Bat House Forum

[Eumops67]

Hoping things like this are OK in here!?!?
This is a 2 minute clip of emerging Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Mexi Freetails) at a protected flood control tunnel in Phoenix,AZ,the family & I went to on Sunday eve.

From watching vids in You tube of Congress Ave., I can imagine the excitement of that place,as we were watching/filming hundreds-maybe a few thousand at this tunnel.........the sign at the site says approx 5000 (maternity colony) emerging in summer :shock:,& we were there early!!!!

I was listening with my detector while filming & WOW :shock:  was it cool........even when pitch dark they were still going!!!

Also there were 2 Great Horned Owls in very close vicinity-like less than 50' from us...& a Nighthawk,& I spotted a Myotis flyin over our heads!!!

The wifey wants to go back soon,this time I am filming with a video camera specifically bought a couple months ago for Bats...this was taken with my Digi camera --
a Canon S2 IS.

So enjoy!!!!!!

[media=320,256]http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v466/pitviper067/?action=view&current=MexiFreetailemergenceshort.flv[/media]

 

[Joe Spencer]

Since this is a flash movie it is not being handled by WMP for me so I've reposted the link below which you and others can click on to see your bat movie.  In the compose box there is a selection for Flash based movies but I tried that and it didn't work and I'm looking into it for flash movies. Below is the direct link which should work.  Thanks for the post and I am a fan of your camera as well.  I almost purchased the Canon S3 but I'm waiting to see when and if they release the S4.  Thanks for posting:

 http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v466/pitviper067/?action=view&current=MexiFreetailemergenceshort.flv

[Erik]

Hi Eumops67,

cool movie! Here in the Netherlands we don't have any Free-tailed bat species but I have seen them in Portugal and they were very impressing!
Do you now if the location where you made the movie is well known as a roosting place of free tailed bats? Are there more "man made caves" like that where these bats roost? I know about free tailed bats in caves, bat houses and underneath bridges but water tunnels is new for me.
Here we have other bats (mainly Myotis species) in small water tunnels but it is very much a rarity.

Looking forward to the video you are going to make! You say you bought a videocam especially for filming bats? What kind of camera. I also use video to film bats and are intererested in your experiences.

Greetings,

Erik

 

 


 

[Eumops67]

Thanx!!!!!

Luv yours as well!!! I watched them weeks ago.......(many times)

The site is an open tunnel very near 1 of the many water canals that carry water in/out of Phoenix/metro area.Arizona Game & Fish department has made it a locked & protected area from vandals & jerks who would kill or evict the Bats.

The movie camera I got is a used Sony Hi 8 video camera(analog) with nightshot,& pretty good optical zoom.

here is pics at the viewing area

[Joe Spencer]

Thanks, since this is a flood control tunnel, has it ever had high water and do your know how it effected the bats behavior if they were there during it?:grommit:

[Eumops67]

I have only went to this site for the 1st time that sunday,so I really have no clue what the behaviors of the Bats would be if flooded...:shock:

Here in the nice "warm" valley of the 350+ days of Sun---that part of the city(Phx area in general) doesn't receive copious amounts of liquid refreshment.....so am not even sure if it has been flooded,or high amounts of water through it to make a diff 2 the Bats??? When the so-called Monsoons do hit,(IE rain does make it to the ground,sort of) there is "flash flooding",but its usually gone in a short (1-2 hrs,or less) time & Whoa!!! here comes the sun & "POOF" it disappears again until...................:rollingeyes1:

So am not sure,but interesting thought.Actually the very thought of a Flood control tunnel in the Desert is a funny thought itself........:?

Am 90+/- % sure we will be going back this evening,the Wife & my bud Dave (who is back from Hawaii) want to go---soooooo..........

[LarryH]

I have been in Phoenix when it flooded, and have seen the flood canals actually overflow due to the heavy amount of water received all at once.  I don't think it has happened for several years now, though.

I wish I had known about this bat bridge when I was there recently.  I would have loved to visit it in the evening to watch the bats emerge.  Maybe next time....

We're going down to Bracken Cave to watch the bats emerge the end of August, and then going back up to Phoenix for a few days, so maybe I'll get to see it then.