Big Brown Bat found in the Visitor Center at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Kathy Whaley, Refuge Manager
Bat Monitoring Workshop
Free and Open to the Public, Registration Required
Have you ever wondered if there are bats on your property or flying around your yard at night? Maybe not, but now that you are thinking about it, wouldn’t you really like to know? Now is your chance to learn more about bats!
Join the Friends of Hagerman (FOH) Bat Monitoring Team to participate in this hands-on workshop that includes an indoor presentation and an outdoor field experience at the refuge. Learn how to identify bats of North Texas, use tools and techniques to survey bats, and request a bat monitoring session on your property. Space is limited, so sign up today using the QR code or click FOH Bat Monitoring Workshop.
This workshop is being conducted by FOH as one aspect of its grant “Music of the Night: Citizen Science Bioacoustic Bat Monitoring at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge” funded by the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s O’Brien Prize.
Schedule
6:00 – 7:00 pm (Presentation in the Visitor Center)
An introduction to North Texas bats, mist netting techniques, acoustic monitors (bat detectors), analysis of acoustic data, permit requirements, and the North American Bat Monitoring Program
7:00 – 7:15 (Break)
7:15 – 10:00 pm (Field Session)*
- Set up and monitor mist nets
- Deploy bat detectors (Song Meter Mini Bat 2 and Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro)
- Observe data collection from live bats
- Observe real time identification of bat calls using an iPhone app
*Please note that bat activity is weather dependent and the field portion may be rescheduled due to rain or cold temperatures. Although bats have been previously observed at the field site, they may not be present on any given night. If needed, you may leave the field session early on your own.
What to Wear/Bring (Field Session Participants)
- Long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and close-toed shoes or boots
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Participants must be at least 8 years old; youth younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
- Suggested items: jacket, insect repellent, gloves
- Workshop Leaders
Workshop Leaders
- Dr. Bryon Clark – retired university professor and administrator, mammalian ecologist with nearly a 50- year interest in bats, and certified Texas Master Naturalist
- Dr. Margaret Avard – retired university professor, environmental scientist, experienced bat acoustics analyst, and certified Texas Master Naturalist
Help bat conservation in North Texas by discovering “Music of the Night”
at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge!
Register for the second session, on May 14th!
