THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE

BAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

ISSUE 3 • 2016 BATCON.ORG

TURNING

Curious, caring and sharing, the real vampire VAMPIRE bears little UPSIDE DOWN (OR RIGHT SIDE UP) semblance to its MYTHS popular portrayals

HOLY SMOKES, THE MERLIN TUTTLE SPOTLIGHT: IT’S THE BAT SQUAD! CONSERVATION AWARD THE GHOST FACED BAT DON’T MISS OUTDON’T MISS on ournewbenefitsofmembership!   bikes, campinggearandmuch,muchmore! will allowyoutotakeadvantageofamazingdiscounts on Usually reserved forprofessionals inthefield,thisnewbenefit or higherwillreceive accesstoProDeals withExperticity. Those withaMexicanfree-tailed batmembership ($100) who likebringingtheirbat-inclinedfriendsalong. to BrackenCave.Sixtotal!Perfectforlargerfamiliesorthose higher willnowbeabletobringupfiveadditionalpeople Those whohaveaBigBrown Batmembership ($60)or Announcing new benefits for our Big Brown Bat ($60)and Bat Announcing newbenefitsforourBigBrown Mexican free-tailed bat ($100)membership levels! Mexican free-tailedbat BCI onlinenow! choose from! To receive youraccesscode,join favorite gear. Over350outstandingbrandsto your BCImembershipnowtoshop content andexperts-onlydiscounts.Upgrade and hundreds more reward youwithinsider Zero, DiamondbackBicycles,SkullCandy network where brandslikeBrooks, Goal Experticity.com. Experticityisanexclusive off upto70% bat levelandup,you’veearned As amemberofBCIattheMexicanfree-tailed retail pricingonhundreds oftop brandsat Visit batcon.org/joinus

Photos: Michael Durham THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE 3 • 2016 ISSUE INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FEATURE 08 TURNING VAMPIRE MYTHS UPSIDE DOWN (OR RIGHT SIDE UP) Curious, caring and sharing, the real bears little semblance to its popular portrayals Photo: J. Scott Altenbach

OFF THE BAT BAT CHATS The season of the bat provides an The importance of volunteerism for 02 opportunity to make bats the topic 17 aspiring bat conservationists of conversation and celebration

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT MerlinTuttle.org Photo: MAKING A DIFFERENCE Although fascinating to bat Recognizing the many generous 06 biologists, little is known about the 18 friends and members who have ghost-faced bat recently supported BCI

HOLY SMOKES, BAT SQUAD! IT’S THE BAT SQUAD! Five weird batty facts and how to Young bat conservationists bring draw bats 12 [PAGE 6] 23 their enthusiasm to the web

NEWS & UPDATES

BAT SIGNALS FIELD NOTES BCI news and Research news from 03 conservation updates 20 around the globe � Announcing the Merlin Tuttle � BCI’s Small Grants Conservation Award and Scholarships help � Protecting the endangered Fijian graduate students and free-tailed bat conservationists focus on � Funding critical research in the their work ON THE COVER The fight against White-nose Syndrome ( rotundus) [PAGE 4] Photo: MerlinTuttle.org Photo: Michael Schirmacher Michael Photo:

batcon.org bats { 01 bato ff t h e A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT BCI

Bat Conservation International (BCI) is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting bats and their The Season of the Bat essential habitats around the world. A copy of our current financial statement and registration filed by By CULLEN GEISELMAN the organization may be obtained by contacting our office in Austin, below or by visiting batcon.org. handful of lucky plants and school during a Halloween-asso- Main Office Washington DC have come to signify ciated bat unit. Some become so 500 North Capital of 4600 North Fairfax Drive the seasons. In northern inspired that they go on to do some Texas Highway, Building 1 7th floor A Austin, TX 78746 Arlington, VA 22203 latitudes, it’s winter’s reindeer and amazing things both in and outside 512-327-9721 703-962-6775 snow-covered fir trees; spring’s of school. On page 12, you’ll learn fluffy bunnies and yellow daffodils; about budding young scientists and Editor Emeritus Managing Editor summer’s blinking fireflies and conservationists who are making Robert Locke Micaela Jemison juicy watermelons; and fall’s ubiqui- the world a better place for bats and Publication Management GLC tous pumpkins and...bats. Thanks people. You can meet them and five to Halloween, there is a season of other inspiring kids online as part Bats welcomes queries from writers. Send your article the bat! of the Bat Squad! webcast series proposal in a brief outline form and a description of any photos, charts or other graphics to the Editor at Being a connoisseur of all things and hear their stories firsthand. [email protected]. batty, I used to lament that October Each episode of this four-part series Members: We welcome your feedback. Please send was the only time I could buy bat- will be broadcast online at 1 p.m. letters to the Editor at [email protected]. Changes shaped cookies, candies, stickers EST during Bat Week starting on of address may be sent to [email protected] and bat-emblazoned apparel Tuesday the 26th through Friday or to BCI at our Austin, Texas, address above. Please allow (available year-round now at the 28th. See batweek.org for more four weeks for the change of address to take effect. batgoods.com), but I have come to information. From time to time, BCI exchanges mailing lists with see the benefits of having bats so Following the stories of these other like-minded conservation groups to make more intertwined with our most ghoul- students reveals how a Halloween- people aware of the importance of bats. If you wish to opt-out of these exchanges, please let us know at ish of holidays. For many people, time lesson in school can lead to an [email protected]. it’s easy to go through life with- interest in bats that blossoms into a Founder: Dr. Merlin D. Tuttle out giving a thought to bats, their passion and then a career conserv- incredible adaptations, the benefits ing them, essentially building a path Board of Directors they provide at night while we to tomorrow’s Dr. Cullen Geiselman Secretary Chair Dr. Charles C. Chester sleep or their pressing conservation bat conservation Steven P. Quarles, Dr. Gary McCracken needs. Having a holiday—or really a scientists. Bat TALK TO US Vice Chair Alexander “Sandy” Read season considering how many weeks Conservation Share your thoughts Danielle Gustafson, Dr. Wes Sechrest Halloween candy and decorations International has and feedback with Treasurer Susan Wallace are sold in stores—provides us the supported the Bats magazine at C. Andrew Marcus, Joe Walston opportunity to make bats the topic early careers of [email protected]. of conversation and celebration. hundreds of bat Science Advisory Committee Dr. Kate Jones Dr. Rodrigo Medellín This year we will celebrate the third scientists by Dr. Tigga Kingston Dr. Paul Racey annual Bat Week (October 25–31) by awarding scholarships to gradu- Dr. Gary McCracken, Dr. Charles Rupprecht highlighting the efforts of our young ate students around the world to Board liaison conservationists. We invite you to conduct conservation- Senior Staff strike up a conversation about bats relevant research projects. We hope David Waldien, Winifred Frick, with your friends and neighbors. If that one day these teenage students Global Conservation Conservation Science you’re looking for a place to start will join the ranks of the many BCI Dan Sannes, Micaela Jemison, the discussion, check out the fun scholarship recipients. And we may Operations Communications Mylea Bayless, facts about the altruistic behavior of have Halloween and the season of U.S./Canada Conservation vampire bats and the incongruous the bat to thank for sparking their history of how they became part of early interest. Visit BCI’s website at batcon.org and the following human vampire lore on page 8. social media sites: In the U.S., many youngsters first Cullen Geiselman Facebook.com/batcon Twitter.com/BatConIntl learn the bat basics in elementary BCI Board Chair

02 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE CONSERVATION AWARD bat Merlin Tuttle photographs a Gambian epauletted fruit bat ( gambianus) BCI UPDATES AND CONSERVATION NEWS

Honoring a leader in bat conservation Announcing the Merlin Tuttle Conservation Award

