Bat Surveys: Pictograph Cave & Rudolf Cave

 The kids and I have been able to look over the shoulders of researchers out in the field doing bat surveys. They not only got to observe, but to help in the process. These kids don't know how lucky they are. This is the first time that they've been able to do science to this extent at night though! Exciting!
The processing of bats includes identifying, measuring, banding, pit-tagging, and tracking them using radio-telemetry. These first photos were taken at Pictograph Cave.....

Willow found a walking stick...... oh! She also insisted on wearing a glove like everyone else ;)

Isaac holds a specimen in a bag :)

On a different day when we went out to do surveys we went to another location. This time at Rudolf Cave.....

This is the net/trap set up in front of the mouth of the cave......

A couple of people man the station; waiting quietly......

Meanwhile, back at "Bat Camp"(haha) there more quiet conversation going on......

It wasn't long before the bats began to take flight and people were busy as darkness fell......

As you can see, I wasn't the only one with a camera ;)

What a cool opportunity! 

One evening Ava went alone with dad. She enjoyed that. Team Hamilton! 

That last photo was taken at Rose Guano Cave. This is where Isaac and I would be joining them on the next trip. I'll save that for my next blog post :)

I still have Walkin' Jim Stolz's song running through my head:

Evening bat won't you come out tonight,
Come out tonight, come out tonight,
Evening bat won't you come out tonight,
And fly by the light of the moon.

I'm going to fly with the bat with the big appetite,
As she gobbles up mosquitoes most every night,
500 an hour is just about right,
As she feeds by the light of the moon.

Chorus: Little brown bat won’t you come out tonight,

Come out tonight, …..etc…..

I’m going to fly with the bat who lives in the

trees,

And flies through the dark with the greatest of ease,

He’s slower than most, but he’s faster than me,

As he feeds by the light of the moon.

Chorus: Silver-haired bat won’t you come out tonight,

Come out tonight,…….etc…..

There’s a bat with ears so big they bring

The sound to her of most everything,

Spotted fur and leather wing,

Help her feed by the light of the moon.

Chorus: Spotted bat won’t you come out tonight,

Come out tonight, ……etc……

I’m going to fly in the cave where the bats hang

out,

With millions of their friends, it’s a crowded house,

Upside down they dangle about,

Before they fly by the light of the moon.

Chorus: Free-tailed bat won’t you come out tonight,

Come out tonight, ….etc………

Bats are friends to you and me,

The eat lots of bugs, one, two, three,

They pollinate flowers and even some trees,

As they feed by the light of the moon.

Chorus: Come on bats won’t you come out tonight,

Come out tonight, …..etc…….

Oh evening bats, and little brown bats,

And silver-haired bats, and freetailed bats,

Spotted bats and all of you bats,

Won’t you fly by the light of the moon,