Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

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I installed two new three chamber houses plus an exist. 3 chamber and put them in the air today. I patched the woodpecker hole in front and a crack on the roof of the existing house with scrap cedar. In addition, I have the large heavy 5 chamber up on a pole attached to a tree. I have a total of 5 houses that are visable in a photo ready for the bats in 2011 if they will tolerate the changes. I have a warm dark house for spring, the old three chamber the little browns like, a regular ventilated house, and a much ventilated non calked summer house for the bats to move around when it gets hot. The old 5 chamber will also be around if they want to use that. I have one more house that I am undecided about putting up. All these houses face south. I must say that so far I really like the hollow pole idea that Terry thought up.
It has remained straight so far and is very stiff. Time will tell if it passes the test as I used lighter materials than Terry.
I worked alone and it was hard work to put it mildly, but so rewarding to me and I hope also the bats .

Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

That looks really good Frank! I do like the hollow poles more each year..........I have been noticing the solid poles both treated and some of my native larch warp terribly in the sun........I even have a couple boxes I may have to adjust because of extreme tilting from the warp of the pole they are mounted on. The hollow poles always stay straight and are surprisingly much more stiff than solid poles....

[Damien84]

Frank,

You mentioned in another thread that I should place my bathouse at least 30 feet from trees. In this picture the look rather close to the trees. Did you get bats to roost in these bat houses? I have already dug the hole for the pole and I really don't have many options for placement.

[cloudman75]

Actually from the trunk of the tree to the bat houses on the hollow pole is 34 feet. I just put my 100ft tape on it to check it out. I do have bats in the houses
except for the one on the right. It has a lot of ventilation for summer bats after the pups are born. If you look in the photo on a pole against the tree, you will see a blue 5 chamber large house. I had no bats in it at all last year. I painted it dark blue and relocated it next to a shed 40 ft away this year. Last night I counted 104 bats on exit in that house this year. That proved to me what I had read that bats do not prefer tree mounted houses.
20 feet from the tree is probably OK for your house , but more is better if available. Since you have already prepared the hole I would use it myself. One has to try what is available is my view. It also depends on the bat species. Freetails seem to tolerate a lot of things that Little Browns will not. Good luck
and keep us posted. BTW the house on the old antenna tower is 35 ft from the tree trunk. The telephoto lens shot makes it appear closer.

Frank