Merlin Tuttle is a name synonymous with the magic and wonder of bats. His passion for these often maligned creatures along with his famous photography skills brought these animals out of the dark and to the forefront of the minds of millions. Founding Bat Conser- vation International (BCI) in the mid-1980s, Merlin has been and Recipients of this distinguished award will be chosen from still is an avid advocate for bat conservation. among the applications received by BCI during a given year in BCI’s headquarters in Austin stands as a testament to one of his response to BCI’s Requests for Proposals. The fi rst awardee will shining achievements—bringing BCI to Austin to lead a vigorous be selected from the next RFP that will be announced in Octo- public education campaign to save the 1.5-million strong colony ber. The Merlin Tuttle Conservation Award will inspire scientifi c of Mexican free-tailed bats under Congress Avenue Bridge. After research and community action to protect bats around the world meeting with media, community groups, schoolchildren and city and address critical conservation needs. leaders, he, along with the BCI team, gradually convinced the Since 1998, BCI has awarded more than $1 million to more than people of Austin that they have little to fear and much to gain from 200 aspiring bat conservation leaders for projects in 40 countries. their nocturnal neighbors. Now they have become a delight for Many of those recipients are now recognized for their expertise at visitors and locals alike, generating millions of tourism dollars each the highest levels in their home countries and within the interna- year for the local economy. tional scientifi c and conservation communities. To honor his leadership, the BCI Board of Directors is proud to announce the establishment of the Merlin Tuttle Conservation Award, a funding opportunity for those wishing to strengthen bat SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM conservation through research and community engagement. To learn more about BCI’s Small Grants program, visit batcon.org/grants. Photo: MerlinTuttle.org Photo:

batcon.org bats { 03 bat There are three endangered bats of Fiji —the (critically endangered) Mirimiri, the Fijian free-tailed bat and the Pacifi c sheath-tailed bat.

CRITICAL HABITAT

Establishing a new protected area for the endangered Fijian free-tailed bat

Very little is known about the habitat and ecology of the

Fijian free-tailed bat. Thomas Shawn Photo:

CI and our partners in Fiji are one step for Fiji. This generous donation is an inspiration closer to securing habitat critical for the to many around the world! Bsurvival of the endangered Fijian free- We have also confirmed that the Matasawalevu tailed bat (Chaerephon bregullae). The only Land Purchase Co-op Society, who owns the other known roost and maternity colony of the species remaining parcel of land, is willing to sell their is found at Nakanacagi Cave on the Fijian island 8.5 ha. BCI is currently working with its partners of Vanua Levu. Development of the land around to move this land purchase forward to protect the cave has placed this important roosting site, the cave. where over 95 percent of the species’ global pop- ulation is believed to reside, at increasing risk. To protect this critically important habitat, WISH LIST BCI, in partnership with the National Trust of Fiji, Birdlife International, the University of the Protect the cave South Pacific, and NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, hope BCI needs your help to continue to search for and to secure the two parcels (22 hectares) of pri- protect endangered Fijian free-tailed bat habitat. vately owned land surrounding the cave. You can help us reach our initial goal of $5,000 to After two years of stakeholder negotiations, protect Nakanacagi Cave and provide training and the conservation team is pleased to announce equipment to local conservationists so they can that Mr. Amrit Sen, the owner of one of the monitor and conserve the bats. Visit batcon.org/ private land parcels, has generously committed Fijian_bats.

Photos: Joanne Malotaux Joanne Photos: to donate his family’s 13.5 ha to be held in trust

04 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE White-nose Syndrome was first documented in New York state in 2006 and has rapidly spread westward in North America to neighboring states and into Canada. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FUNDING WNS RESEARCH Bat biologists unite Fightingor the third year, fungus in South Africa! BCI and the Ten- Fnessee Chapter In August, bat researchers from around the globe convened for the of The Nature Con- 17th International Bat Research Conference in Durban, South Africa. servancy are pleased This triennial conference not only provides an opportunity for to award $100,000 in researchers to share and showcase the latest in research on all things funding to support Schirmacher Michael Photo: bats—from fossil bats to conservation needs—but also provides critical research in the valuable time for researchers from far-flung corners of the world to fight against White- connect and discuss the global status and needs for protecting bats. nose Syndrome (WNS). Student presentations on the first day of the conference inspired WNS is a fungal attendees with a wide variety of studies advancing what we know disease that has killed about bats—from the discovery that migratory pollinating bats can fly millions of bats to date really far in a single night, to the best ways to protect cave-roosting and is the primary Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) with bats in the Philippines. threat to North Ameri- White-nose Syndrome. Conservation was a major theme throughout the conference, ca’s hibernating bats. covering topics from how the bush meat market is threatening bat “We need to have many different tools in our tool box,” says populations in many parts of Asia and Africa, to the effects of climate BCI Imperiled Species Director Katie Gillies. “With the recent change on bats. BCI Director of Wind Energy Program Cris Hein jump of WNS to Washington state, more than 1,300 miles from led an intense discussion (it was standing room only!) on the growing the nearest confirmation of the disease in the east, it is import- threats and solutions to wind energy turbines killing bats; while BCI ant now more than ever to have a range of tools in our arsenal Senior Director of Conservation Science Winfred Frick along with against the fungus.” BCI Science The three newly funded projects take very different Advisor Rodrigo approaches to managing the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus Medellin helped destructans (Pd), that causes WNS. The first project, proposed run the session by Dr. Jeff Foster at New Hampshire University, seeks to reduce on the conser- fungal load in infected human-made bat hibernation sites (such

Photo: Winifred Frick vation needs of as mines) by using an environmental cleaning agent, chlorine migratory bats. dioxide. This compound is already widely used to sanitize As our climate fruits, eggs and drinking water. By reducing the amount of Pd changes, water in infected mines, this research aims to decrease the number is becoming a of bats developing WNS in areas precious resource where the fungus is already present. for all animals, WISH LIST The second project, proposed by including bats. Dr. Maarten Vonhoff at Western Scientists from You can help Michigan University, will field test around the world the efficacy of using chitosan—a came together Fighting WNS natural biopolymer—to treat bats in requires innovative BCI Senior Director of Conservation Science in sessions and the wild and increase the survival of approaches to Winifred Frick (right) and Kristin Jonasson from the workshops led by understanding the bats exposed to Pd. The final project, University of Western Ontario. Jonasson studies BCI Director of proposed by Dr. Craig Willis at the migratory ecology of silver-haired bats. disease and how to Public Lands Dan reduce its impacts University of Winnipeg in Canada, Taylor to explore the importance of water resources for bat conserva- on hibernating will test the safety and efficacy of tion in arid landscapes. bats. You can help two anti-microbial and enzyme The sharing of knowledge wasn’t restricted to just the confer- support critical WNS inhibitor treatments for WNS. If ence. BCI is proud to have co-funded a multi-day capacity building research by donating these tests are successful, these workshop led by Bat Conservation Africa to help train 12 African at batcon.org/ treatments would provide new tools . researchers from 10 African countries. wns_donate to help bats survive exposure to the deadly fungus. batcon.org bats { 05 species spott THERE ARE 1,331+ SPECIES OF BATS IN THE WORLD. THIS IS ONE OF THEM. light

Ghost- faced bat

bat stats BINOMIAL Mormoops megalophylla

FAMILY Mormoopidae

COLONY SIZE up to 500,000

WINGSPAN 14-15 inches

DIET insectivorous

STATUS Least Concern

REGION

Southwestern US, Mexico, Photo: MerlinTuttle.org Photo:

