Bat House Forum

[Emersombiguns]

It has been much warmer than normal in N. La..Temps are up and down. Two nights ago I counted over 500 bats coming out of both houses. The temp was in the 50's. They appear to be moving in and out of both houses to where I don't know. They are pretty much a continous flow out, and many times 6 to 8 appear to just fall out at one time flying. We have had a bunch of rain in area also which may have something to do with it. I plan to try and take another video in day or so with new camera..
How is everyone else in the southern states doing? I have wood cut for another 5 chamber house to make house 3. I know this sounds high for January but they are there. Randy Haughton,La (NW part of state near TX/Ark)

[Terry Lobdell]

Wow! That is great to hear Randy! Building another box was the first thing I thought of when I saw your numbers.......it is so exciting to see an increase in numbers each year! I have one site about 2 miles from my home where we had around 400 little browns last year......I am hoping to top the 500 mark there this year!

[Emersombiguns]

I was out tonight ready to video and NONE came out, and I took a shot up into the house and only saw a few. It did get into the 40's last night. Was in the 60's today. However will be in 30's and maybe 20's into Sat. I think they found a warmer place-maybe nearby...Will keep all informed...Randy

[cloudman75]

Hi Randy,
The forecast is for 25 F tonight and I have no bats here in NW GA. The few I had during the warm spell have gone now.

Frank

[Emersombiguns]

Still most gone. Was in the low 30's on weekend as I was out duck hunting Sat and Sunday. I was thinking about making a larger house with the 5 chamber I have to build for house nr. 3..May just put it up on existing pole with others. I think the pipe will be fine. May seal up a chamber or two for heat. It I put it up will be on back side of other house, but may do ok..Problem is now is when to lower the others to put up another with bat still using them...But , as they say "thats a good problem to have" Got to get back on 20m next week and try to make a sked, as will be on call and home during day...Randy

[cloudman75]

Randy,
Just let me know on the sched. for 20 meters. My ham gear is ready. I have one bat that visits here from time to time in winter. One time I let the house down and it had a bat in it in Feb. I put it back up that evening and I suppose the bat mananged OK. I am planning to move my heavy 75 lb bat house soon and it has two flying squirrels using it. I bought two pulleys and a 100 ft of rope today for the job. I will tie the pulleys to a tree and use my little Kubota diesel tractor to let it down as it has a pivot bolted to the tree using a 1 1/4 inch sched 40 steel pipe. I will re- install it in another location on the pole as it was not used last year at all leaning against the tree. This used to be the favorite maternity house for my little browns and will hold around 300 mothers.
The smaller house the bats used last year was too small for the number of mothers and I lost a few pups. I would like to avoid that this year. My bats start coming in about the second week of March from hibernation depending on the weather of course. I have been under the weather with iron deficiency anemia but doing better now so anxious to do some bat house maintenance. Forecast is for 70 degrees this weekend so a few bats may fly back from where they go in winter.


Frank