Bat House Forum

[JOSHUA]

I have just recently started looking into bats but have always found them very interesting. I live in Abilene, Texas. There are bats that live in the parking garages in downtown. This is a rather small town. I have pics and some video footage and will put it on here as soon as i can. I was curious to where i can find out what kind of bats live or migrate here in TX. I lived in Austin at one time and watched the bats come out of congress bridge which was one of the most unbelievable sights in all my life. There was 45mins. of bats flying in front of my face.... But can anyone give me a site address or some info. I own a lot of land just an hour outside of here and i built a bathouse but from what ive seen i didnt build it right. We do want bats out there because i find them so freaking cool but also because of the insects... Im glad to see people who have intrest as i do.... Thanks, Josh

[cloudman75]

Joshua,
Take a look at this site. Lot of good stuff if you keep looking. The PA Game com. has plans which I used several years ago and have had great success. Being in Texas you need to paint the outside with a lighter color. Also forget the black roof that some plans call for. Welcome and good luck.
Do a search for the PA Game com. bat house plans and scale the standard down or small up to suit you. Make it at least 24 inches tall and 14 inches wide with three chambers minimum is my advice.
I would bet that you have mexican freetail bats and maybe some little browns in your area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5sdxD15 ... re=related

Frank in GA.

[JOSHUA]

Man i appreciate the reply. and i think your right about the bats here or maybe They are Brazillian free tailed. I got a great close up on one. Thanks again.

[cloudman75]

Joshua,
Here is a link about the bats in Austin. BCI calls them mexican freetails. I am as confused as ever
about the difference but have read the mexican is a subspecies of the Brazilian bats. I have read that some folks in Florida call them Brazilian and they do not migrate. The mexican freetails do migrate and
many live in caves in great numbers. The Brazilian bats live in buildings and bat houses on the East coast.
Anyway it makes little difference to me because I can't tell one from the other. I do believe after
doing some reading that mine are Brazilians. I think I have improperly called them mexican freetails. They are here in small numbers and don't migrate. If you look at some of my previous posts, I took a photo of some this winter around January or February on a warm streak that we had here. Few on this forum know all there is to know about bats as they are always surprising us. I was really shocked a couple of years ago to see these freetails in with the little browns in my bat houses as they are not that common in my area of N.W. GA. I was glad to give you a reply and happy to see someone else interested in helping the bats.
Post your bat photos on the forum as it would be interesting to see them.

http://www.io.com/house/batstory.html

Frank