RESTORING A DRAMATIC DISCOVERY A NEW COMMITMENT NATIVE AMERICAN WATERS IN VIETNAM IN CAMBODIA

WWW.BATCO N.ORG SUMMER 2012

BATSBATSBAT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

Designing Homes forfor TropicalTropical BatsBats THE MEMO: from our E XECUTIVE D IRECTOR am honored to write my first “Memo” to conservation projects, led by local partners, in 13 Latin Conservation International’s dedicated America countries. members as we begin the search for a new In the Asia-Pacific region, we are working closely with I Executive Di- the Southeast Asia Bat Conservation and rector. I would first like to Research Unit to increase bat-conservation thank Nina Fascione for the capacity of professionals throughout the area. commitment and leadership As part of that initiative, I will be attending a she demonstrated during the workshop in Thailand in early July. two years she led BCI. We all I am delighted to announce that in Febru- wish her only the best. ary 2013, we will launch a collaborative bat- Yet, even as we work conservation initiative in Sub-Saharan Africa, through this transition, the including the creation of an African bat-con- threats facing around servation network. Our multinational steering the world continue to grow. committee has already confirmed plans for the Let me reassure you that we inaugural workshop, with participants ex- will not be distracted from our mission: We will keep work- pected from 18 African countries. ing tirelessly to conserve the world’s bats and their ecosys- And, of course, we remain fully committed to meeting tems to ensure a healthy planet. We will continue to the critical conservation challenges facing us here in the celebrate BCI’s 30 years of successful bat conservation and United States. We must slow the spread of White-nose Syn- to join with colleagues around the world to celebrate Inter- drome, reduce the bat fatalities at wind turbines, protect national Year of the Bat. important cave and mine roosts and water supplies, and As part of a new Strategic Plan that we are developing as train the next generation of bat conservationists. BCI will a guide for the next five years, BCI is committed to dramat- continue to educate both the general public and decision- ically expanding our international reach through collabora- makers about the benefits of bats and the threats they face. tive conservation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, Latin It is a privilege to serve BCI as the Interim Executive Di- America and Sub-Saharan Africa. We will also be working rector, and I am confident that, with your continued help to magnify the impact of our Student Research Scholarship and support, we will make significant progress around the and Global Grassroots Conservation Fund programs. world. Stay tuned for updates as we work together to chart Our renewed international effort is already under way. BCI’s path for the next 30 years of bat conservation. BCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding last March with RELCOM, the Latin America Bat Conservation Net- Dr. Dave Waldien, who joined BCI in 2004, is Vice President work. As an immediate result, we have increased our col- of Operations & International Programs. He was named laboration with RELCOM and are actively supporting Interim Executive Director by BCI’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Dave Waldien Leave a legacy for bats today... By making a bequest to Bat Conservation International, you’ll be supporting our essential bat conservation, education and research efforts. Putting BCI in your will ensures that bats will be protected for generations to come. To find the charitable gift that best fits your financial goals, visit www.batcon.org/planned. P.O. Box 162603, Austin, Texas 78716 BATS (512) 327-9721 fax: (512) 327-9724 Volume 30, No. 2, s u m m e r 2 0 1 2

FEATURES P ublications s ta f f Director of Publications: Robert Locke The Memo from our Photo Editor: Meera Banta Graphic Artist: Jason Huerta Executive Director Copyeditors: Angela England, Valerie Locke BATS welcomes queries from writers. Send your article proposal BAT CONSERVATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA with a brief outline and a description of any photos to: [email protected]. 2 BUILDING A NEW GENERATION Members: Please send changes of address and all cor res - pondence to the address above or via email to members@bat- OF CONSERVATIONISTS con.org. Please include your label, if possible, and allow six Cambodia’s recent history left unique challenges weeks for the change of address. by Neil Furey Founder: Dr. Merlin D. Tuttle i n t e r i m e x e c u t i v e D i r e c to r : Dave Waldien 5 A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY b oa r D o f D i r e c to r s : A new species highlights bat diversity in Vietnam Walter C. Sedgwick, Chair by Vu Dinh Thong Dr. Cullen Geiselman, Vice Chair Anne-Louise Band, Secretary 7 DESIGNING HOMESFOR TROPICAL BATS Sandy Read, Treasurer Bert Grantges; Dr. John Hayes; C. Andrew Marcus; Bet- Scientists explore artificial roosts for rebuilding forests tina Mathis; Dr. Gary F. McCracken; John D. Mitchell; by J. Leighton Reid & Diego Casallas-Pabón Steven P. Quarles; Susan Wallace; Joseph Zillo. Honorary Directors: Sharon R. Forsyth; Elizabeth Ames Jones; Travis Mathis; Wilhelmina Robertson; William 10 BCI’S BIRTHDAY: Scanlan, Jr. 30 Years of Bat Conservation Verne R. Read, Chairman Emeritus s c i e n c e a Dv i s o ry c o m m i t t e e : Global Grassroots Conservation Fund Dr. Gary McCracken (Board Liaison), Dr. Kate Jones, Dr. Thomas H. Kunz, Dr. Tigga Kingston, Dr. Rodrigo BCI Staff Profile: Amy McCartney Medellín, Dr. Paul Racey, Dr. Charles Rupprecht. BCI Science Panel ESTORING ATIVE MERICAN ATERS Dr. Leslie S. Hall, Dr. Greg Richards, Australia; Dr. Jiri 12 R N A W Gaisler, Czech Republic; Dr. Arnulfo Moreno-Valdez, Tribal partners boost Water for Wildlife ; Dr. Herman Limpens, Netherlands; Dr. Armando Rodriguez-Duran, Puerto Rico; Dr. Shahroukh Mistry, by Dan Taylor United States; Dr. José R. Ochoa, . Membership Manager: Amy McCartney NEWS & NOTES BATS (ISSN 1049-0043) is published quarterly by Bat Con ser vation International, Inc., a nonprofit corporation supported by tax-deductible contributions used for public ed- 15 WNS: Where are we now? ucation, research and conservation of bats and the ecosystems Top Honors for a BCI Science Advisor that depend on them. ‘Wings’ awards for BCI © Bat Conser vation International, 2012. All rights reserved. Bat Conservation International’s mission is to conserve the The power of a bat gate world’s bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet. BCI Member Snapshot A subscription to BATS is included with BCI membership: Senior, Student or Educator $30; Basic $35; Friends of BCI The Wish List $45; Supporting $60; Contributing $100; Patron $250; Sus- taining $500; Leader Circle $1,000. Third-class postage paid at Austin, Texas. Send address changes to Bat Conser vation In- ternational, P.O. Box 162603, Austin, TX 78716.

