What wildlife do you see on your rides?

[Nanci]

See, not all snakes are big and mean and poisonous!

[bcipam]

Hey this is slightly off topic... but tonight I am doing something really cool and will report back fully tomorrow. This afternoon I'm meeting with Stephanie Remington, a biologist for Southern California who specializes in bats. I and another poor sole have volunteer to help Stephanie tonight counting bats. The area we are hiking out to is very remote (the mouth of Fremont Canyon), basically we have to bush wacked our way in. Then we will be sitting out there, just our lonesomes, in the dark (I will have my trusty headlamp) no doubt being watched by lions or other creatures of the night, eaten alive by mosquitos (Stephanie says no repellent - it's bad for the bats). A friend asked "what if you have to go to the bathroom...?" I explained I bring out a water bottle to rinse off in case nature calls, but oh yeah, squatting out in a remote part of the woods, in the dark with lions watching... like that's gonna happen!!!!

Anyway I'm excited but have no idea what to expect. Hope to see some cool creatures while out there. Wish me luck!

[Nanci]

Wow, are you just counting them as they emerge, or all night? They come out so fast, like a swarm of bees...Good luck. I love bats.

[bcipam]

Our bats here don't live in caves. They roost in trees and and niches. They tend to start coming out at dusk but should be flying all night. We don't get the big fly outs like in Texas. Was told we would be counting until 11p - 12a. Seems like a long time to be out there doesn't it???

[Nanci]

How do you know you're not counting the same ones over and over?

Who was on here talking about Flying Foxes? There's a captive breeding colony near my house. They are amazing! Five foot wingspans! And big willies!!

[bcipam]

OK my Bat story:

Met the biologist and her assistant about 5. There were 5 volunteers to assist. We drove out to the trail head and she and her assistant began unloading her truck. She is about 5 ' and weighs less than 90 lbs. Her assistant is 5'1" and weights 95 lbs. The gear they pulled out of the truck weighed more than both of them. Normally these two small gals carry all that stuff out my themselves. They were grateful to have help.

Since I'm big and "strong like bull" Stephanie asked if I wouldn't mind carrying the fannypack containing the batteries. Sure, I said. The pack contained 10 batteries each weighing 3 lbs and all the wiring etc that goes with the batteries so the pack was about 40 lbs. Yipes I was already carrying a Camlebak weighing around 10 lbs. and also had to carry a bundle of rebar weighing another 20.

I thought we were just going in alittle way. Nope wrong. We hiked out approximately 4 miles through bush, poison Oak, stream crossings, thick woodland etc. No trail - all bushwhacking. Wasn't so bad during the day when I was fresh but later that night, a nightmare.

Along the way the biologist changed out some of her equipment and lightened the load of the batteries (thank goodness). At the turn around spot (in a beautiful sandstone slot canyon) we set up catching nets and sat and waited for dusk. Bat activity was good, not great but good. Once it got dark it was hard to see the bats (but Stephanies did allow us to use her night vision goggles). We could hear the bats and also see the recordings of sound on her computer.

Basically I found a nice silty spot and laid down and watched the stars. Every 15 minutes I had to climb up this slope and check some nets. I managed to get totally filthy in the process (like Pig Pen) and got sand and dirt in my new digital camera. BUMMER!

About midnight we packed up and walked out. Along the way we picked up the batteries so I was loaded down again. Between the fact I was tired, there was poor light and I was weighed down, a couple of times I just fell over and couldn't get back up without help (weebles wumble and they do fall down!). Anyway didn't get home until after 1:30 am. Not into bed until after 2. I'm tired and just not doing well at work today.

I was diappointed we didn't see more wildlife although I realize we were a noisy little group. We saw plenty of lion tracks and at one more could smell a very strong urine trail. We did see owls, catch a poor little nighthawk (Poorwill), and of course bats: U-mops, Mexican Brown, Free-tails, Red bats, Little and Big Brown, and some I can't remember today. The Biologist was disappointed they didn't record any Pala Bats. Apparently they have move out of the area but once were abundant.

If caught in the nets the bats are tagged. We didn't catch any (darn!). Maybe next trip.

OK so my legs are tired today... I have a century on Saturday. Probably wasn't such a good idea but I had fun!

[salsabike]

What a great story, bcipam. Makes me wish I'd been there too, Pigpenning and all.

Nanci, that snake is so GORGEOUS. I like snakes.