06 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE Ghost-faced bats have been known to share caves with other bat species including Mexican free-tailed bats. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Although fascinating to bat biologists, little is known about the ghost-faced bat

he bizarre-looking face of the ghost-faced bat (Mormoops Tmegalophylla) is something you are unlikely to forget. The spe- cies’ most striking features, its tiny eyes, appear to be located inside its large rounded ears that join at its forehead. With wart-like protu- berances on its nose and leaf-like appendages on its chin, it is easy to see why it was given its ghoulish common name. This medium-sized bat, often reddish or reddish-brown in color, is found from southwestern Texas Photo: Jose Martinez Jose Photo: and southern Arizona, southward through Baja California and The bizarre fl aps mainland Mexico into Central and wrinkles on the face of the America. With the species ghost-faced bat being considered uncom- assist them with mon in the , echolocation. bat biologists consider it Photo: MerlinTuttle.org a thrilling find when captured. very little is known about Colonies may contain up to half a “Imagine my the species. Ghost-faced million individuals, however males excitement when I bats are thought to and non-reproducing females will caught my first one forage exclusively on use caves separate from the mater- at a remote tinaja in Big Bend large-bodied moths, nity caves used by nursing females. National Park,” says BCI’s Imper- although this is only Unlike other bat species that huddle iled Species Director Katie Gillies. based on the stomach contents close together, ghost-faced bats tend “Lit in the light of my headlamp, I of four individuals. This species to maintain a distance of approx- saw the large bat with short shiny appears to remain active year-round, imately 6 inches from each other fur caught in the net. Its muscular neither hibernating nor migrating. when roosting. shoulders were fighting to escape. They spend their days in deep caves Like many cave-dwelling spe- From behind, my mind raced; I in karst regions or abandoned mine cies, ghost-faced bats are at risk knew it wasn’t a species I had ever shafts, and emerge soon after dark of localized extinctions from cave caught before. Then, he turned to fly to the arroyos and canyons collapse, vandalism and other his head, facing me, looking at where they forage. They are strong, human disturbance. Cave tour- me—the bizarre folds and wrinkles fast fliers that travel at relatively ism is causing some around the eyes and nose. It was high altitudes enroute to and from localized conservation unmistakable—a ghost-faced bat! I foraging sites. issues in parts of Cen- squealed with delight as I removed Ghost-faced bats give birth to a tral America. With the gentle giant. I’ve been catching single pup and require hot steamy so little known about bats throughout the Americas for caves to raise their young. Without the species, efforts to RESOURCE 15 years, and I haven’t been thrilled enough bats congregating in the protect these roost- Learn about other like that in a decade or more.” deep cave to keep the tempera- ing caves provides bats species at Although the ghost-faced bat is tures toasty hot (around 104 F) the the best method for batcon.org/species. fascinating to most bat biologists, young may be less likely to survive. conservation. batcon.org bats { 07 FEATURE

turning vampire

MYTHSupside(or right sidedown up)

By MICHELLE Z. DONAHUE

CURIOUS, CARING AND SHARING, THE REAL VAMPIRE BAT BEARS LITTLE SEMBLANCE TO ITS POPULAR PORTRAYALS

08 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE Vampire bats have heat-sensitive cells in their noses to locate a suitable blood vessel. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Vampire bats’ thirst for blood has driven them to evolve an unex- pected sprinting ability. Most bats are awkward on the ground, but the common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, can bound along at more than 1 meter per second.

Planning on seeing any horror movies this Halloween? You might just see some swarms of bats, holding true to a time-honored tradition of equating bats to agents of evil. Pity especially the poor vampire bat, who’s taken the brunt of it all. Yes, it’s true, vampire bats drink blood. There’s no way around that knee-jerk ick factor, with their too-wrinkled faces and too-toothy smile. Let’s face it: no one ever loved a jab from a mosquito or a syringe, let alone being bitten. Out of the more than 1,330 species of bats that inhabit the Earth, there are only three that only drink blood: the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the type most people are familiar with; and the rarer hairy-legged (Diphylla ecaudata) and white-winged P(Diaemus youngi) vampire bats. The latter two prefer , while the common is often seen snacking on livestock like horses, cows and pigs. The reality of these unloved animals is that they have surprisingly strong social networks, don’t mind sharing and need to be quite clever to survive.

Photo: MerlinTuttle.org batcon.org bats { 09 FEATURE The name and some aspects of the fictional Count Dracula are believed to be inspired by the 15th-century Wallachian Prince Vlad Tepes.

“Stoker was looking for words A pair of white-winged vampire that had some connotation of evil, bats (Diaemus youngi) feed on something to be afraid of,” said Eliz- the foot of a chicken. abeth Miller, a Bram Stoker scholar and professor emerita at Memorial University of Newfoundland. As a plot device to get the character of Lucy to awaken suddenly in the middle of the night, a large bat flap- ping at the window does the trick: “He just puts it in his story presum- ably only to make readers shudder,” Miller added. Stoker also either didn’t know or chose to overlook the fact that vampire bats are really very small— just a couple of inches long. And as for vampires being particularly at home in the Romanian region of Transylvania, well, that’s another thing that just leaked into the public consciousness after the release

Photo: J. Scott Altenbach of Dracula. Fun Fact: “The connection between bats Named “vampires” after their own and blood is seen more as a touristy, Vampire bats don’t tales of exsanguinary ghouls, the external attraction than something fact that the vampire bat also drank that’s really based in local folklore,” “suck” blood! blood merely added another dimen- said BCI Director of Communication The truth of how vampire bats drink blood is sion to a well-established mascot and Public Engagement Micaela more analogous to a kitten lapping up milk than of the night—like black cats and Jemison, who couldn’t resist asking the sucking and slurping that horror movies spiders, anything that conducts its everyone she came across about bats would have us believe. business after sundown must neces- and vampires while on a recent visit After locating a target and climbing aboard sarily be malevolent. to Romania. “People there seem to undetected, vampire bats make a tiny gouge It took a couple hundred years, have a relatively positive or neutral with their razor-sharp front incisors. Their teeth but eventually the vampire bat opinion about bats—in the farming are so sharp that they generally make a painless joined the popular horror canon. districts we visited, the people there bite, not waking the often sleeping donor. Here Though we missed the premiere know that bats are part of the ecosys- they settle down to lap up about a tablespoon of Georges Méliès’ Le Manoir du tem. They’re not necessarily afraid of blood. Diable by a century or so, his 1896 of them.” silent film has been called the first- With ever-greater awareness of ever vampire movie, thanks to its the benefits of having bats around, How bats became vampires depiction of a large hovering bat Miller said she has seen a dwin- and then just bats again transforming into a man. Méliès’ dling of the bats-as-evil portrayal in The idea of the man-shaped vam- film predates even Bram Stoker’s literature and film. They can just be pire long predates the European famous novel, Dracula, which was bats again. introduction to the bat variety. published the following year. “There’s more of an appreciation Cultures the world over have had Even before that, an 1847 Gothic of nature now,” she noted. “People their own vampire mythologies for “penny dreadful,” Varney the Vampire, are looking at bats a little differently centuries, but blood-drinking bats contained illustrations of its main these days. I can’t think of a recent were unknown in Europe prior to antagonist sporting large bat wings. popular vampire novel that uses the 16th century exploits of Spanish But Stoker gets the credit for explicitly bats. It turns a book into comedy conquistadors in the New World. bringing the two together in his text. once you do.”

