Bats in our Backyard-OHC #4

Bat watching is one of our favorite summer evening activities. We pull the deck chairs over to the edge of the deck and get comfortable facing the setting sun. As we sit watching the sunset, the bats start to fly around the backyard. They come somewhere from the back oaks and seem to have a pattern of sweeping around the tall pines and our sequoia.

They are the most amazing fliers as they swoop and streak around the sky catching their dinner.

"There are no other wings so wonderful as the bat's; the thin membrane is equipped with sensitive nerves which inform the flier of the objects in his path, so that he darts among the branches of trees at terrific speed and never touches a twig...The flight of the bat consists of darting hither and thither with incredible swiftness, and making sharp turns with no apparent effort.....He makes a collecting net of the wing membrane stretched between the hind legs and tail, doubling it up like an apron on the unfortunate insects.....thus he is always doing good service to us on summer evenings by swallowing a multitude of insects."
Handbook of Nature Study, page 242

We have observed just these behaviors in our backyard bats. I know they are ridding our area of many, many mosquitoes. We can't help but cheer them on as we watch their movements in the dusky evening.

All too fast, the moment passes and they are gone. We know they will make their return the next evening so we don't have long to wait to watch this flying wonder of the twilight hours.

I know that many of you are put off by this particular challenge but it is very much worth your while to at least do the preparation work from the Handbook of Nature Study. If you do the reading and look at the links provided, your children will have a great working knowledge of this very special flying mammal.

We have been keeping track of our summer sounds as outlined in this Outdoor Hour Challenge. Late at night when the neighborhood sounds die down, we sit outside in the dark and it is amazing how many things you can hear, many unidentifiable like a snap in the tree or a rustling in the bushes. It is an activity that the boys and I will continue to work through as the summer continues.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom