View Full Version : Bats
Just had to share a wonderful experience with you all :)
Last night I went out with some work colleagues to check for bat presence on an old viaduct in the middle of nowhere.
It was the most fantastic experience, armed with a bat detector I could here it clicking as it picked up the inaudible to human noises that bats make while flying, we even learnt to distinguish some noises such as preparation to feed etc Our bat detectors could also tell us what kind of bats they were due to the frequency they "chatter" on :)
But it was the most surreal experience, standing under this viaduct, after sundown, in a cool, calm countryside surrounding, bats flying above in the arch of the viaduct, catching flies and swirling around just above my head while the little detector clicked away, I found it so calming and a lovely way of kind of "being at one" with nature, it was fabulous, the bats weren't bothered by the 7 of us on the viaduct and they were so fantastic to watch. :)
I never appreciated until now what fabulous and fascinating creatures bats are.
WOW its sounds great eeyore.
Who's idea was it to go bat hunting? I have never heard of anyone doing it before.
StoneHenge
15-06-06, 10:10 AM
Sounds really calming. They are amazing little creatures. We don't have that many flying over where we are. Well, not that I have noticed, but I'm sure they are around.
I wonder what they were chatting about?
We have to check all sites to be changed/upgarded/demolished for bats eg schools to be demolished are checked, as if there is a bat roost they have to be moved when it's safe to do so - so we're currently checking old schools, but the viaducts, we need to check for roost but also what kinds of bats there are and how many - these viaducts are on a very old railway line we want to open as a path to walkers/cyclists etc but we need to make sure our wildlife is protected if/when we do
Hence the "batting" :lol:
They were really chattering away last night, it was incredible, and the movements they do in flight are amazing, they fly upside down and then turn themselves upright in the blink of an eye :bigeyes: Amazing
sounds great :)
I love bats and think they are just amazing, was really pleased to see them featured on spring watch this year :thumbs:
and we have seen our bats this year, always wait for them to appear, and they did last week, even the dog sat watching them! :lol:
They're fascinating, we get them round us too, but I've never seen them so close like that, and the bat detector mad it a fabulous experience, they never shut up :lol:
Can't wait to do it again
Apparently our bats were Soprano pipistrelles, you can see pics of them here (http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/batpages/sopranopipi.htm)
Sweet eh?
marieuk
16-06-06, 12:49 AM
I never really thought of bats as cute before but that picture makes them look soooooooooo cute and cuddly awwwwwwwwww :D
Love Muk xxxx
Miss Understood
17-06-06, 10:00 AM
I bought myself a bat detector a couple of years ago. You'll often find me in the garden as it's getting dusk with a glass of wine in one hand and the bat detector in the other!
It's always useful to know how many bats you have in an area - they are a material consideration when it comes to planning applications!
So you wouldn't fancy them flying just over your head, swooping and diving then dibuzz? :lol:
They are lovely. I am always scared that they will get tangled in my hair. :bigeyes:
In Dudley Zoo they have some in a little cave that you can walk through
Peaceseeker
17-06-06, 10:38 AM
I love bats they're great! (can you tell I'm an old goth LOL) we've got some living round here, you can see them flit about at dusk, I love watching them.
:D B)
It's funny but I thought one of them would hit me, or end up in my hair, but our ecologist says in all his years bat hunting, he's only known one person get hit by a bat - and that was a baby bat so obviously it hadn't learnt how to use its echo properly :)
Banana, your boy has a lovely thought about the bumble bee, but sadly I can't see it working :lol: Plus bats eat 30,000 insects just on waking up, every night so maybe one bumble bee wouldn't be filling