10 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE Dracula (meaning the Devil’s son in Slavonian) was inherited by Vlad Tepes from his father Vlad Dracul (the Devil). HALLOWEEN ISSUE

A mother and juvenile common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus. Trick or treat, Institute in . “One scratch my back trait of friendship is that As any parent of young children will there is reciprocity, but it’s tell you, making sure the kids are not immediate. The more well-fed and presentable is a high you form a social bond, the priority of the early years of their less formal the reciprocity lives—sometimes requiring that becomes.” they sacrifice some of their own Carter seeks to explore food to fill a hungry belly. the notion that vampire A vampire bat mom would bats share food with definitely relate: Stop by your local non-family members colony in Mexico, Central or South partly as a way to hedge America, and chances are, any mom bets against direct family there might recently have shared catastrophe: The better some of her own hard-won food relationships one has with with others in her colony. individuals outside their There’s a lot at stake. If a vampire immediate circle means bat doesn’t eat every two to three the better chance of assis-

days, they’ll starve, but getting a full tance if the family falters. Photo: Uwe Schmidt meal with that kind of regularity is He’s also found that a tall order. So they share—and the outside of direct family bonds, which aids in remaining concealed gift is often reciprocated, though food-sharing relationships are stron- from the target. not necessarily just between family gest between unrelated bats that Susanne Sterbing D’Angelo, a neu- members, or even within a short groom each other regularly. rology researcher who studies bats time span. The payback seems to be at the University of Maryland, spent casual and long-term, as between Scary smart some time as a young researcher in human friends. Behavioral adaptations aside, another the lab of renowned German vam- “They have these cooperative aspect of vampire bats made clearer pire bat expert Uwe Schmidt. relationships that I think are in recent years is just how very keen Schmidt’s lab worked to train functionally analogous to friend- they are. In hindsight, perhaps it’s vampires to fly through obstacles ships that you’d see in humans or obvious that they must be, since for various experiments related to primates,” said Gerald Carter, who the simple act of eating requires echolocation. For one experiment, studies the social relationships vam- great cleverness on their part—one D’Angelo put three trained bats pire bats form with one another at remarkable eating strategy is to run into an obstacle maze for a blood the Smithsonian Tropical Research up to their quarry along the ground, reward. Despite being untrained for over six months, they all had an Bran Castle, located on the immediate 90 percent success rate. border between Transylvania “These guys are smart, and don’t and Wallachia in Romania, is seem to forget quickly,” D’Angelo said. commonly known as “Dracula’s Carter believes that the work on Castle” despite there being no evidence that Stoker knew vampire bats’ intelligence and social anything about this fortress. structures makes them more agree- able characters, and that researchers have only begun to scratch the surface of understanding their full capabilities. “People don’t realize bats are socially complex and really intel- ligent,” Carter said. “There are so many cool things going on with their social complexity. I hope that will

Photo: Micaela Jemison Micaela Photo: give people more respect for them.” batcon.org bats { 11 COVER STORY

Holy smokes, it’s the Bat Squad!

12 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE Bat Week is an annual, international celebration of the role of bats in nature, organized by a team of conservation organizations and government departments. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Camryn Pettenger-Willey was filmed at Milo McIver State Park near her hometown of Portland, Oregon. She stands in front of a barn housing a colony of Townsend’s big-eared bats. PASSIONATE AND PRECOCIOUS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF BAT CONSERVATIONISTS BRING THEIR Holy smokes, By MICHELLE Z. DONAHUE ENTHUSIASM TO THEIR PEERS VIA it’s the Bat Squad! THE WEB.

here’s Shark Week. Rachael and Alexis aren’t alone Bats deserve a week, in their motivation to seek out and too, that’s just all share knowledge about bats with about them!” their friends, families and peers. Rachael Block They are part of a group of young laughed and shrugged people who will be introduced to when asked why she loves bats middle schools across the country Tenough to write about them every during the third annual Bat Week, week for the Save Lucy Campaign’s held this year from October 24–31. bat rehabilitation blog. An initiative of a growing number “Their wings. How they hang of partners including BCI, the U.S. upside down and you see their faces Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. staring down at you when you look Forest Service and other govern- up at them. Everything, really.” ment and conservation groups, But Rachael isn’t a professional Bat Week seeks to raise greater blogger; in fact, she relies on her awareness of bat conservation parents to drive her anywhere. Now efforts worldwide. 14 and just beginning high school in “The key thing for conservation Burke, Virginia, she began writing is for people to feel invested,” said for the Save Lucy blog in 2013, as a BCI’s Director of Communications sixth grader. and Public Engagement Micaela Alexis Valentine, 14, of Gatlin- Jemison, who spearheads BCI’s lead- burg, Tennessee, agreed. Bats don’t ing role in organizing Bat Week. “It’s deserve their bad rap, and this is the not a coincidence that Bat Week is sentiment that drives her as she has the week of Halloween and targeted helped university professors work at kids old enough to understand with bats and research White-nose the issues that bats face, but young Syndrome (WNS) in the Great enough for bats to still be cool. We Smoky Mountains National Park want to inspire the next generation

Photo: Micaela Jemison Micaela Photo: since the third grade. of bat conservationists.”

batcon.org bats { 13 FEATURE Each of four the Bat Squad! webcasts will launch on BatWeek.org at 1 p.m. EST from Tuesday, October 25 to Friday, October 28.

One major highlight of this year’s event is Bat Squad!, a unlikely to overlap with the Mexi- series of four, 15-minute webcasts that will dive into the can free-tails of Texas. efforts of nine young people to educate others on the benefits “Bats migrate,” Calvin said. “Even of bats, their habitats, the threats they face and how they’re though White-nose only grows getting more people involved in conservation. Each video is in cold weather, I’m afraid that it also accompanied by educational materials for teachers and could somehow become adapted to parents to continue the batty fun offline. The videos aim warmer temperatures and wipe out not only to teach, but also to inspire even more kids to get all bats down here, too.” involved themselves. Lindsey Hefernan, a wildlife “We’re presenting them as movie stars, and the fact is, biologist for the Pennsylvania Game they really are,” said Cynthia Sandeno, a partner with the Commission who maintains maps Bat Squad! initiative and a U.S. Forest Service specialist in of WNS spread, furnished Calvin Calvin got to meet a live Mexican free-tailed bat when threatened, endangered and sensitive species. “It’s absolutely with the maps he needed. he came to Austin to film with incredible that you have these kids doing work that profes- “It gives me hope when I see a the Bat Squad! team. sional wildlife biologists are out there doing.” young person like Calvin thinking about such a complicated topic,” Hefernan wrote via e-mail. “It’s also important that he’s thinking ahead and preparing for when the disease hits home.”

CAMRYN PETTENGER-WILLEY, 13 MITIGATING WIND TURBINE IMPACTS

After a conversation with her parents Tonja Willey and Mary Pet- tenger about wind turbines and bat

Photos: Micaela Jemison Micaela Photos: mortality, Camryn Pettenger-Willey got the bug to know if anything could be done about it. WISH LIST Here’s a peek at a few Camryn researched wind turbine of the webcast stars technology with Willey’s help, an Help support ahead of their national online learning Bat Week debut.

The Bat Squad! CALVIN CARPENTER, 10 webcasts are just the beginning. BCI GIS MAPPING

is investing in live Jemison Micaela Photo: interactive lessons First introduced to live bats in 2015 as a fourth-grader, Calvin with BCI educators Carpenter began to wonder if WNS had any chance of reach- for schools across ing the as-yet-unaffected populations of bats near his home in North America via Lubbock, Texas. the web. Help us by With some digging, he learned that the nearest affected donating toward our population was in Franklin County, Ark. With the help of his goal of $10,000 to mother Penny, an instructor of geospatial technology, Calvin provide education staff and develop created a map that charted the maximum summer habitat online lesson plans ranges of the Texas bat populations around Bracken Bat Cave and materials for and the counties in Arkansas where WNS was known to occur. teachers. Visit His maps—which translated to a first prize in a regional batcon.org/ science competition—showed that even if both populations of onlinelearning. bats strayed well beyond the extent of their known summer Camryn feels a responsibility to let others know ranges, the fungus-carrying tri-color bats in Arkansas are what complex interesting creatures bats are.