COVER PHOTO: Fruit bats like this one roosting in a self-made “leaf tent” are among seed-dispersing bats that researchers hope to attract with artificial roosts designed for tropical species. See page 7. Facebook.com/batcon Twitter.com/BatConIntl PHOTO by LEigHTOn REid Bat Conservation in Southeast Asia

courtesy of jeremy holden

BBUILDINGUILDING A A NNEWEW GGENERATIONENERATION OFOF CCONSERVATIONISTSONSERVATIONISTS Cambodia’sCambodia’s recentrecent historyhistory leftleft uniqueunique challengeschallenges by Neil Furey

Ith Saveng, one of the first graduates of a Masters of Science program at the Royal Uni- versity of Phnom Penh, and field technicians record a waypoint during a field survey in southwest Cambodia.

ambodia, with some of the most pristine forests two-year Masters of Science in Biodiversity Conservation pro- and wetlands remaining in Southeast Asia, sup- gram at the Royal University. Courses were initially taught by ports an exceptional biodiversity. Yet little is university lecturers and conservation professionals from around knownC of these richly varied life forms, and that’s especially true the world. These international experts are gradually being re- for bats. For example, the scientific literature lists 60 bat species placed as qualified Cambodian instructors become available. for the nation –roughly half the totals for neighboring Thailand More than 100 Cambodians have received advanced train- and Vietnam and no doubt far short of the true number of ing from this program, which I manage. Since many students Cambodian species. are already working in environmental or education jobs, they This dearth of information stems from three decades of con- are putting their training to immediate use. flict that made fieldwork impossible, and the brutal legacy of Many students choose to do their dissertations on bats. Re- Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s, when 80 percent cent projects include studies of the impact of forest disturbance of educators died or left the country and more than half of all on bats, the utility of detectors for identification of written materials were destroyed. The loss of a generation of Cambodian species and the status of flying foxes in urban areas, Cambodian researchers and educators, as well as the infrastruc- plus systematic reviews of the horseshoe (Rhinolophidae) and ture that supported them, was devastating. leaf-nosed (Hipposideridae) bat families. For today’s conservation efforts to succeed, that lost genera- Bats have formed a special part of our program since its tion must be replaced. Dedicated individuals must be recruited onset. Field surveys in the last six years, for instance, have and trained. Dependable biodiversity data must be developed. yielded a wealth of new knowledge, including the discovery of A critical step was taken in 2005. The nonprofit organization four bat species that are new to science and 15 others that are Fauna & Flora International, based in the United Kingdom, new to Cambodia. Much of this work was made possible began working with the Royal University of Phnom Penh to re- through collaborations with the United Kingdom’s Harrison In- build Cambodia’s capacity to train a new generation of conserva- stitute and the Hungarian Natural History Museum. The po- tion leaders. This collaboration produced an unprecedented tential for even more discoveries is strong.

BATS 2 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 A major goal of our work is to build local capacity to address But much remains to be done to conserve the bats of Cam- the critical need for reliable ecological data. We established mu- bodia. has dramatically increased in recent seum collections of dried plants and taxidermied speci- years and the hunting of bats for food is commonplace in many mens at the university in 2008 and began developing a team to areas. Awareness of the economic and ecological importance of undertake original lines of research. For , this includes bats also appears low throughout the country. reptiles, amphibians, , butterflies, aquatic invertebrates and Recent research from Vietnam has shown that forested lime- bats. stone karst (a landscape characterized by caves and sinkholes) The zoological collection alone now includes almost 4000 is exceptionally important for bats, especially cave-dwelling specimens and is beginning to reverse historical patterns in species. Very large outcrops occur in the western and southwest- which specimens collected in Cambodia were lodged in Western ern provinces of Battambang and Kampot, where more than collections that few Cambodian scholars can readily visit. Some 100 caves have been explored by speleologists. But very few have overseas museums have begun returning “voucher specimens” been surveyed for bats, and those were mostly one-time visits previously collected in the region, including some from the more than a decade ago. colonial era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These col- Cave-dwelling bats are highly susceptible to disturbance, lections have already proved their value for teaching activities especially during critical reproductive periods such as late preg- and the preparation of sorely needed species-identification nancy, lactation and weaning. Determining exactly when and guides in the Cambodian language. where these periods occur is vitally important for conservation –

courtesy of neil furey

These dome-shaped “bat nests” made of palm leaves and hoisted into trees are used on Cambodian “bat farms” to attract bats so their guano can be used or sold as fertilizer. Such farms could prove a powerful incentive for bat conservation.

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 3 BATS courtesy of neil furey A Khmer villager dries bat guano collected from a bat farm. The guano will be sold as com- mercial fertilizer, a practice that adds signficantly to local incomes.

especially since these karst ecosystems are experiencing increasing Cambodian biodiversity, we launched the country’s first peer- habitat loss and pressure from tourism and mining industries. reviewed scientific journal, the Cambodian Journal of Natural Few, if any, are protected for their biodiversity. We are currently History, in 2008. Designed to help local scientists share their working with BCI on plans for a cave-bat surveying program. findings and improve their writing skills, free printed copies are On the positive side, however, is the traditional practice of distributed within Cambodia, and every issue is freely available “farming bats” for their guano, which seems confined so far to online. More than half of the authors to date are Cambodians. Cambodia and a neighboring area of southern Vietnam. Rural Members of our international editorial board gently coach and farmers hoist dome-shaped “bat nests” made from palm leaves guide novice authors to improve their analysis and presentation. high up on trees and collect the nutrient-rich guano the bats Although great challenges remain and efforts to rebuild con- leave behind for use on their crops or for sale locally. Once servation capacity still depend heavily on support from overseas dried, the guano fetches about 2,000 riel (roughly half a dollar) donors, the future for Cambodia’s bats and other wildlife looks per kilogram (2.2 pounds). With some farmers harvesting as more promising than ever. many as twenty of these artificial roosts, this can add substan- tially to yearly incomes. NEIL FUREY has worked in Southeast Asia since 1997, spending And that, of course, provides a real incentive for conserving many years in Vietnam and undertaking assignments in Cambodia, the guano producers. In southwestern Cambodia, for example, China, India, Indonesia and Myanmar. He studied the ecology of one community introduced local laws to prohibit bat hunting Vietnamese bat populations for his Ph.D. and has a particular in- and impose sanctions on offenders. terest in community ecology, systematics and capacity building. A The practice clearly offers great potential for promoting both member of Fauna & Flora International (Cambodia), he manages bat conservation and local livelihoods, although relatively little the Master’s Program in Biodiversity Conservation at the Royal is known about the methods and species involved. But with University of Phnom Penh. some of our brightest graduate students showing interest in the subject and with key funding from BCI, that might change in The activities described in this article were generously supported the near future. by the Darwin Initiative, the John D. and Catherine D. Meanwhile, to fill the need for readily accessible information MacArthur Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and on the conservation status and management requirements of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board of Victoria (Australia).

