Kitsap Audubon Society

General Meeting

KAS Program—February 9, 2012 Little known facts about Northwest bats presented by Curt Black

Whether swirling out of inky black caves or possibly roosting with us in our homes, many of us forget entirely about bats. Unless you are in a steel-and-glass downtown office tower, chances are you’re within 50 feet of a bat. If that bothers you--even a little--you should join us this month. Both kids and adults will share a fun flight through stunning video and audio that should challenge your preconceptions about bats. Join us as we look at how bats and birds have solved the same challenges in very different ways, or occasionally almost identically. Do you bird by ear? We’ll see if you can tell a bat from a bird. We’ll finish by considering the conservation needs of both bats and birds. We’ll talk briefly about the fungal holocaust that is White Nose Syndrome, often killing more than 90% of hibernating bats in the Eastern US. We’ll look at the effects of wind turbines on bats and identify habitat enhancement steps you can take, including the proper construction and installation of bat houses modified so they really work in Washington State. Curt Black is an environmental scientist with the EPA, where he works on hazardous waste sites. In his free time he talks and walks all things bat. Curt is a technical advisor to Bats Northwest and helps with their annual Bat Ambassador training. He has also worked with the Washington Bat Working Group and the Northwest Bat Cooperative and the Bat Grid Project. He has a BS in Geology and a BS in Zoology and a Masters in Hydrogeology, all from the University of Texas. He enjoys environmental education, and likes most of all focusing people’s attention on the things around us that are usually invisible or under-appreciated. Bats fit that category for many. Curt also enjoys nature sound recording, amateur radio, and pretty much the rest of natural history.

The Kitsap Audubon Society meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through May, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., on the lower level of the Poulsbo Public Library, 700 NE Lincoln Rd. Meetings are open to the public. There is free parking behind the Library. Enter from the rear.

Future Kitsap Audubon Programs

1. March 8th - Haley Edwards Puget Sound Energy Natural Resource Scientist
2. April 12th - Jeff Larsen photographic show on birds of winter around the sound
3. May 10th - Craig & Joy Johnson authors and photographers. Birding In Island County

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Mission is to preserve the natural world through education, enivronmental study, and habitat protection; and to promote awareness and enjoyment of local and regional natural areas. Check out our new Brochure!