14 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE Educational materials geared toward Next Generation Science Standards accompany each of the webcasts to continue the batty fun offline. HALLOWEEN ISSUE

employee of Avangrid Renewables (formerly Iberdrola) in Portland, Oregon. Pettenger helped their daughter reach out to a group of wind industry and conservation experts, including Cris Hein, BCI’s wind energy program director, as well as Kevin Kinzie at General Electric, Tim Hayes at Duke Energy and Stu Webster at Iberdrola. Knowing that scientists, like BCI’s Cris Hein, are developing sound deterrents for bats, Camryn sought to find the best placement for them on wind turbines. Using deer whistles as a substitute, Camryn

experimented with acoustic anal- Porpora Alex Photos: ysis on smaller fans to see where Oscar and his fellow Team Chiroptera members like to study an emitter would be most effective. bats in the classroom and get outside to find answers to their own questions. Surprisingly, she found that emitters produced the most consistent sound with guidance from Kelly and local bat ecologist when mounted on a fan’s central Dave Johnston. Seeking to learn whether the nacelle rather than on its blades. activity of bats in a given area differed depending Not only did her project win her on the size of the available habitat, they used audio “best of show” in her category at recorders to collect bat call data at more than the regional level, she was invited to a dozen pine woodlands around the area. They present at the Oregon state science expected that larger habitats would yield evidence fair and selected as a semifinalist in of more bat activity, while smaller-sized areas the national Broadcom MASTERS would produce fewer recorded calls. science competition. Team Chiroptera found the exact opposite: “The science fair helped spread the activity numbers were more or less the same my ideas, and it went pretty far,” no matter the size of the habitat. The students Camryn said. “But anyone can start realized that with only one detector per habitat, they probably with a small idea about how they weren’t picking up on all the bats that could be lurking through- can get involved in helping bats.” out the larger areas. The “What’s neat about Terry [Kelly] and Dr. Johnston is that OSCAR SCHOLIN, 14 they let the kids come up with their hypothesis all on their Bat TEAM CHIROPTERA own,” Rue said. “It isn’t a preconceived idea they inserted the kids into. It’s a sign of good science that it led them to more From the time he was 5 years old and questions.” Squad! his mother, Edie Rue, was tucking Their work ultimately brought them to the 2015 symposium him into bed with yet another ren- of the North American Society for Bat Research, where they team dition of Stellaluna, Oscar Scholin presented a poster on their findings. The Bat Squad! has loved bats. In seventh grade, his Oscar helped recruit new students into the club the fol- webcast initiative is science teacher Terry Kelly asked lowing year, but now, as a new high school freshman, he’ll led by BCI and the him if he’d be interested in joining only be able to help out after school hours. It doesn’t seem to U.S. Forest Service Team Chiroptera. The new school be slowing him down. This past July, he was out in the field in partnership club would be studying bats in and with Kelly and the other Team Chiroptera members, using with National around Monterey Bay, California. bat detectors to find where bats liked to hang out the most Geographic’s Oscar’s answer, naturally, was yes. around a local park. The sight of a group of kids and adults Jam and the National The team of seven or eight kids that all staring up into the night sky attracted the interest of a Conservation meet during lunch and after school random passer-by, who expressed surprised delight when Training Center. devised their first research project informed they were looking for bats. batcon.org bats { 15 FEATURE Learn more about the webcasts and teacher resources at BatWeek.org.

“It’s an awesome oppor- Meet the rest of tunity to go out and do real the Bat Squad! science,” Oscar said. “And you don’t always need fancy EOWYN FUSHIELLE, 11 equipment—just genuine Eowyn is a Girl Scout interest and determination. from Austin, Texas, There just are some things who likes soccer and you can’t learn in the horseback riding. She classroom.” first got interested Called “Bat in bats through her Girl” by her friends, Alexis ALEXIS VALENTINE, 14 biologist father. Eowyn and her is happy to NETTING AND fellow Girl Scouts share their assume the ACOUSTICAL RESEARCH love of bats whenever they visit moniker for local Bracken Cave, the largest bat herself but From the breezeway of colony in the world. also as an homage to her home near Gatlinburg, bat champion Tenn., Alexis Valentine RACHAEL BLOCK, 14 Merlin Tuttle, has a front-row seat to the Rachael from Fairfax, whom she natural riches of the forests Virginia, likes to read, deeply admires surrounding her. And draw, kayak and tell and who has personally seeing no in waiting everyone she can about encouraged her until she was older to get her favorite animal—

in her pursuits. Photo: Doug Canfield out and explore it—since bats! For the past few the third grade, Alexis has years, Rachael has been working been helping to track and research bats in and around the with the Save Lucy bat rehabilitation Great Smoky Mountains National Park. center to help injured and aban- Accompanying her mother, Amy Emja, on a mist-netting doned bats as well as writing her expedition to look for evidence of WNS with Joy O’Keefe, a weekly blog—the Baturday News! researcher from Indiana State University, Alexis said, “It was love at first catch.” LOGAN CARTER, 12 “If you’re one of my friends and I start talking about this, Logan travels with his they go, ‘Oh lord, she’s going off on one of her bat rants again,’” biologist father teach- Alexis laughed. “But it needs to be addressed, multiple times.” ing kids in an exhibit Her science fair projects and presentations on bats and WNS called Be a Bat Biologist. have won her multiple accolades, including fifth place overall Logan loves animals in the Tennessee science fair, and just this spring, grand cham- and when he leaves the bats to go pion in her division for the Sevier County science fair. Alexis home in Muncie, Indiana, he likes said that the process of researching bats—or any science—can to take care of his two dogs, lizard, be slow and frustrating, but encouraged aspiring bat conserva- frog, turtles and fish. tionists to be patient and persistent. “ happens,” Alexis MADISON MIES, 14 said. “You can have seven Madison has always Get your school or kids group months of research, and loved bats. She is an involved with Bat Squad! sometimes it blows up accomplished bat and you have to accept educator, often travel- During Bat Week watch the live Bat Squad! webcasts airing on that. I’m just glad it’s not ling with her father, the BatWeek.org. Continue the fun afterwards with the educational my 20-year quota that’s founder of Michigan’s activities supplied on the website! all falling to the floor. Organization for Bat Conservation, Amazing Bats Tues., October 25 at 1 p.m. ET You’ll have to overcome to libraries, schools and museums Hey Bat, What’s Your Habitat? Wed., October 26 at 1 p.m. ET roadblocks through any to talk about how amazing bats are. Bats Need Friends Thurs., October 27 at 1 p.m. ET project. Not even just in She recently gave a TEDx talk at her Bat Chat! Join the Bat Squad! Fri., October 28 at 11 p.m. EST animal science—but in school in Detroit, Michigan, where anything and everything.” she promoted bat conservation.

16 }bats Issue 3 2016 bat QUESTIONS FORchats A NOTED EXPERT

Bats: Besides a biology the night, and antici- Tigga originally degree, what skills pating a good night’s wanted to be a would you encourage batting. zoo vet before becoming a bat students to develop to scientist. help them in a conser- Bats: Do you have any vation career? advice for non-sci- Kingston: It is really entists who want to important to gain get involved in bat practical research conservation? experience during Kingston: There your time as an are many ways to undergraduate. Ideally, get involved that this should be work are responsive to on bats, but potential your availability and advisors are looking expertise. The key for evidence that you is to connect up and can or will be able to network with others design, implement, concerned with bat analyze and present conservation. There original research. might be a specific

