My Bats have failed to return...

[CDNBear]

Every year a colony of about a hundred bats return to roost behind my shutters. We checked them as best we could last year, to see if any had 'white nose syndrome', which has been killing bats by the thousands, and they all seemed clean.

Sadly, all but three, have failed to return.

 

[captain morgan]

Every year a colony of about a hundred bats return to roost behind my shutters. We checked them as best we could last year, to see if any had 'white nose syndrome', which has been killing bats by the thousands, and they all seemed clean.

Sadly, all but three, have failed to return.

What's the weather been like in /around your home?

Perhaps the colony found more productive digs around some standing water where the seasonal mosquito hatch is better?

 

[CDNBear]

What's the weather been like in /around your home?

Wet. Mosquito's and other flying critters are at their peak right now.

Perhaps the colony found more productive digs around some standing water where the seasonal mosquito hatch is better?

We've had better years, with fewer bugs, and still maintained a large population.

This colony has been returning to this house, since the 60's. The guy we bought it off, rebuilt the shutters to promote bat habitat, and we've been hesitant to replace the siding, because of them.

 

[Mowich]

Every year a colony of about a hundred bats return to roost behind my shutters. We checked them as best we could last year, to see if any had 'white nose syndrome', which has been killing bats by the thousands, and they all seemed clean.

Sadly, all but three, have failed to return.

That is too bad, Bear.........I look forward to the return of the bats that make a home with me for the summer - they do such a good job of eliminating all those nasty mosquitoes and black flies. Ours have been back for about a month now, they come flying out around twilight every night and make great entertainment for my cats who watch them through the living room window.

 

[CDNBear]

I'm going to miss their little squeaks and chirps in the mornings. Watching them dive bomb the lights and swoop down on the dog when she's lying on the deck attracting mosquito's, lol.

 

[Ron in Regina]

We have Bats out here on the prairies, and especially in the city...but you rarely
see them. They seem to hang out (yeah...bad) mostly in the areas around the
lake, and you hear them often, but if you don't realize what you're hearing, you'd
never know they're even there.

To me they sort'a sound like a water pistol that's running dry on water. These ones
out here do anyway. I only live about six blocks from my Sister's place, and you
can hear them clearly & often in the evenings at her place....but they're either
not around my place, or they're drowned out by the sounds of the frogs at
night around my place.

 

[lone wolf]

I love the comic implications when one of the little flying rats goes "boing" on a car radio antenna....

I've seen fewer bats - but seen some really odd birds around here....

 

[Ron in Regina]

- but seen some really odd birds around here....

Yeah....out here too. Weird little colourful songbirds the last couple of years that I've
never seen before.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Is there something significant about the bats to Native culture?

Or are you just a creepy Mother-F'er like me?

Seriously though. Bats are awesome for keeping insects down.

 

[Mowich]

I'm going to miss their little squeaks and chirps in the mornings. Watching them dive bomb the lights and swoop down on the dog when she's lying on the deck attracting mosquito's, lol.

Every now and then, on a warm night I make a point of going to the front yard just before they are due to come out and wait to see them drop from the roof peak - don't laugh now but I thank them for being here - not that I think they listen or care. LOL! :smile:

I've seen fewer bats - but seen some really odd birds around here....

My neighbors and I have been talking about this for a couple of years now. We are seeing species that, according to bird books, should not be seen in our neck of the woods and some of my birding friends are beside themselves with new sightings. Cardinals are one of the latest to be seen frequently around Hawkins Lake now - beautiful birds.

Is there something significant about the bats to Native culture?

Or are you just a creepy Mother-F'er like me?

Seriously though. Bats are awesome for keeping insects down.

Some native people believe that Bat represents rebirth - a death of the 'old self' and the birth of the new self.

 

[Tonington]

My neighbors and I have been talking about this for a couple of years now. We are seeing species that, according to bird books, should not be seen in our neck of the woods and some of my birding friends are beside themselves with new sightings. Cardinals are one of the latest to be seen frequently around Hawkins Lake now - beautiful birds.

Species living in temperate climates are migrating poleward. It's been noticed for quite some time, as well as the earlier arrival of migratory species. I think some in Canada are just starting to experience this now...as the moving ranges depend on lots of other interactions with other species as well.

Sorry about your bats Bear...that sucks. Best control for those damned blood sucking vampires...the female mosquitoes I mean of course.

 

[Mowich]

Sorry about your bats Bear...that sucks. Best control for those damned blood sucking vampires...the female mosquitoes I mean of course.

And very 'environmentally friendly'. :smile:

 

[petros]

Yeah....out here too. Weird little colourful songbirds the last couple of years that I've
never seen before.

Long beaked tiny little nectar birds?

We have lots of bats in the Flats you should in your neighbourhood too.