BATS 4 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 Cambodia’s New Bats A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY A small but growing capacity for bat re- search and conservation in Cambodia has A new species highlights already discovered four bat species that are new to science: bat diversity in Vietnam Kerivoula titania: Named after the by Vu Dinh Thong Queen of the Fairies in Shakepeare’s play, y colleague Pham Duc Tien and I spent most of a rainy afternoon A Midsummer Night’s in June 2008 working our way across slippery slopes to reach a Dream, Titania’s M mountainous stretch of Vietnam’s Chu Mom Ray National Park woolly bat was de- as part of our bat-diversity survey. We happened upon the entrance to a small cave, but scribed from east- saw nothing to suggest it might be used by bats. The storm was worsening, however, ern Cambodia in so we decided to climb into the cave simply to escape the rain. That proved to be a for- 2007 and occurs in a variety of forests tunate choice. throughout mainland Southeast Asia. We were surprised to spot several large bats within the cave, so we set up a harp trap at the entrance and quickly captured two rather large individuals – one juvenile and an adult. At first sight, their faces and other features looked like those of great leaf-nosed Glischropus bu- bats (Hipposideros armiger). However, we were surprised that they remained quite gentle cephalus: Distin- while being captured and placed in separate cotton bags, actions that visibly anger great guished by its leaf-nosed bats. We also found that the echolocation calls of these bats were distinct elevated frontal re- from any leaf-nosed bat known in the region. gion (bucephalus Thus began our years-long investigation of the bats from that nondescript little cave, means “ox- which eventually proved to be members of a fascinating, new-to-science bat species that headed”), the In- shines a spotlight on the diversity of Vietnam’s bats. dochinese Vietnam ranks among nations with the greatest biodiversity, and earlier surveys sug- thick-thumbed bat gest that includes a rich variety of bat species. What has always been missing, however, was described from eastern Cambodia were scientists trained to study bats. As the first Vietnamese biologist to specialize in in 2011. It may roost inside stalks of dead bamboo. Vu Dinh Thong leads a bat-diversity survey team through Vietnam’s Hoang Murina cineracea: Lien National Park. Named after its ash-grey fur, M. cineracea was described in 2011 from a protected area in eastern Cambodia. It occurs in a variety of pris- tine and disturbed forest types in main- land Southeast Asia.

Murina walstoni: Also described in 2011 from a few specimens collected at three scattered localities in south- ern Indochina, this new species appears to tolerate more open habitats compared to other tube- nosed bats. photos courtesy of gabor csorba and neil furey courtesy of vu dinh thong

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 5 BATS bats, I had to look outside my country for professional guidance park to collect additional individuals, but were unable to find and research support. more bats with these characteristics. What we considered an ex- Fortunately, I was able to find both. Grants from Bat Con- citing discovery remained uncertain for more than a year. In servation International’s Global Grassroots Conservation Fund, August 2009, as part of our surveys, we placed an echolocation- the Harrison Institute of the United Kingdom, the University recording system beneath the forest canopy at the Cat Ba Na- of Tuebingen in Germany and others have supported my re- tional Park, about 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) north of Chu search into bat and echolocation. A scholarship from Mom Ray. The recordings revealed echolocation calls similar to the Government of Vietnam allowed me to earn my Ph.D. last those of the two strange bats captured in 2008. year at the University of Tuebingen. We set five mist nets across a footpath and collected three Much of my research has focused on the insectivorous horse- males and a female. Morphology, genetics and echolocation shoe and Old World leaf-nosed bats of Vietnam. Both families analysis all confirmed that these bats and those captured at Chu are notable for the distinctive nose leaf – a complex and often- Mom Ray are identical. Meanwhile, we also captured several crinkled fleshy growth at the end of the muzzle. The nose leaves great leaf-nosed bats at Cat Ba, which were clearly differentiated apparently are used to focus the bats’ echolocation calls. from our new species. Many of these species are so similar in their morphology that Since the new species was first recognized by its echolocation they are often difficult to reliably identify. In fact, previous frequencies, it is named after the late Professor Donald Redfield records that report some of these species in Vietnam appear Griffin (of Cornell, Harvard and Rockefeller universities), who problematic. In hopes of reducing the uncertainties and ambi- first reported bat echolocation in 1940 and who, in fact, coined guities, my teammates and I undertook a systematic study of the term. the taxonomy and echolocation characteristics of these two bat This new species is Hipposideros griffini. It was officially re- families. From 2006 through 2011, following consistent proto- ported in the February 2012 issue of the Journal of Mammalogy. cols, we conducted bat surveys at various sites around the coun- Griffin’s leaf-nosed bat received an unusual amount of attention try, using hand nets, mist nets and harp traps to capture bats from international news media, perhaps because of its somewhat for measurements and identification. We also took tissue sam- peculiar appearance. ples for genetic analysis and used bat detectors to record each Our surveys, meanwhile, also revealed one species previously bat’s echolocation calls. unreported in Vietnam (Hipposideros khaokhouayensis) and a These surveys provided extensive data on bat diversity. And subspecies (Hipposideros alongensis sungi) that is new to science. it was this project that brought us to the little cave in Chu Mom As more bat biologists begin working throughout Vietnam, they Ray National Park and the two captured bats. In addition to almost certainly will discover much more that is new and un- distinctive echolocation calls, lengthy examination revealed sev- usual. We have barely scratched the surface. eral key features of skulls and teeth that differed significantly from all known Hipposideros species. Genetic analysis also con- VU DINH THONG is a mammalogist/bat specialist at Hanoi’s firmed the uniqueness of these bats. Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of We twice revisited the cave and other areas of the national Science and Technology.

photos courtesy of vu dinh thong

Griffin’s leaf-nosed bat (left), a species new to science, was discovered in Vietnam by a team led by Vu Dinh Thong, shown (at right) monitoring a bat detector near a harp trap.

BATS 6 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 DDESIGNINGESIGNING HHOMESOMES FORFOR TTROPICALROPICAL BBATSATS courtesy of rakan a. zahawi

ScientistsScientists exploreexplore artificialartificial roostsroosts forfor rebuildingrebuilding forestsforests

by J. Leighton Reid & Diego Casallas-Pabón

courtesy of leighton reid

ropical bats face a housing crisis. leaf- nosed bats, members of the remarkably diverse T family Phyllostomidae, are especially hard hit. Among their favored roosts are foliage, hollow trees and caves, all of which are disappearing in the face of deforestation and human distur- bance. And sometimes roosts are willfully destroyed due to the lingering misconception that all bats are . As bat populations decline, so, too, do the essential ecosystem services – from control to pollina- tion and seed dispersal – that well-housed bats provide. Artificial roosts could play a key role in reducing this housing short- age in the tropics. But that option is beginning to look more challenging than it might seem. A variety of substitute roosts and strategies have been explored by researchers, many of them with support from BCI’s Student Research Scholarship program. But despite many promising results, these projects often also raise new questions that need to be explored if artificial roosts are to help keep tropical bat populations and ecosystems healthy. In temperate climates, bat enthusiasts usually think of artificial roosts as the familiar wooden boxes divided into narrow vertical roosting cham- Local conservationists prepare an artificial roost at the bers. Unfortunately, most leaf-nosed bats disdain these well-tested bat Las Cruces Biological Station in (top photo). houses. Indeed, no single roost design will be appropriate for all phyl- These Jamaican fruit-eating bats (above) are important lostomids. In addition to trees and caves, some phyllostomids sleep in seed dispersers that help regrow damaged forests. burrows, termite nests or leaf tents. Many species also use such structures as mines, tunnels, buildings, bridges and culverts. The gamut of natural roost types provides researchers with a diverse palette for designing and testing artificial ones. Replicated hollow trees are the main artificial roost style that has been tested by neotropical