Photo: Tigga KingstonPhoto: Tigga There are excellent local bat conservation opportunities through issue you can help with, study abroad pro- or you might think Career Advice grams, field courses more broadly about and summer intern- educating the public The importance of volunteerism for aspiring conservationists ships, or you can about bats (giving bat contact researchers talks to kids, leading hat advice would an esteemed bat scientist have for aspiring stu- at other universities bat walks at local dents? To celebrate the 46th Annual Symposium on Bat Research or organizations that parks), or join a citizen Whosted by BCI in San Antonio for the North American Society for focus on bat conserva- science initiative Bat Research, we decided to ask Dr. Tigga Kingston! tion and research. Be monitoring bat popula- prepared to volunteer tions. If you have a bit until you have the more time, see if local Bats: How did you borrowed nets away by the extraordi- field skills that make universities or not- get your start as a bat and started catching nary diversity of bats you employable! for-profit groups have scientist? bats. It only took a cou- that can coexist in any programs you can Kingston: I was a ple of bats to realize tropical habitats. So Bats: What is your volunteer with—there member of an under- that plan B was going in essence, I ask the favorite memory of are a lot of us out there graduate-led expedition to be PLAN A from age-old question, why being a student? and a lot of work to do! to Colombia to study there on out, and it’s are there so many Kingston: Sitting alone biodiversity. I was sup- been bats ever since! species? More specif- in the rainforest in the Bats: That’s a great posed to be studying ically, I am interested dark, having all the idea! For example, in small , but Bats: What is the main in the processes that traps set up and ready, Austin, BCI is always the traps got stuck in research theme you’ve facilitate coexistence in and just waiting for looking for volunteers customs and never tried to answer in your species-rich bat assem- the first bats to start for our Congress made it out. As a plan career? blages and how these flying. It was always so Avenue Bridge educa- B, the small Kingston: Ever since influence which species magical listening to the tion program! Find out team (myself and my first trip to Colom- survive in human-mod- rainforest dayshift give more at batcon.org/ the late Kate Barlow) bia, I’ve been blown ified landscapes. way to the creatures of CABdocents. batcon.org bats { 17 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The White Pine Fund Barbara and Edward Sturm Zoological Society Wildlife Management Institute Ms. Donna A. Thalacker* Jo Wright and Lance Strong THANK YOU! Mohamed bin Zayed Species Mrs. Beth Zelten* Conservation Fund Golden-Crowned Flying Fox We offer our $1,000 – $1,499 Straw-Colored Fruit Bat deepest gratitude We thank these donors whose Mr. Michael Adami-Sampson* $500 – $999 gifts were received in the four Ms. June Albert Anonymous to all BCI members months between April 1, 2016 and Ms. Ann Bacon Mr. Mike Bellin July 31, 2016. Mr. Robert T. Blakely James Blackburn and and contributors Boeckman Family Foundation Garland Kerr * Monthly Sustaining Donors John and Laurie Chester The Boeing Company who support the Cindy Cobb and Jerri Brown and Tracy Raymond Bruijnes* Steelhammer conservation $5,000 – $9,999 William and Mary Anne Dingus Ms. Patricia E. Brown Anonymous (2) Ms. Suzanne B. Engel Mr. Michael L. Callaham of the world’s bats. Ms. Carol Carpenter Bruce and Mary Feay Mr. John Chambers Mr. William M. Chester, Jr. Ms. Michele H. Finley Ms. Susan B. Clark Dume Wolverine Foundation Ms. Arvella M. Greenway Mr. Tim Cliffe* We thank these donors whose Partnership Fund Esther F. Hope, D.V.M., D.A.B.T Danielle Gustafson and Ms. Charlotte W. Coiner gifts were received in the 12 Malcolm C. Damuth Foundation Ms. Heidi Nitze Brad Klein* Glenn and Sharon Conant months between August 1, 2015 David and Patricia Davidson Estate of William F. Rock Ms. Andree Reed Hajabed Ms. Bettye Davison and July 31, 2016. Duke Energy Singing Field Foundation Ms. Virginia Hammerness Ms. Barbara Dickinson* EarthShare of Texas Shelli and Brad Stanback Steve and Marty Hixon Ms. Lydia Edison $100,000 – $999,999 EDP Renewables Ms. Karen L. Van Dusen Mr. Bill Jackson Mr. Michael Forwood Anonymous (3) North America, LLC Zoo New England George Jett and Gwen Brewer Regan K. and William Gammon Maltz Family Foundation Ms. Susan A. Fredericks Derry and Charlene Kabcenell Ms. Amanda Giliotti The Nature Conservancy Ms. Rebecca M. Harvey MiriMiri $1,500 – $4,999 Katz Coffee Ms. Laura Glynn* The Tim and Karen Hixon Mark E. Anderson, Ph.D. Joan and Herb Kelleher Mr. Henry Gotsch $50,000 – $99,999 Foundation Mr. Jeffrey S. Bacon Mr. Michael J. Koski* Ms. Cynthia Gray Bailey Wildlife Foundation Iberdrola Renewables Mr. Hugo B. Barreca Bill and Jane Lacy Mr. Robert Gregory Disney Conservation Fund Ms. Lois L. Layton David and Kim Chester Ms. Diane Lamb* Michael and Diane Greiner EarthShare Mr. William N. Mayo Gladys Cofrin and Ms. Elizabeth P. Masur Mr. Ray Groover, Jr. Dr. Cullen K. Geiselman Ms. Candy R. Midkiff Daniel Logan Gary and Jamey McCracken Ms. Laurie Gunst Woodtiger Fund Leo Model Foundation, Inc. Mr. Samuel Combs Ms. Lisa McMillan Ms. Trista Hoffman Ms. Marie Morgan Jacob and Terese Hershey Ms. Amy J. Munich Jim Hu and Debby Siegele $10,000 - $49,999 National Geographic Society Foundation John and Jane Newman Ms. Mary Jasnowski* Anonymous The Neall Family Charitable E.W. and Laura Littlefield Charles and Anne Parrish Mr. Charles Jobes* American Wind Energy Foundation Leonard and Linda Lombardi Mr. Kent Purdy* Ms. Caitlin Jones Association New Land Foundation Andrew and Courtney Marcus Donald and Brenda Schnell Ms. Lois Kail Austin Community NextEra Energy Foundation, Inc. Ms. Mary Ann Neuses Mary and Jason Smith* Ms. Patricia Khan Foundation Ms. Anne L. Pattee Ms. Nicolette Reim Maus George R. Thompson and Richard and Kathy Kimbrough BAND Foundation Terry and Bill Pelster Mr. George Rieger Mary F. Finlay Ms. Ingrid LeBlanc The Barkley Fund, LLC Read Foundation Roadway Productions/ Charles Van Tassel and Scott and Joy Linn* The Berglund Family Ms. Beth Robertson French Smith Kirsten Winter Ms. Susan Loesser Foundation Ms. Catherine Sachs Judith Schultz and Cynthia Vann and Mr. Steve Lovelace The Brown Foundation, Inc. SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Glenna Dowling Chuck Pease Maggie C. Brandt and of Houston Conservation Fund John and Karen Shrader Fred and Peggy Vroom Albert W. Lyons Charles and Lael Chester Mr. Chester R. Sermak Kay Sibary and Buck Shaw* James and Theresa Wittliff Mr. Daniel MacEachron The Christensen Fund Shared Earth Foundation Mr. Nicholas A. Skinner Mr. and Mrs. C. Martin Wood, III Mr. Vaughn C. Maley, Jr.* Critical Ecosystem Estate of Ruth Silverman Ms. Adrienne Starkey Woodland Park Cherie and Ken Mason

