October 04, 2024
Campfire Chat - Sound Waves and Shadows: Bat Surveys
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary • 1361 Wrighton Rd Lothian, MD 20711 Organized by Anne Arundel County Recreation & Parks
This event has ended.
About this event
Description
We're sorry, but this activity is over. The last meeting was Friday, October 4, 2024.
Gather around a campfire at one of your favorite parks this fall for a series of engaging and informative chats. Each week Park Rangers and local experts will lead discussions on a different theme, exploring topics about conservation, history, culture, music, and more. Bring a portable camp chair and share s’mores and stories by the fire, or sit back, relax, and enjoy the evening.
This week: Join us for a captivating campfire chat at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, where volunteer scientists Michelle Campbell and Jen Dietzen will uncover the hidden world of bats. Learn about these fascinating nocturnal creatures and their vital role in our ecosystem. Enjoy an evening under the stars as we explore findings from recent acoustic studies and mist-netting surveys through the Sanctuary. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with nature and gain a deeper appreciation for these mysterious winged mammals!
About the Bat Chat: Volunteer scientists Michelle Campbell and Jen Dietzen launched a pilot bat study in the summer of 2023. The pilot study consisted of a one-night mist-net and acoustic survey to establish baseline species-richness data and demonstrate bat surveying techniques at Jug Bay. This summer, they've conducted monthly acoustic surveys along the trails at Jug Bay. During these acoustic surveys, volunteers join Jen and Michelle on a 2-hour night hike around Jug Bay. The group stops and quietly records bat calls using a bat detector at 15 different locations. Bat calls are also passively recorded while hiking. The bat detector records bat calls that will later be analyzed with software that can identify calls to genus and species-level. Volunteers are also able to see bat calls in real time using a bat detector that adapts to cell phones. Throughout the night volunteers learn about bat natural history, their behaviors and calls, bat surveying techniques, and are able to ask any questions they have about bats. The acoustic data will be used to establish target locations for future mist-netting surveys, with the goal of finding threatened and endangered bats. Bats have not been thoroughly studied at Jug Bay before. If threatened and endangered bats are using Jug Bay as refuge, this data will reinforce Jug Bay's mission to provide wildlife sanctuary and could open doors to improve conservation. During the campfire chat, Michelle and Jen will share what they've learned so far from both the 2023 and 2024 bat surveys.
A $5.00 registration fee covers program costs. S’mores supplies will be provided. For more information please contact Park Ranger Nick Shearman at rpshea23@aacounty.org.
For a full list of upcoming dates, locations, and speakers visit: aarecparks.org/campfirechats
Age Category
Family
Location
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary: 1361 Wrighton Rd, Lothian, MD 20711
Age and Gender
Co-Ed