Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

Out of 6 bat houses total, three are being used. Most are in the old cedar three chamber, their favorite. I finally got a shot of the tiny black looking bat along with a little brown for size comparison. The tiny bat looks about like a large bug, but it is a bat. I also saw my Big Brown visitor again tonight.
The total count was 61 bats. That is down from 200 in April.

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There are three bathouses mounted on this 4x4 hollow pole I made using an idea from Terry Lobdell. What do you think of the tiny little black bat?
Anyone have any idea what species it is? It has been here since late March all alone. They don't seem to mind the wasp nest . Like Joe said, several chambers give room for everyone.

Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

Frank, I would have no idea.......I have noticed a pair of smaller bats here at home that roost tight together in the spring.......they appear slightly smaller and darker than my little browns.........I figured they were maybe yearling little browns.......but I'm not sure..........I do notice my little brown pups appear darker than the adult little browns......

My maternity colonies seem to be dispersing earlier this year........Even though we had a cold wet spring, the hot humid summer seemed to make up for it..........All my pups seemed to start flying earlier this summer.......they all seemed to be feeding heavier too with so many warm humid nights..........

It is amazing the difference in guano accumulation under bat boxes depending on the weather........a couple bats can leave a lot of guano in a short period of time if they are feeding heavily........and very little if it is cool and few insects are flying.........

I counted my big browns the other night and there were 45 in one box........I suspected I had an increase in big brown mothers this year from my usual 15 to 16 each year.........Now that pups are flying I guessing I've got about 50 - 60 big browns and about 150 little browns here at home.........

I've got to get some more pictures posted on here.......I've got some good ones just have not had time to put them on........if anyone is on facebook I've got hundreds of pictures on there.......

[cloudman75]

You are doing well with your bats Terry . We have had a heat wave here recently and it may have affected the bats, I don't know.
I am not on facebook so will be anxious to see any photos that you post. I am still hoping my freetails come back but they have been gone since May.
I would sure like to have some big Browns also and that's why I put up the large cooler house in hopes to get a colony. My hollow post held up all winter and is still straight even supporting three bat houses.
I also read and enjoyed William's story about the bat and the wind.

Frank

[cloudman75]

Thank you for the comments.

Frank

[Markcuda]

Frank, you just thanked a spammerOLOLOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[cloudman75]

I did not click on the link that was given, suspected as much. The way to get spammers is to send but don't click. With the language and spelling I figured it came from nigeria or somalia or someplace, certainly not from my buddies in Australia. How's the bat house doing? still up in the air? That last wind storm we had tilted my hollow pole from plum. It will do until winter I think and the bats don't seem to mind. It has been 90 plus degrees F for so long that we think 85 is cool now. The little Brown Bats can take heat when they want to and they are hanging in there.

Frank

[Markcuda]

My bat houses are still up, but not occupied

[cloudman75]

Just be patient, it will be if you are seeing bats flying around your yard. My one lone Big Brown only stayed two nights and then left. I think the heat made it fly to a cooler place. I bet it is cool tonight up on the tail of the dragon.

Frank

[Markcuda]

The wife and I go out side every night and watch 2/4 flying around, coming with in a few feet of us at times