18 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE HALLOWEEN ISSUE

Mr. Kevin McCarthy* Robert and Laura Ms. Jazzmyn InIsis* Ms. Tara Penney Mr. Robert Sharrar Cynthia and Mark McKoy Cadwallader Inner Space Cavern Mr. Steven Peno* Ms. Georgia Siegel* Ms. Susannah Miller William and Janis Catalano* Ms. Susan C. Jacobson Ms. Jean Philips* Ms. Elaine A. Skrobacz* Lawrence and Eileen Moyer* Ms. Alison A. Corcoran* Ms. Mary Ann Joca* Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Ms. Lydia Spitzer* Ms. Laura C. Murphy* Ms. Tawny Corwin* Ms. April Keene* Pointkowski* Ms. Jenifer Steele* Ms. Elise Murray Daphne Chester and Kevin Crowe Joshua and Julianna Kershen Mr. Patrick Porter Ms. Katie Stemwedel Brian and Cindy Nichols Ms. Darlene Chirman Mr. Edward King Ms. Rachel Quinones Ms. Janice S. Stetz Victoria, John and Harper Mr. Peter Compo Ms. Marilynn King* Quittapahilla Audubon Ms. Lila C. Stevens Paparelli Mr. George W. Connelly, P.C. Ms. Leslie Kline* Society Ms. Susan Stoddard Ms. Anita K. Pearson Ms. Curby Conoley Ms. Gail P. Kohl Ms. Patricia Reavy* Ms. Mary Z. Stumberg Ms. Anne Pearson Mr. George M. Covington Ms. Martha Korbuszewski Mr. Bruce Richbourg Dr. Robert Sundquist DMD Ms. Ellen Petrick Ms. Nancy Cronin Catherine and Warren and Jane Richmond* Ms. Janis F. Swan Steven and Suzanne Quarles Ms. Barbara Cuddeback Christopher Kramer Ms. Bertina Richter Ms. Ann Taylor* Ms. Kathleen Roan* Alexander and Cindy Read Deborah M. Lott and Mr. Scott Kranz Dr. Joseph R. Thurn, M.D. Mr. Steven B. Robertson Capt. and Mrs. Thomas M. Read John W. Davidge, III Terry La Salle Ms. Jaimie Trautman Ms. Robin Roelofs Ms. Karen Shatzkin Ms. Debra Davis* Michael and Mr. Elijah Underhill The Rogland Family Fund Mary and Jason Smith Mr. John Dayton* Priscilla LaBounty Mr. Richard Vaughan* Gail Rosen and Jo Tyler Mr. Christopher Svara* Mr. Bobby Deems* Dr. Carolyn Langelier Ms. Angela Wade* Mr. David Rosenstein* Charles Martin and Paula Thiede* Ms. Kimberly W. Doyle* Ms. Marcia P. Lane* Ms. Dani Walthall Ms. Susan P. Rust Laura and Curtis Thurman* Mr. Howard Dudley Mr. and Mrs. Richard Lane* Ms. Claire Ward* Ms. Marlene Vandenbos Mr. Roby Latimer Ms. Harriet Rutland Mr. Lloyd Edwards Ms. Juliandra Watt Andrew and Christina Walker* Mr. Glenn Egan Ms. Barbara Lauterbach Mr. Ron Rydarowicz Mr. Michael Watt Mr. Lee Weiskott* Mr. Emilio Englade Mr. Michael Laux Ms. Diane Sanders* Daniel and Nancy Whelton Wildlife Artists Inc. Mr. David Epstein Roger and Gillian Levine Ms. Rhonda Sanders* Ms. Penelope Wickham Mr. Robert W. Wivchar Mr. Rhys Evans* Scott and Joy Linn Ms. Claudette Saylor* Mr. Lloyd S. Wilkiel Ms. Barbara Fanta Jack and Carolyn Long Ms. Suzanne Scheidt Ms. Lori Willert Red Bat $250 – $499 Lauren Phillips and Eric Fedeler Ms. Marguerite Longtin Mr. William J. Schillinger Mr. Wallace S. Wilson Anonymous Mrs. Ruth Flournoy Ms. Dorrit Lowsen* Steve and Mary Schneider* Ms. Mary K. Wirth Mr. Jon Anderson Joy Gaddy and Robert Rowe* Mr. Shane Lundberg Ms. Jan Schroeder* Ms. Johanna W. Wissinger Ms. Donna Y. Aragona* Paul and Gina Gaedke Mr. Christopher Lynch* Ms. Renee Schwartz* Mr. Kurt R. Schwarz Ms. Jeannie B. Wright Ms. Cindy Barbee* Ms. Carla Gilbert Mr. Stuart MacDonald Mr. Wayne Schweinfest Dr. and Mrs. Larry Yates* Mr. France Bark Mr. Alan Glenn Ms. Rochelle Mains Weston W. Sechrest, Ph.D. Ms. Karin Zahorik Ms. Judith A. Barnes Mrs. Jennifer Goodwin Ms. Martina Martin John and Sue Bassett Mr. Bert Grantges* Thomas and Dorothy Mayer David and Nancy Beck Mr. Tracy E. Greenholt Mr. David G. McKay* UPDATES AND ADDITIONS Mr. John M. Bell* Alfred and Suzanne Griffin Sarah and Mark McKusick We have made every effort to make these lists Andrea and Mike Benco* Dr. Donald Grose* Mrs. Vera McLean complete. If you believe your name was left out Bill and Charlotte Bialek* Kris Gulbran and Pat Pielage Mr. Randy McNatt* in error, please call Sharon Sparlin, Major Gifts Ms. Pamela Blake* Ms. Adele Gunnarson* Mr. Matt McRae* Manager, at 512-327-9721 ext. 46. Ms. Tina Blewett* Miss April Hagen Mr. Marc Melcher Jim and Emily Bost Mr. and Mrs. James L. Hayne Ms. Kerry Mello DONATE TODAY Ms. Amanda Bowen Ms. Ruth Haynes A.C. and Erin K. Merola* To make a tax-deductible donation to BCI, Mr. Jerry Boxman* Ms. Mary D. Herr* Ms. Marcia Michaels* simply visit batcon.org/donate and fill in the requested donation information. For a list of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Braun Mr. Alan P. Hewett Mr. James Murphy* other ways to support bats and BCI, go to Sherri and Robert Bray* Dr. Martin Heyworth Terry Langevin and Doug Muth batcon.org/waystogive. Mr. Douglas A. Bridwell* Ms. Anne Holt* Ms. Laura Nathanson* Mr. Lawrence Broch Mike and Gayla Horn Ms. Anne Olsofka Prefer to send a check? Please mail to: Mrs. Sheldon V. Brooks Ms. Carrie Hufnal Sherron Bull and Bat Conservation International Ms. Gretchen Brummel* Ms. Merrill Hunn* Dennis Painter* P.O. Box 140434 Mr. William A. Bunch Patsy and Tom Inglet* Mr. Gary Pellegrini* Austin, TX 78714-0434

batcon.org bats { 19 RESEARCH

field notes RESE ARCH N E WS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE Grace Smarsh is studying the singing habits of heart- nosed bats, Cardioderma cor. “This species is rather birdlike in some ways. When you walk around at night, you can hear them singing from trees around you like you’re listening to birds in a forest,” says Smarsh.

BCI grants make it possible for graduate students to gain StudyingBy MICHELLE Z. DONAHUE abroad a foothold in research rom investigating the interactions between island unique challenges, the study of these elusive, nocturnal flying foxes with plants and people on the island and often rare creatures requires special creativity and Fof Tioman in Malaysia, to learning Swahili to better patience from scientists in order to collect useful data and study the hows and whys of singing in the heart-nosed observations. bats of Tanzania, the study of bats can involve spend- And then there’s the work required to keep it all afloat. ing many weeks and months in isolated, inhospitable Even established researchers must spend considerable locales. And though the study of any animal has its own amounts of time ensuring they can continue their work Photo: Grace Smarsh

20 }bats Issue 3 2016 THE Watch Grace Smarsh describe the unique singing habits of the Heart-nosed bats at . HALLOWEEN youtube.com/c/BatConservation ISSUE

Field work is more than just catching bats! Grace learned Swahili to effectively work with her team and villagers in

Photos: Grace Smarsh Tanzania.

by securing funding and support. “BCI was extremely important of the roost. My work is showing For the next generation of scientists, for the success of this project,” that singing in this species is used it is this aspect of science that can Smarsh said. With funding from the to create and maintain foraging be most daunting for new entrants National Science Foundation, she territories.” to the field. was able to establish several field In Malaysia, Ph.D. candidate BCI’s Small Grants and Schol- sites in the vicinity of the village Sheema Abdul Aziz is piecing arships help, in part, by making it of Kikavu Chini, within sight of together a better picture of the role easier for graduate students and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania’s the island flying fox conservationists to focus on northeastern Hai district. But only ( hypomela- their work. with additional support by BCI was nus) plays in Tioman WISH LIST “Students working on bat conser- Smarsh able to purchase VHF telem- Island’s ecology, and vation have not selected the easy etry equipment to track the bats’ how to use the infor- Small grants path,” said Winifred Frick, BCI’s movements throughout the study mation she gathers fuel big results Senior Director of Conservation areas, a critical element for under- to promote a more Science. “They have not chosen standing the context of the bats’ peaceful coexistence You can help fund a path for minimizing risk and song repertoire and the ability to between the bats and the next genera- tion of promising maximizing academic success, test hypotheses about their behavior. the island’s residents, students and con- but instead a challenge to make a “Singing has been heavily studied who generally perceive servationists by difference in often very complex in only a few bat species, but there them as crop-damag- supporting BCI’s environmental problems. Without are notes of singing in quite a few,” ing pests. Small Grants Pro- student researchers willing to tackle Smarsh said. “We don’t know much Additionally, as the gram. To donate, these challenges, without their grit about the purpose of singing and co-founder of Rimba, visit batcon.org/ and ingenuity to answer questions repertoire diversity of bats in gen- a non-profit conser- smallgrants. about bat ecology and conserva- eral, and even less for bats outside vation research group, tion, we’d be in the dark on how to protect bats.” For Texas A&M graduate researcher Grace Smarsh, who spent 17 months over three years “We don’t know much about the purpose in Tanzania studying the songs of heart-nosed bats (Cardioderma cor), of singing and repertoire diversity of bats BCI’s support translated directly into funding for equipment essen- in general, and even less for bats outside tial to understanding the bats’ movements throughout their habitat. of— Grace the Smarsh, roost.” Texas A&M graduate researcher batcon.org bats { 21 field notes Learn about the BCI-supported work of Sheema Abdul Aziz and her non-profit Rimba in Malaysia atyoutube.com/c/BatConservation .