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 7 BATS courtesy of coral ericson courtesy of j. mauricio garcia-c. Leighton Reid (left) stands near one of his experimental bat roosts, which was installed to ensure it is in the shade. This experimental bat cave (right) was dug into a hillside by a Costa Rican farmer in hopes of attracting bats to his farm.

scientists so far. BCI Scholar Detlev Kelm and colleagues at the For dispersal to matter, however, seeds must also germinate University of Erlangen-Nuremburg pioneered this technique in and survive; after two years of monitoring, Reid’s team detected Costa Rica (BATS, Summer 2008). They built simple, inexpen- no significant change in the number of seedlings beneath active sive boxes about 6½ feet (2 meters) tall and 2 feet (90 centime- bat roosts. Perhaps seedlings would have been more abundant ters) wide and installed them on the ground in forest fragments. had seed-carrying bats visited the roosts more often, but ulti- Within weeks, the roosts attracted 10 species of leaf-nosed bats. mately seed dispersal is most important in abandoned pastures, Kelm’s team found that when bats colonized these artificial which bats rarely visited. roosts, seed dispersal increased in the nearby vicinity. And the Reid’s roosts were used mostly for nocturnal feeding: bats bats mostly dispersed seeds of “pioneer plants” – the trees and brought or fruits to the roost at night, but they slept else- shrubs that grow first in denuded forest areas and provide shelter where during the day. Kelm’s roosts, in contrast, typically were for other plants to take root. used as day roosts and colonized permanently. The difference in Ecologists were excited by this result because a lack of seed bat behavior between the two experiments might be due to dif- dispersal into forest clearings (such as pastures) is a major barrier ferences in roost design. Reid’s roosts, at about 2 feet (60 cen- to regeneration: no seeds, no trees, no forest. It appeared these timeters) tall, were significantly smaller then Kelm’s and were artificial roosts could work like seed magnets to promote forest open at the bottom. These may have let in too much light and recovery on unused farmlands. But would the roosts pay off in caused bats to seek darker locales for day roosts. hot, open pastures as well as they had in fragmented forests? Another way that bats could improve forest restoration is by To find out, one of us (Reid) built and monitored 48 artificial depositing nutrient-rich guano that could stimulate plant growth roosts in southern Costa Rica in 2009-10 with BCI Scholarship on degraded, tropical soils. Graduate student Ellen Holste of support. One-third of the roosts were placed within forest frag- Michigan State University is currently analyzing the nutrient ments, while two-thirds were in abandoned cow pastures. Half contents of soil collected below active and inactive artificial roosts of the pasture roosts were placed in the open sun and half in the in Reid’s experiment to identify any impacts related to guano. shade of small trees. The roosts were made of fibrolite, an inex- With the growing interest in artificial roosts in the Neotrop- pensive, concrete-based material that’s widely available in Latin ics, several key questions must be answered. Most importantly, America. To help bats find the roost boxes amid dense, tropical what roost designs would attract phyllostomid bats? Research so grasses, they were installed on poles or trees several meters above far has focused on replicating hollow trees, but colonization has the ground. To gauge seed dispersal, seed traps – fine netting been spotty with current designs. stretched across wire hoops – were set beneath and at a random One intrepid naturalist, Mauricio García, recently dug a 16- point 33 feet (10 meters) from each roost. foot (5-meter) long bat cave into a hillside in Costa Rica in hopes Unfortunately, bats rarely used roosts in abandoned pastures. of increasing bat populations on his farm. He reports that bats Instead, the bats sought out artificial roosts in adjacent forest use it as a feeding roost but are not sleeping there. fragments. During the two-year study, bats visited nearly 90 per- Many other possible designs are still unexplored. One option cent of the roosts in forests. Using infrared video cameras, Reid might be to “garden” for tent-making bats by planting their pre- identified several species of phyllostomid bats. When fruit bats ferred tent plants – mostly broad-leaved understory palms and visited the roosts, increased amounts of pioneer-plant seeds were heliconias. These bats craft their own roosts by gnawing on the detected in the seed traps, supporting the notion that bat roosts stems of appropriate, very large leaves until the leaves fold over may increase seed dispersal, at least in forests. to provide shelter. A 2009 study by Felipe Melo and colleagues

BATS 8 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 found that even the smallest of the tent-makers disperse large lostomids in forests. We also know that seed dispersal increases tree seeds. Another option might be to enlarge simulated hollow when fruit bats use these roosts. Now we need to learn whether trees into tower roosts, similar to those developed by BCI’s Bat these initial conclusions can be generalized outside of Costa Rica House Program and its partners for some North American bats. and in other tropical ecosystems; which roost designs are most Since fruit bats seem to roost primarily in forests, researchers effective for phyllostomids; how we can reconcile bats’ preference should investigate the impact on degraded habitat of artificial for roosting in forests with the need for seed dispersal beyond roosts installed in adjacent forest. Kelm’s team found increased forest boundaries; and how artificial roosts affect other ecosystem seed rain around artificial roosts within small forest fragments. functions, such as pest control. Do such roosts also increase seed dispersal in nearby abandoned The challenges are significant. Even after finding the most pastures? Casallas-Pabón recently initiated such an experiment, bat-friendly designs for artificial roosts, they must also be made with support from a BCI Scholarship, in . Artificial of locally available materials that are inexpensive enough for roosts were affixed to isolated, remnant trees and to smaller trees farmers to purchase or build and lightweight enough to carry to in forest fragments. Seed dispersal and seedling recruitment are remote areas. And the roosts must withstand ravages of a tropical being monitored at the roosts and in adjacent pastures. climate and the ubiquitous termites. Another important question concerns the impact of artificial Forest restoration is not a substitute for preserving intact, nat- roosts on pest control. We have observed that insectivorous phyl- ural habitat. But the continued development of artificial roosts lostomids, such as bats, are often the first to use a for the Neotropics may nonetheless help reduce the housing new artificial bat roost. Recent work by BCI Scholar Margareta crisis and get tropical bats back to work. Kalka and her colleagues in Panama found that the common big-eared bat (Micronycteris microtis) is a voracious predator of J. LEIGHTON REID is a doctoral candidate in Environmental plant-eating insects, and its presence reduces damage to tree Studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz. His roost seedlings (BATS, Summer 2008). Could strategically placed ar- study is conducted in collaboration with Ellen Holste (Michigan tificial roosts enhance such predation in recovering forests? State University) and Zak Zahawi (Organization for Tropical The development of artificial roosts for New World leaf- Studies). nosed bats is creating important new opportunities for research and action, but their utility for tropical bat conservation or forest DIEGO CASALLAS-PABÓN is a doctoral candidate in Biological restoration is still largely undemonstrated. At this point, we Sciences at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá. His know that roost boxes are suitable for several species of phyl- study is conducted in collaboration with Rosario Rojas Robles.

