CHASING BATS AT CONGAREE – EPISODE 8
I write to you while sitting on the banks of the Congaree River in seventy degree weather. This was a week of extremes! Snowmageddon was a dud but it left us with temperatures in the twenties. Netting was canceled due to the inclement weather; therefore, I was not tracking bats this week. Instead, I was after random trees and checking roost-tree cavities. Ice formed on much of the water and I had an interesting time walking through the flooded areas of the park. The weather warmed as the week progressed, however. Through the week, along with my daily assignments, my eyes and ears were open for the sights and sounds inside the park. Friday was a beautiful night to net for bats. With the addition of Will, our roommate, Piper and I had extra help and I was able to shoot some video of us handling bats!
Making of Episode 8
Originally, I was going to make a “Why Bats?” video to illustrate why I’m so fascinated with them. Maybe, I would “go to bat” for these species and explain their ecological and economical importance. Instead, I took some video of things I found interesting as I usually do throughout the week. I love capturing the sights and sounds of the park. Friday night, it so happened that I was able to take video of us netting. Of course, I had to post the bat video. Another time, I’ll address my thoughts and feelings about bats and why I like to work with them. I was thinking; afterwards, I’ll follow with an interview with Piper. This week, however, I offer sights, sounds, and netting for bats in Congaree National Park.