Bat House Forum

[Terry Lobdell]

I have a new record for early season roosting by a big brown in my bat houses! Tonight, March 6th, 2009 I got home from work and decided to shine a light up in my insulated bat house since the temp was in the 50's.........sure enough it had one big brown roosting! It was roosting in the 3rd crevice furthest back. They always seem to prefer this house and the back crevice in early spring when they are in torpor much of the time. Here is a link to pictures of this bat house.........it is the one on the right:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=463

[cloudman75]

It has been unusually warm here this week also for this time of year. Thursday was mid 60s, Friday 70, today 75. I noticed a few droppings under my two favorite bat houses, so I shined a light up about midnight Thursday. I had
one bat in the three chamber, smaller than a little brown, And 4 of the small ones in the larger house. On Friday, I counted 5 total on exit . Today there were more droppings and I counted 16 on exit. It looked like about 10 or 11 little browns came in sometime after midnight last night. Checking my last year calendar it was March 9 before two little bats showed up. I have now started writting the high and low temps down. I have no idea what the temp was last year on March 9. My bats are leaving right before dark to feed. There are a lot of insects flying. The little browns trickle back
depending on weather, but usually about the second week of April they are all here. These will leave if it turns cold,
and return when it warms. It's great to see some activity after none for several months. Glad you have some activity in PA.

[IowaNate]

Great news Terry. I am still awaiting my big brown's return, but then again they might have stopped by for an evening or two since we had daytime temps in the low 60's for a few days. I have only checked my houses twice thus far this year.