The Family Phyllostomidae (New World leaf-nosed bats) The Phyllostomidae family includes more than 150 bat species Many species are somewhat omnivorous, adding other items to with widely varied appearance, diet and behavior. Scattered their menu when necessary. A few examples: from the Southwestern United States to Argentina, phyllosto- mids are known as New World leaf-nosed bats. They usually seba’s short-tailed bat ( have a roughly triangular “noseleaf” near the end of the muzzle, perspicillata) Found from Mexico to apparently for focusing echolocation calls. , this bat feeds on a wide range of Phyllostomid species include that help control fruits, but will also eat nectar or insects pests; seed-dispersing fruit bats; pollinating nectar bats; carni- when fruits are scarce. vores that hunt amphibians, birds and small , includ- ing other bats; and the three bats that feed on blood. (Vampyrum spectrum) lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonyc- The largest of New World bats with a teris yerbabuenae) One of only five wingspan of up to 39 inches (1 meter), Phyllostomid species in the United the spectral bat is a that feeds States, this nectar-eating bat ranges as far on birds and small mammals, including north as Arizona and New Mexico. It other bats. pollinates desert agaves and cacti, while feeding on their nectar and fruit. common ( White-bellied big-eared bat rotundus) One of three vampire bats (Micronycteris minuta) These bats are (all of them are members of this family found mostly in lowland forests and oc- and limited to Latin America) and the casionally agricultural areas. Their diet is only one that feeds on the blood of primarily insects, along with some fruit. mammals. The others prefer blood. photos © merlin d. tuttle / bci

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 9 BATS BCI’S BIRTHDAY: 30 years of Bat Conservation

Global Grassroots Conservation Fund Sowing the seeds of bat conservation

A decade ago, vampire bats began visiting the tiny, traditional vil- months later, she learned that village children named the bat after lage of A’Ukre – 29 rough houses hidden deep in the Amazon jun- her, and youngsters would often visit the house to be entertained by gle. The homes had many openings and no screens to keep the bats its antics. from swooping inside each night. Villagers were discussing hunting • • • or poison to deal with the vampires – a solution that would in- The A’Ukre project showcases the power of Global Grassroots. evitably kill countless fruit-, nectar- and insect-eating bats that are Launched in 2000, the program is designed to spread the seeds vital to the region’s ecological health. of bat conservation around the world. It magnifies the impact of Sandra Peters, then a graduate student and BCI Scholarship modest grants by tapping into the commitment of homegrown recipient at the University of Toronto in Canada, was conducting conservationists dealing in their own way with local challenges. research in the area when she heard about the problem and met We have so far provided 97 Global Grassroots grants for con- with villagers. She turned to BCI for help in 2003 and was servation efforts in 50 countries outside the United States and awarded a Global Grassroots Conservation Fund grant for the Canada. These awards have averaged barely $2,545 each since the princely sum of $1,345. program began in 2000. Yet their impact has been profound. She and the A’Ukre villagers spent three busy weeks installing • • • mosquito netting across all the openings on the houses. The entire In Madagascar in 2004, Madagascar flying foxes were declin- village was protected. And along the way, Peters taught her hosts ing rapidly because of hunting and habitat loss. Then two local that only a few of the area’s bats are vampires and the others provide conservation groups received a Global Grassroots grant. They many economic and environmental benefits. launched a bat-poster contest for schoolchildren, and took a gener- When Peters found a bat living the house where she was staying, ator, an old TV and a bat-education video dubbed in the Malagsy she said many villagers offered to kill it for her. But Peters explained language to villages beyond the reach of electricity. The video drew this was a helpful and harmless fruit bat, and it was spared. Several every kid in the region – and most of the adults. Local leaders

courtesy of amy mccartney BCI Staff Profile Amy McCartney Caring for BCI Members

obody knows BCI’s members like Amy McCartney. And after 25 years Nas BCI Membership Manager, she’s got a pretty good understanding of those who make Bat Conservation International possible: “Our members are a special group of people. They’re really not like everyone else. They love something that other people don’t understand, that people hate. They’ve just decided that these underdogs – bats – need their help, and they’re going to stand up for them. I still can’t believe how won- derful that is.” Amy signed on with tiny, struggling BCI in early 1987, joining Founder Merlin Tuttle, Bookkeeper Linda Moore and BATS editor Mari Murphy Houghton in a two-room office at the University of Texas in Austin. “I really wasn’t looking for a job, but when I saw BCI’s help-wanted ad in the news- paper, I thought it sounded fascinating,” Amy recalls. “I’ve always been inter- ested in conservation, but I was only barely familiar with bats back then.” She was hired primarily to mail out responses to requests for informa- tion about the organization, which had about 1,500 members when she

BATS 10 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 courtesy of sandra peters agreed to regulate bat hunting in the area. Grassroots funds to teach school- • • • children, with games and activities, Global Grassroots is not a one-size-fits-all how bats care for the forests by pol- program. These projects are proposed by people linating plants and scattering seeds on the scene, mostly residents but occasionally – and why people should care about outside scientists working with local groups. bats. The goal is a protected Nature They identify local bat-conservation problems Reserve. and develop their own location- and culture- • • • based plans to solve them. The immediate goal of the • • • Global Grassroots Conservation Bats along the coast of Kenya, for example, face fund is to provide knowledge that a host of threats, from expanding agriculture to van- can convince communities to pro- dalism and witch doctors who use bat caves for cast- tect their bats and empower them ing spells. A team from the National Museums of to do so. When these seeds of Kenya won a Global Grassroots grant to begin turn- Youngsters display bat-education materials, awareness sprout among a few ing the tide in 2009. They educated villagers about part of a Global Grassroots-funded project to dedicated individuals, continuing the values of the bats, which were generally consid- protect their village from vampire bats. conservation often results. Formal ered evil omens. Interested residents were recruited organizations and informal net- for bat-conservation workshops, followed by rare surveys of bat- works are born that can, with encouragement and support, grow roosting sites. They shared their new knowledge of bats with their into powerful voices for bat conservation, as we are seeing in home communities. And the work begins. such places as Nepal, Ukraine, Colombia and Kenya. • • • • • • Education is almost always a key part of Global Grassroots University student Sujas Phuyal completed the first survey of projects. Few of the Earth’s creatures are subject to more harmful bat diversity in Nepal’s scenic Pokhara Valley with a Grassroots myths and misinformation than bats. Accurate information grant in 2005. He identified 11 bat species – and educated dozens about the benefits of bats is essential before real conservation of rural residents about bats. Since then, Grassroots has funded can begin. projects by five other young Nepalese conservationists, most recently • • • a very successful radio-education effort. Bat clubs sprouted at schools Thousands of flying foxes roost in the trees surrounding the 450- and university students formed Bat Friends. Now bats face a much year-old Ma Toc Pagoda in Vietnam. But their numbers were de- more positive future in Nepal. creasing rapidly because, schoolteacher Ly Quoc Dang warned in • • • 2007, “the hunters greatly outnumber the monks.” He used Global Global Grassroots’ seeds are sprouting throughout the world.

