Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

I took some photos of the inside of all three bat houses before dusk since it was a cloudy day today. I am pleased to report bats are in all three houses including the two I relocated about 30 ft further into my back yard. I have a few freetails in all three houses, but they prefer the largest house by their numbers. There were two big brown bats, lots of little browns, some pipistrelles and freetails. I was fortunate enough to get a close up of one of the tiny bats I have been trying to identify for some time and I have decided they are pipistrelles. I posted the photo some time ago. I guess-timate that there are about 15 to 20 of those all in the largest house.We have had a very cool start to summer. There are no pups as yet, but it appears that this will be another good season for me and the bats. I have been out of town for two weeks and found additional bats had moved into the houses. It's good to see the sky full of bats when they exit.

Frank

[Emersombiguns]

Hi again,
I noticed from your post you have bats in all houses, I have put up a new house alongside my populated one only foot away. None yet, although some the other night were dipping up to it. They didn't go in. Also I have lost half my population in week or two and noticed their behavior much different when they came out. They circled the house, and flew real low to the ground. One or two went back in and then more bats came out. Also, they got real close to me about 15 away behind the house sitting in a chair. I mean within few feet-like they knew I was there and didn't like it! I suspected may have females up there and pups now. Next morning found dead newborn with no fur below house. Wonder if you have noticed same thing, and is what I am witnessing behavior when they have pups? Randy Haughton,La

[cloudman75]

I just read your post a few minutes ago. This week only one of my bat houses is being used. The bats abandoned the unventilated house a couple weeks or more ago. The three chamber mounted beside my five chamber was not being used the last couple of nights that I looked this week. Also it appears that I have less bats recently. They are starting to have pups. I have had an entire colony to pack up the pups and leave for another roost. then they came back into a different house, usually the largest one of the three I have up on poles. I have never experienced the exact situation that you described. I have had bats quite often buzz me about midnight when I shine the light on their bathouse. I sit out and watch them and they do fly close on exit as I am usuallly in their drop path. My experience has been that bat behavior is not
predictable. Once you think you know a lot about their habits, they do something to surprise you. I do expect the bats to use the three chamber again after the pups are born and old enough to start flying.I had one bat house installed within 10 ft of other houses that was not used until the third year. I had about given up on it and decided to move it when a small nursery colony moved in and had pups in it. BTW I can't remember if you are the member with the ham antenna or not. Anyway,
I am an amateur K4RVN. I am on QRZ.com I used the ham tower top section to mount my 5 chamber bat house on a pole when I relocated it last winter. That is the house with pups in it now.

Frank

[Emersombiguns]

Yes, I am the one...The video is on you tube "Bats in Haughton,La #3" ..That is a Sommer Log XP 807 above the house. My call is K5SL, very active on hf cw/dx'ing. I just came back from Dayton last week, and only been able to catch activity 2 days. My new house still has nothing in it yet...Maybe can get on air and talk...Neatest thing was the VK in Brisbane I was telling about coming in from watching my bats start telling me all about the big fruit bats taking over a park there..
Haven't tried putting a house on my tower, but 2 other hams in my neighborhood were wondering how that might work!