Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

The little cedar three chamber is the house of choice again for the little browns coming out of hibernation. I counted 40 on exit tonight. We had around 75 degrees F. today, expecting the same or higher for the next few days. After the 40 count, I used a light to see up into all six houses. I found two more bats in the old unventilated house that I repaired and relocated about 15 feet from where it was. I saw no freetails or big browns tonight. I suspect the number may increase in the next day or so with temps near 80 and mid 40s at night. No bats have used the large old 5 chamber leaning against a big tree but supported by a metal pole about 20 ft high. This location was an experiment to see if bats will use a house next to a large tree with no limbs close to it.
It looks like a good start for my batting season. I do have hawks and great horned ows hanging around in the woods behind me.
I don't expect them to be a large problem. The bats are definitely coming out of hibernation in my area.

Frank

[Emersombiguns]

Frank I made a post tonight, I saw 35 or so tonight. Think temp key as these same group in the back of my 5 chamber house did not come out 2 days ago hr later than dark. Temp was 58. Showing 74 at 8:30pm..I would like to hear from others. Randy Haughton,La

[cloudman75]

I saw your post and concluded that they were Little Browns. I was surprised not to see freetails in there. Great photo. I also have Little Browns, and Freetails later when it warms. I put up two wire antennas about 70 ft long this winter and have a three element
5 band quad for the bats to avoid when they fly out. Their radar seems to work well and the objects in their space have not deterred them from coming back. My quad is on a 40 ft tower and the wires are up 50 ft high with verticals of 35 ft hanging down on the ends. The bats have changed their take off path since I put wires in their way. They now turn 180 degrees and fly through the trees at full speed. A couple of nights ago most of my bats stayed in when it was cold, so that was not unusual. The insects were out in force tonight so they had a feast. They will trickle back until about a hundred arrive is the usual for the LBS. The freetails all arrive at once and leave a large pile of guano on my markers under the houses. Looking forward to seeing your posts, videos, etc.

Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

I just checked and I have 2 big browns roosting in the insulated box mounted on my house............This is the one and only box they use early in the spring........They can stay in torpor easier because it faces west and does not get the morning sun.........

[cloudman75]

I know you like to see bats this early at your place Terry. Congrats.
I am going out to have a look in a few minutes with a light. The little tiny bat flew out tonight and looks so tiny compared to a little brown. It came out in daylight a full hour before the sun went down. It is a loner and stays in my largest house plastered to the top.
I plan to chance a flash photo soon. It is very dark colored and flys slow like a butterfly. I don't think it is a pipistrelle as it is too dark.
I don't want to spook it as it is a one of a kind at my place.
BTW, the hollow post withstood 35 mph or more winds with no damage ,it's also still straight and doing well. I put some guy ropes on it when they forecasted maybe 50 mph or tornadoes, but we did not get those high winds. Good idea you had there Terry to use a hollow post.

Frank

[Emersombiguns]

Cloudman,
Thanks for the reply..Well I have a 40' freestanding Rohn 45 about 25' away or so...It has a big 24' boom-13 element Sommer XP807 log on it. They have to fly out under it also. Tonight they were coming out-gong 10 to 20' and making a 180- and taking off to yard behind me..I guess you saw the log ant in the video from last year.It was weird-last year I was up on my tower at dusk trying to finish up-and they started coming out underneath me! I just held on and watched!!
My 80m loop is well above it at 68"-they never seem to be close to the wire!!! I bet that quad puts out a nice sig from that height.
We still need to get on air some night probably 75m...Call is K5SL..Just worked the 4A4A guys on 160m ssb. I like to work dx and mostly cw..
I kept a calender that I updated with counts of exiting bats and I really didn't start seeing them till first week or two in April.
Will be interesting to see if I get any in the new taller house right beside the old faithful! Maybe the wood has dried out, and they will investigate..Randy