Great emergence at Congress Avenue Bridge tonight. Great fun talking to the tourists from all over the world. Especially the wonderful family from New Jersey whose daughter is going for her Girl Scout Silver Award by creating this website https://sites.google.com/site/maketheworldabattierplace/ Check it out!
They are multi-national, with family from Italy, Spain, and Venezuela and we had great fun surfing Google Earth together. Thanks y’all!
Mount Roraima, Venezuela!
Stable, cooler temperatures after the storms led to the first great emergence in over a week, last night at Congress Avenue Bridge.
Here we see about 1-1/2 million Mexican free-tailed bats on Doppler radar as they head out to the agricultural fields to forage for crop pests.
Winds from the NE at emergence sent them to the SSE about 18 miles past Mustang Ridge along Cedar Creek.
We frequently see them head on a broad reach to the wind, taking advantage of the free ride while knowing the winds normally die down by the time they want to return.
Our wonderful Kyndal Irwin shows the Congress Avenue Bridge crowd a fallen juvenile Mexican free-tailed bat, as the humans protect their throats from imminent Vampire/Chupacabra attack!
Next time they will purchase our Kevlar throat protectors!
JUST KIDDING! These wonderful folks were actually WAY more worried about the little bat!
This crowd was treated to a very close look (no touching!) as Kyndal talked about all she has learned about these wonders of the world as an intern at Austin Bat Refuge.
The children especially were enchanted and looked up to Kyndal as if she were a fairy bat princess as she showed all the features of the little bat and described their delightful personalities.
This little bat was dehydrated and was brought back to the refuge for electrolyte therapy before release.
We love the variety of astonished looks as she cares for this pup!
Eastern red family still hanging together even though only one is still nursing. They love each other’s company and only split up for a little while when the heat of the afternoon is just too much. Watch for the yawning pup and top and the squirrel on the tree limb! The squirrels have been loving the misters and frequently come to lick condensation of the netting!
Gonna be a hot one little pups – Hydrate! You on the left, you’re obviously drinking on the wing just fine!
Another great emergence at Congress Avenue Bridge! Half the bats you see are pups that have only been flying for a week or two. Thanks to all who came by to visit at our info table!
Who says if sunlight hits them they burst into flames? Apparently the just glow!
The eastern red pups are growing up fast! Is it just us, or do they look like happy little bats?
Growing up fast!
This eastern red pup is one of the four pups that Laurie rescued. He was found with his mum on the ground near their house. They would all have died without her taking time from her busy day to care for this family in need. Thanks so much Laurie!
Here one of the boys catches a moth in his tail membrane. They are growing up and going from little fluff balls to bad-ass bug killing predators.
Andrea found Frito in an open stairwell, hiding from the grackles that were stalking him like a pack of velociraptors.
She called us and watched over him until we arrived, saving him from a tragic end.
He was not injured, just a little disoriented and is eating and flying well in the aviary.
Soon to be released. Nice work Andrea!