arrived. But after a few weeks, a National Geographic magazine Amy has always valued her personal contacts with mem- article about bats, written by Merlin Tuttle, produced a flurry bers, through letters and phone calls years ago and mostly of new members. “That’s when I started in on membership. by email now. “Every so often, somebody will tell me a little I’ve been doing it ever since.” story when they join BCI. They might say, ‘Oh, I killed a bat Then, in February 1988, an article about Merlin and BCI when I was kid and now I feel guilty.’ One woman told us appeared in The New Yorker magazine. The article was fol- how much her late husband had loved bats. And after all lowed, thanks to the support of Bacardi Imports, with adver- these years, now we have people who joined as children and tisements in several subsequent issues. “Things really now they’re grown up and still members.” snowballed after that,” Amy says. “We got about 3,000 new Among many projects to increase membership and im- members pretty much all at once.” prove the image of bats, Amy is especially proud of her role In those pre-Internet days, a positive article in a major mag- in creating BCI’s popular Adopt-a-Bat program, which has azine or newspaper could have enormous impact. “It’s very captivated both children and adults for 19 years. The sym- different now,” she says. “You have to work a lot harder to get bolic adoptions now include a plush toy bat, as well as an people’s attention.” adoption certificate and a profile of the chosen species. On the other hand, the task of attracting new members “I really love being here at BCI with people who are so and renewing old ones was much more time-consuming and dedicated to this cause,” Amy concluded. “There’s almost expensive when “everything had to be mailed in and out. never been a staff member who wasn’t enthusiastic about Once we got the Internet, we went online pretty quickly. bats – and if not, they don’t stay very long. Now 30 to 40 percent of our member renewals are handled “It sounds real corny to say this, but I love bats. When I online. We’ve got a lot more members now, but there’s a lot get a message from a member who says, ‘Thank you so much less paper going out.” for saving bats’ … well, that’s what keeps me going.”

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 11 BATS RRESTORINGESTORING NNATIVEATIVE AAMERICANMERICAN WATERS WATERS TribalTribal partnerspartners boostboost WaterWater forfor WildlifeWildlife ©dan taylor, bci / 0047497 by Dan Taylor

he “natural spring” at Pitts Ranch on the Navajo Nation T looked a lot like a foul, murky puddle in the middle of a harsh, dry landscape. The bedraggled little pool of standing water and live- stock-trampled mud was perhaps 20 feet (6 meters) in diameter and studded with two battered wooden posts and a length of rusty pipe. Water bubbled gen- tly from the bottom and flowed over the brown and greenish mud and muck. A muddy ribbon trailed ©dan taylor, bci / 0048176 Ranch hands (top photo) survey a badly degraded spring at Pitts Ranch on the some 300 feet (90 meters) to an uninviting stock Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Cattle (above) jam the site after its restoration pond. And that seemed to be the only year-round resulted in clean water. water source for miles around on these tribal lands in western New Mexico. for wildlife, especially bats, as well as livestock. This beleaguered My companions, ranch hands Harry Lynch and Taylor-Sky site would soon become a showcase of what BCI and its Native Hoskie of the Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture American partners can accomplish. It is now a rare oasis for cat- (NNDA), told me that until recently this area was covered with tle and many of the Navajo Nation’s 19 bat species, as well as tall, native grasses. Cattle ate most of the vegetation, they said, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, bobcats, coyotes, ducks and and were now drinking the foul water – which might explain even the occasional mountain lion. why young bulls had lost more than 20 percent of their weight BCI’s Water for Wildlife Program has been working with a since being moved into this pasture. wide array of partners since 2004 to ensure that bats can find a After examining this uninviting site, my colleagues and I safe place for a drink of water in the semiarid American West. began developing a plan for rejuvenating this vital water source With natural water sources becoming increasingly scarce, water

BATS 12 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 troughs and stock ponds built for livestock have become an es- pants from eight reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. sential resource for bats and other wildlife. But since they That same year, we began expanding the scope of Water for weren’t designed with wildlife in mind, livestock water sources Wildlife to include the restoration of natural springs, wetlands rarely include escape options for bats, birds and other animals and other natural water sources and associated habitats. We held that can become trapped and frequently drown. our first water-restoration workshop at Ruidoso, New Mexico, Probably nowhere in the United States is the water issue more in September 2010 for government and tribal land managers urgent than in the Southwest, where bat diversity is great, water from five states. It was conducted with the Center for Wetland is in short supply and climate change is most pronounced. Vast and Stream Restoration (CWSR) and led by Forest Service bi- stretches of Southwestern states are managed by the U.S. Forest ologist Tom Biebighauser of Kentucky, a national expert on wet- Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Water for Wildlife land and pooled-water restoration. has always worked very productively with these two federal agen- The following month, I outlined restoration techniques for cies, as well as the Natural Resources Conservation Service. wetlands, springs and stock ponds as an invited speaker at the But millions of acres – more than a fourth of Arizona, for Navajo Nation Department of Agriculture (NNDA) Confer- example – are tribal lands. The Navajo Nation alone, which ence in Window Rock, Arizona. sprawls across 26,000 square miles (67,000 square kilometers) Then in May of 2011, BCI, the CWSR and the U.S. Fish of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, is bigger than West Virginia. and Wildlife Service collaborated for a workshop on Arizona’s The roots of our Native American partnerships reach back White Mountain Apache Reservation for 25 resource managers to 2007, when Bureau of Indian Affairs biologist Lawrence from seven tribes. Abeita, a member of the Kewa Pueblo, attended a Water for Amid all these activities, Ivan Bicenti, an NNDA range Wildlife workshop in Socorro, New Mexico. Abeita and I dis- manager responsible for more than a million acres of tribal cussed strategies for including Native American ranchers and rangeland, invited me to visit a badly degraded spring at a place range managers in our efforts. called Pitts Ranch. So I made the trip to New Mexico in No- Those plans finally bore fruit in June 2010, when Abeita vember 2010 and developed a plan. and Glenn Harper of Santa Ana Pueblo helped organize the first With funding from the New-Land Foundation and Natural Livestock Water Developments and Wildlife Workshop for Resources Conservation Service and the invaluable assistance of tribal ranchers and wildlife managers. The session at Santa Ana, Biebighauser plus several NNDA ranch hands, we went to work sponsored by the Pueblo, the BIA and BCI, drew 30 partici- in April 2011.

