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Index of Subjects Jim, Roost sites selected by bats will vary, unsurprisingly, by the many factors but probably most importantly by environmental conditions and reproductive status. During the summer months bats often use torpor to facilitate conservation of energy and this is best achieved by finding a cooler environment. However, it has long been believed that use of torpor by pregnant females might slow fetal development and therefore pregnant females select warmer roosts (e.g., exposed to the sun) that decrease the metabolic costs of maintaining homeothermic body temperature. However, recent evidence casts doubts on this and suggests that even pregnant females use torpor more often than expected, with apparently little impact on date of parturition (giving birth). Another point that might be worth making is that females of the species that we have here in NS are highly social in the summer months, and therefore individuals may also be selecting places to roost based on where their mother/sister/daughter/etc are roosting. Adult males on the other hand are, primarily, solitary roosters and are more likely to be the ones found roosting in the umbrellas, etc. (unless it's a juvenile later in the season - like now). So, it is hard to predict what types of roosts bats will use and where exactly to put the bat boxes and umbrellas to attract bats. However, I would not be discouraged if the bats you see flying around your houses are not using the bat boxes you put up. It means that there are other places in your neighbourhood that are better roosts. From what I can gather bats are more likely to use these artificial structures in areas where suitable naturally occurring roosts are limiting. Regardless of their success in attracting bats these bat boxes make excellent conversation pieces! Hughie --------------------- Hugh Broders Department of Biology Saint Mary's University Halifax, NS B3H 3C3 902-496-8193 (tel) 902-420-5046 (fax) http://www.stmarys.ca/academic/science/biology/Dr_Broders/about.htm -----Original Message----- From: Jim Wolford [mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca] Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:19 PM To: NatureNS; Hugh Broders; Tom Herman; Fred Scott Subject: FW: bats and deck table umbrellas I have the impression, from Andrew Hebda and others, I believe, that at least little brown bats like it very warm re temperatures -- thus bat-boxes should be in exposed and sunny spots (and adjacent to recently sealed-up entrance-holes for getting into homes) -- also, of course, roosting bats like conditions dark, so that Jean's transparent umbrellas probably would need to be strongly tinted, at least, or not used at all. Cheers from Jim in Wolfville ---------- From: Jean Timpa <jtimpa@ns.sympatico.ca> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:28:12 -0300 To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] bats and deck table umbrellas I have heard several authentic stories of bats taking refuge in the umbrellas which shade the tables of outside table/chair sets. Unfortunately bats do seem to be quite attracted to their shape and protection. You'd think they would be much too hot and stuffy inside them to find them desireable. It is probably not a good idea to have their droppings on the table, but what an easy and interesting way for a bacteriologist to collect samples without having to go to caves which is a big no-no now to see what they might or might not be carrying. Can you get clear umbrellas for such tables? It would make such an interesting observatory. Years ago now we had little brown bats come in behind crudely built window shutters at the farmhouse in Bear River. Every morning I was able to watch them grooming between the pane of glass and myself and the bats, one per window, before they settled down to nap for a few hours. They would leave about 3 or 4 pm, when it was still bright, hot and sunny. We did not see them flying at that time of day, so I don't know where they went. Perhaps it did get too hot behind the shutters, as it was on the south and west sides of the house. It truly was a neat experience. JET
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