was hoping for. So unless you happen to live in St. Louis, I'll just have to find my own frogs.

Glad to hear it, especially coming from such a genie with a camera.

😎@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME

A compliment like that brings a big smile to my face. I’m glad you liked it so much, and thank you.

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I look forward to more! Subscribed! 🥰

@@hightechstuff2 Subscribed? Good idea, that's what I say. And between now and August 25th, when I publish again, you can browse the 300 or so videos already up on my channel. Have fun.

Thanks. I do love filming those dragonflies!

It’s my pleasure, especially when I hear from someone like you who really appreciates it. Thanks for commenting.

Well, I certainly love the compliment!! Say, are you new to my channel? (And if so, how did you happen upon my stuff?)

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME Im from birbcord! You recently posted the damselfly mating video there, I loved it!

@@Horrid_Beast it’s a treat for me to know that you found me that way. I recently hired a social media savvy teen to show me how to use other sites Beyond Facebook. You are the first person who has let me know that using discord has actually produced results. I am dictating this answer as I sit in a meadow with two cameras trained on milkweed. I’ve been getting monarch and viceroy butterfly footage these last couple of weeks. I haven’t decided yet how I will eventually use this stuff, but I capturing their flight in super slow now, and it is GORGEOUS!

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I bet no matter what you do with the footage, the video will be excellent! cant wait to see it!!!

It's a treat for me to know that I've just gotten such a fan. Thank you. Making these movies is my passion - what keeps me (at least sort of) young, even though I'm 82. Tomorrow afternoon I will post my monthly full length video. They're usually 3 to 6 minutes long.

Oh, please do! I like the idea that this little film helped prompt you to give these feisty sprites some more homes.

I never get enough of watching dragonflies. It’s a passion that you and I share. Thanks for commenting, Doonaleigh. (is that how you spell your name, or is Leigh your middle name?)

I just posted a film about Tree Swallows, and I didn't notice that that wasn't what you were commenting on. Please ignore my nonsensical comment.

@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME yes ma'am, Leigh is my middle name. I really go by just Donna. 😊

@@JoAlwoodBIRDSANDTHENSOME I also watched your video about the tree swallow! I am definitely going to put out some nesting boxes!❤️

I get it, Will. I can't get enough of filming these gauzy, grotesque creatures.

Yes, now that I think about it, some bugs are dull, mostly black. Others are brilliant. Of course dragonflies are predators, so you might suppose they can afford to be bright and vivid. But then again, they're preyed upon, and those bright colors make it easier for birds to spot them. The question intrigues me. Maybe I should do some research and consider a movie about it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Amy.

My pleasure, Geraldine.