©dan taylor, bci / 0048191 This Pitts Ranch stock pond was transformed from a murky puddle to a large, reliable source of clean water for bats and other wildlife, as well as cattle, thanks to a partnership between BCI’s Water for Wildlife Program and the Navajo Nation.

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 13 BATS ©dan taylor, bci / 0048167 BCI’s Dan Taylor (in front) helps participants add a log to a wetland that was built as part of a Wetland Restoration and Creation Workshop conducted in Pinetop, Arizona by BCI’s Water for Wildlife Program, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Center for Wetland and Stream Restoration.

As we began to muck out the debris and mud of the water crushed rock to create a graveled ramp that gives cattle access source, we discovered that our “natural spring” was actually the to the water. Except for this pathway, the pond and surrounding outflow of a battered old pipe from a leaking water well that habitat will be fenced by the NNDA. Without cattle grazing had been capped and abandoned many years earlier. But any and trampling the area, natural vegetation should recover, pro- source of water is far too precious to be ignored in the South- viding food and cover for wildlife. western desert. The notorious Navajo winds were beginning to blow by the With the mud removed, our big mobile excavator com- time we spread native grass seed on the exposed soil, covered it pacted the clay soil to keep water from seeping back into the with straw mulch and said goodbye to our partners and Pitts ground. Clear water was soon flowing from the “spring” into Ranch. We left behind an outstanding example of what can be the stock pond. After chasing away several bulls that had rushed accomplished through collaborations. Clean and reliable water in to enjoy the clean water, we used the excavator to expand the will slake the thirst of cattle, bats and other wildlife in this harsh pond and add habitat features – little bays, coves and islands – environment. to the shoreline. “Water projects on the Navajo Nation are few and far be- We excavated the basin, compacted the clay soil and opened tween,” says Ivan Bicenti. “That’s why our partnership with Bat a new path for the clear water to fill the pond. Now doubled in Conservation International is so important to the Tribal Ranch size to 40 by 80 feet (12 by 24 meters), the pond offers a much Program. Without that partnership, neither wildlife nor live- larger area for bats to drink while in flight and also stores much stock would have the quantity and quality of water that they more water as a hedge against drought. Thus ended the first day. now enjoy.” Early the next morning, we used the excavator to reduce and And this is only the beginning. As news of projects such as smooth the slope of a steep-sided earthen dam at the stock the Pitts Ranch stock pond spread, many tribes across the pond. Such ponds often include dams that are much larger and Southwest are reaching out to BCI’s Water for Wildlife Pro- steeper than necessary. These not only look unnatural but can gram. It's a big desert, and there are a lot of thirsty bats. also worsen erosion and attract burrowing animals. As a final, critical touch, we spread a 20 x 50-foot (6 x 15- DAN TAYLOR is Coordinator of Bat Conservation International’s meter) layer of geotextile cloth and covered it with 20 tons of Water for Wildlife Program.

BATS 14 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 neWs anD notes WNS: Where are we now? by Katie Gillies ©michael schirmacher, bci / 0046749

hite-nose Syndrome’s disastrous spread across eastern WNorth America seems to have slowed this spring – the sixth since this devastating disease was found in Howes Cave in upstate New York. The past year has brought this and other sur- prises – along with few answers and some new questions – about WNS, which has now killed more than 5.7 million bats in 19 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. Each spring, bat biologists and conservationists nervously await the grim toll of new states and provinces hit by WNS. A year ago, the disease was confirmed in five additional states and two provinces. This spring, however, only two states were added: Alabama and Missouri. While clearly good news, the results of a single year are of limited value in predicting the future. And the disease was also confirmed for the first time in endangered gray myotis (Myotis grisescens), although the WNS fungus pre- sites): they have never been exposed to it before and thus have viously had been found on the species. very little tolerance and resistance. Many biologists were surprised that WNS hit Alabama, one But despite the ongoing losses that we see every year, biolo- of the southernmost states of the eastern U.S. It appears we still gists remain mostly optimistic. There was no leap from eastern have much to learn about this disease’s potential to thrive in var- and midwestern North America into the western states. There ied climates. Some had hoped warmer southern temperatures are reports of the fungus at some sites, but without significant might slow or stop the spread. The arrival of WNS in Missouri mortality. Also, we are seeing a few isolated reports of bats re- is less surprising, although it brings with it a new dismay: this maining at caves that were battered by WNS in prior years. is the first confirmation of the disease west of the Mississippi Many people hope these survivors will act as reservoirs from River. The WNS fungus, meanwhile, was confirmed for the first which battered populations can begin to recover. time in Iowa, just north of Missouri. Scientists are now examining the recovery phase of bats that The past year also witnessed groundbreaking studies that an- survive their encounter with WNS. Is there an acquired resist- swer some basic, critical questions regarding the fungus, Ge- ance after the initial exposure? What is an individual’s condition omyces destructans, that has long been associated with after surviving infection? Can survivors still infect other bats? White-nose Syndrome. New research demonstrated unequivo- The answers to these questions and others will help guide the cally that G. destructans causes the disease. Many biologists had response to White-nose Syndrome as it moves into new areas. strongly suspected this to be the case, but U.S. Geological Sur- Although scientists have yet to find a cure, there is hope. We vey scientists laid the last doubts to rest. know that, despite changes in the composition of the bat com- Also, research led by University of Winnipeg scientists iden- munity, bats remain on the landscape. We are therefore hopeful tified G. destructans as a “novel pathogen” from Europe. This that we will see recovery at some point in the future. provides the strongest evidence to date that the fungus was in- advertently introduced to North America by humans. It also KATIE GILLIES is Bat Conservation International’s Imperiled provides an explanation as to why the disease is so lethal for Species Coordinator and leads our efforts to combat White-nose U.S. bats (with mortality rates approaching 100 percent at some Syndrome. BCI grants for WNS research Bat Conservation International’s WNS Research Fund sponse to a targeted request for proposals. This re- is providing $85,594 to support four critical scientific search support was made possible by the generosity investigations that explore: early detection of the fun- of Duke Energy Foundation, Invenergy LLC, JDD gus that causes WNS; tools to inhibit fungal infections Holdings LLC, Leo Model Foundation Inc. and The of hibernating bats; whether bats that survive infec- Woodtiger Fund. tion demonstrate an acquired resistance to the fun- gus; and survivors’ potential for spreading the disease. You can help BCI support vital research to combat White- The grants were awarded following review by nose Syndrome and meet other critical conservation non-BCI scientists of applications submitted in re- challenges. Visit www.batcon.org/donate.

