Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

I have been checking my bat houses every night recently. I have had 5 bats which I call cold weather bats for several weeks.
Tonight there were 15 bats total in two bat houses. Also some were flying around the house when I shined the light on the
houses. We have had two days with temps in the 70s and nights in the 40s. I saw about a dozen Little Browns in my old three chamber house which is their favorite. I had one tiny bat in my largest new three chamber along with a couple of red wasps sleeping in it. If the nice weather holds the Little Browns will continue arriving from hibernation. There are plenty of insects flying for them to eat. It is my belief that their hibernation cave is only an hour or so away in Bartow County, GA. If it turns bitter cold again, they can go back to their cave in a hurry is my theory. I am in Lithia Springs, GA- metro Atlanta area. It won't be long now for some good bat watching. I am anxious to see how the bats react to three new cedar bat houses and new locations for the old
three houses. They don't seem to mind so far.

Frank

[po boy]

Frank,

I put one up Saturday in Bartow County. Send some my way.

[cloudman75]

Po boy,
As soon as all my houses are full, about a thousand capacity, I'll send some your way. I noticed this morning that the guano at the bottom of my three chamber has increased noticeably. In general the Little Browns trickle back rather than all at once. How quick in March depends on the local weather. There seems to be a good crop of insects despite the cold winter we have experienced. I am looking to see some freetails when the weather stays in the 70s. Good luck on your house. Keep us posted about any bats that use it.

Frank

[Terry Lobdell]

I've been watching for my big browns but have observed none yet........I'm guessing the next warm spell they will be roosting.

Last week I mounted 2 new large boxes at sites where I have growing little brown bat maternity colonies..........I have one more large box to mount before they return in early April.......

I used a pole extension and pulleys to lift the 2 - 60 lb boxes up onto french cleats......it worked really well for my first try!

My little brown bats just as Frank said, trickle back......it takes them about a month to all return........by May 15th I usually have all my little browns here in NWPA.......

[po boy]

Terry,

Can you post photos of your pulley system.

I used a hinged system to mount mine and it went real easy.

Will post photos later.


Jerry

[Emersombiguns]

Keep posting , I am seeing about the same in NW LA. However tonight I only caught 2 coming out, but it got cold today. I am trying out some cave bought guano to see if it helped like I think it did last year. Put it in small black plastic container on u bolt and slid it up near entrance but on opposite side of pole-not underneath, but close.
Anxious to see how I do as we lost a big pond 800' away from my house last year when dam broke. Needs some warm weather..Randy

[Terry Lobdell]

Jerry, I'll try to get some on here soon.........I could not do it Friday because it was snowing so hard.........