Aziz plans to extend her work for Malaysian bat conservation even “Most Malaysians don’t see bats as being after the completion of her doctor- ate degree. important in any way. So we really “There’s really very little effort or motivation to protect and conserve urgently need data to show people that [bats] here—they aren’t really per- ceived as being charismatic animals,” having—Sheema Abdul bats Aziz, Ph.D., around the French Nationalis actually Museum of Natural beneficial.” History Aziz said. “Most Malaysians don’t (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle) and the University of Nottingham see bats as being important in any Malaysia Campus

way. So we really urgently need Sheema Abdul Aziz is piecing data to show people that having together a better picture of the bats around is actually beneficial.” role the island flying fox (Pteropus After designing an entire study hypomelanus) plays in Tioman Island’s ecology. from scratch, one of Aziz’s major findings was that the island flying foxes probably help, rather than hurt, economically valuable durian trees. In Southeast Asia, this “king of fruits” is a critical cash crop, driving a thriving export market and even attracting tourists to regions where they are grown to take advantage of fresh, ripe fruit. By wrangling camera traps into the crowns of tall trees, Aziz found that while the bats did feed on durian flower nectar, they didn’t eat or even damage the flowers, as had long been assumed. She is hopeful that findings like these will help cast the bats in a new light as critical ecosys- tem partners, and bolster efforts to protect bats from hunting and persecution throughout the coun- try and region. “The funding from BCI was quite literally a lifeline for my research,” Aziz said. “The first year of my Ph.D. was really tough because I hardly had any funding to do my work; [it was] demoralizing, and made me feel like giving up. So BCI not only injected new life into my project, but also into my own personal confidence, enthusiasm and passion for bat conservation.

Photo: Conrad Wothe I’m hugely grateful.”

22 }bats Issue 3 2016 Learn about the BCI-supported work of Sheema Abdul Aziz and her non-profit Rimba in Malaysia atyoutube.com/c/BatConservation . FOR THE YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST

Weird FactsEastern tubed- about Bats nosed bat, Nyctimene robinsoni one-third of their mother’s body weight. To put that into perspective, just imagine birthing a two-year- old (40-pound) human baby! Could you imagine having 5 twins (which some bat species do)? MORE You can hear 4. SOME BATS these calls by HONK visiting batcon.org/ Male hammer-headed weirdbatfacts. fruit bats, Hypsig- nathus monstrosus, produce large honking calls to attract females during mating season. The males have a large head with an enlarged rostrum, larynx and lips that allows them to make these weird calls.

Image: G H Ford–Proceedings 5. A STICKY SITUATION of the Zoological Society of Some species don’t have the London 1862 thumbs that other bats have on their wings. Instead, Photo: MerlinTuttle.org Photo: species like ith over 1,330 species of sure why these tubes evolved—can the Spix’s bats around the world, you you guess? disk-winged Wjust know there have to be bat (Thyroptera some weird and wonderful crea- 2. ALL BATS HAVE BELLY tricolor) have tures out there. Check out these five BUTTONS evolved suction amazing facts about bats! Bats are the second largest group of cups that let mammals in the world. With a few them cling to 1. SOME BATS HAVE LONG exceptions like monotremes (mam- and climb up TUBES FOR NOSES mals that lay eggs, like the platypus), smooth surfaces. With Tube-nosed bats are some of the nearly all mammals get their belly- these suction cups on Male Hammer- strangest looking bats you might buttons the same way we do—from their wings and ankles, headed bats find, but in a weird way they are their moms’ umbilical cords. the bats are able to cling to the make honking noises to attract also some of the most endearing. inside of smooth leaves where they the females. The Queensland or Eastern tube- 3. BABY BATS ARE HEAVY can hide while they sleep. Since they nosed bat, Nyctimene robinsoni as Most bats’ moms give birth to don’t have to hang by their toes, its name suggests, has long tubular a single pup at a time, for good they are the only bats that sleep nostrils. Scientists are not really reason. Baby bats can weigh up to right side up!

batcon.org bats { 23 FOR THE YOUNG CONSERVATIONIST

BATIVITY: DRAWING 101 How to Draw a How to Draw a Little Brown Bat big Brown Bat The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is usually seen fl ying around The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) lives all over North the nights in North America, from central Alaska and southern America and can even be found in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Canada into the southwestern and southeastern United States. parts of South America. Farmers love these bats as they eat They love to eat insects and can be found in all kinds of habitats up the insects that would otherwise destroy important crops like deserts, tundra, forests and maybe even your backyard. To like corn. Just one pregnant female bat will eat as much as draw one of these little guys for your house takes just a few steps. her own body weight in destructive insects every night!

STEP 1 STEP 1

STEP 2 STEP 2

STEP 3 STEP 3

STEP 4 STEP 4

STEP 5 STEP 5

24 }bats Issue 3 2016 ADVERTISER SHOWCASE

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BCI-007

The most advanced bat detector/recorder/analyzer regardless of price.

Echo Meter Touch provides bat professionals unprecedented features and ease-of-use, offering all the tools needed to instantly identify species in the field: Full-color, zoomable spectrograms, real time listening, onboard bat auto-identification and GPS tagging.

Echo Meter Touch Ultrasonic Module The milled aluminum module includes the precision FG microphone ele- ment, custom preamp and gain circuitry, an analog-to-digital converter and a microprocessor. The microprocessor streams the data in real-time and at 256 kHz. Simply plug the Ultrasonic Module into the Lightning Connector of your iPad iPhone or iPod Touch and you can immediately monitor, record and analyze bat echolocation calls. The Echo Meter Touch App featuring Kaleidoscope Pro classifiers Available for free on the Apple App Store, the Echo Meter Touch app lets you listen to bats in real-time while you view them on a full-color spectro- gram with waveform plots. Built-in Kaleidoscope Pro classifiers suggest the top bat species match in real-time*. Wildlife Acoustics’ patented Real-Time Expansion (RTE) lets you listen to echolocations in real-time while maintaining the timing and tonality of the bat echolocation. You can also listen to prior echolocations using RTE or traditional time expansion. In new Heterodyne mode, you can manually tune the frequency or activate au- to-tune to let the app continually tune to the loudest frequency. Easily transfer and share recordings The app can transfer full spectrum .wav recordings to your computer over a wireless network, via email or cabled through iTunes. Log recording location and path If you have a GPS enabled iPhone or iPad, Echo Meter Touch will tag your recordings with the recording location and log your path while recording. Transfer to a computer to view in Google Earth.

Purchase before December 31, 2016 $25 OFF Use Offer Code EMTBCI at checkout

Watch our tutorial videos on the WildlifeAcoustics YouTube channel. wildlifeacoustics.com/emt

© 2016 Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. All rights reserved