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 15 BATS neWs anD notes Top Honors for a BCI Science Advisor

CI Science Advisor Rodrigo Medellín, a top bat biologist with Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Princess Anne). Bthe National Autonomous University of Mexico, was honored The Gold Award includes a grant of £30,000 (about with the Whitley Fund for Nature’s first Gold Award for his “out- $46,750) for conservation work. standing individual contribution to conservation.” The award was The Fund also announced seven winners of Whitley Awards presented in London May 9 by the British charity’s Patron, Her for inspirational leadership. The seven, who will share £210,000 ($327,400) in project support, included BCI friend and col- league Bernal Rodriguez Herrera of Costa Rica, who was hon- ored for “reaching across national borders to coordinate conservation action for ’s rich array of bats.” Medellín won a Whitley Award in 2004 and credits it with helping him to found the nonprofit conservation BIOCON- CIENCIA. In a documentary film presented at the recent cer- emony, Sir David Attenborough said: “There is arguably no one who has done more for the conservation of bats in Latin Amer- ica than 2004 Whitley Award winner, Rodrigo Medellín. His pioneering work to highlight the vital role that bats play in the ecosystem, and their importance to people’s lives, has had a tremendous impact on the way bats are perceived in his native Mexico and beyond.” That award specifically notes that, thanks to conservation measures initiated by Medellín, “the lesser long-nosed bat will courtesy of jamessoon finlay become the first species ever to be removed from Mexico’s Rodrigo Medellín receives the Gold Award from Princess Anne. Federal List of Endangered Species.” ‘Wings’ awards for BCI

he U.S. Forest Service International Programs has been a key courtesy of u.s. forest service TBCI partner since 2005. It supports a major part of BCI Stu- dent Research Scholarships, as well as a series of workshops and other bat-education and conservation efforts in Latin America. The Forest Service recently honored BCI staff members who help implement those projects with 2012 Wings Across the Americas Awards for achievements in conservation. The agency also recognized the critical contributions of Disney’s Friends for Change. Disney’s award noted that a $100,000 grant not only sup- ported continuation of the workshops, but also conservationists from around the region could participate. The grant is also being used to develop a website that showcases bat-conservation work around Latin America. Amy Price, BCI Grants and Contracts Manager, was hon- ored for overseeing BCI’s drive for the Disney granting process. The funds were earned by BCI’s enthusiastic members and friends, whose online votes in a funding competition put the BCI project in first place. Bob Locke, Publications Director and Small Grants Coor- dinator, received an award for managing the BCI Scholarship Program, which has awarded a total of 72 scholarships sup- ported by Forest Service International Programs for research in Amy Price (left) and Mary Wagner, Associate Chief 24 countries. of the U.S. Forest Service.

BATS 16 summer 2012 Volume 30, No. 2 neWs anD notes The power of a bat gate TheWISH LIST t took the bats more than an hour to stream out of Arizona’s Eagle Your help with any of these special needs will directly improve ICreek Cave. The steady thrum of bat wings rose to a dull roar as BCI’s ability to protect bats and bat habitats. To contribute or the Mexican free-tailed bats seemed to fill the canyon as they flew off for more information, contact BCI’s Department of Develop - for a night of hunting insects. Jason Corbett, BCI’s Western Subter- ment at (512) 327-9721 or [email protected]. ranean Program Coordinator, estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 bats emerged from the cave during his visit last May. Sounding off for Education ©jason corbett, bci / 0047313 Very impressive for a site that held one of the Bats can be very noisy creatures, even if we humans largest freetail colonies in can rarely hear them. Bats talk to each other a lot and, the United States as late of course, spew the ultrasonic beeps, clicks and buzzes as the 1960s, but had of echolocation to dodge obstacles and chase down since lost nearly all of its flying insects in the dark – but most bats do it at bats because of frequent frequencies too high for human ears. Thus the need disturbances, shooting for bat detectors, which basically lower the frequency and at least one large fire. of bat calls into the range of human hearing. BCI’s After more than 20 years Education Department wants to let the public of efforts to win permits eavesdrop on those secret sounds of bats by and funding (BATS, equipping BCI education staffers and docents with Winter 2010), a bat- new, keychain-sized bat detectors from Dodotronic. friendly gate was finally Six Batango bat detectors cost $350. installed in November 2010 by partners BCI, Community Action for Fruit Bats the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Freeport McMoRan Inc., the U.S. Bureau of Land Africa’s straw-colored fruit bats are critical seed dis- Management and the Wildlife Habitat Council. persers for forest regeneration and for the valuable, The value of that long-sought gate was obvious – and inspiring – hardwood-producing iroko tree. Yet their numbers are as the sun went down on that evening in May. declining sharply because of commercial hunting and habitat loss. Edem Ekpe is trying to stop that decline on the huge Volta Lake in Ghana. Two years ago, he bci member snapshot says, the fruit bats disappeared from the lake’s popular Biobio Island. To save bats on the other islands, the University of Central Florida graduate student is he license plate mobilizing and educating a corps of conservation Ton Rudi Mc- volunteers. The recruits will help identify – and protect Cauley’s Chevro- – important bat roosts on the islands, while develop- let Equinox ing and implementing long-term conservation efforts. pretty much Ekpe seeks a Global Grassroots Conservation Fund says it all. grant of $4,000 to save the straw-colored fruit bats. Rudi, a longtime Field Gear for El Salvador BCI Member from Upper Ma- El Salvador, roughly the size of Massachusetts, is home cungie, Pennsylvania, says to an amazing 73 bat species. But only 3 percent of the he’s been devastated by White- country is within a protected-areas system. Now an nose Syndrome’s impact on bats. “Peo- enthusiastic young group of conservationists, known ple are always asking me about my plate, as the Program for Bat Conservation in El Salvador, is and when I start telling them about the trouble working hard with limited resources to reduce the bats are in, people really do listen. A lot of it is just be- loss of native habitats and to indentify priority areas coming educated about how bats fit into everything.” And, for bat conservation. To increase their impact, the he notes, “Bats are our friends, but they really do get a bad rap.” Program plans to conduct a field workshop to train new members in bat research and conservation. But Share a snapshot of your bat activities: email it to [email protected] or equipment budgets are tight, and the group needs mail to Snapshot, Bat Conservation International, PO Box 162603, $3,000 to purchase mist nets, harp traps and bat Austin, TX 78716. detectors to complete their set of field gear.

Volume 30, No. 2 summer 2012 17 BATS NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID AUSTIN, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 1530

P.O. Box 162603 Austin, TX 78716-2603 U.S.A.

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED