June 21, 2005
The new kid in town. The front "room and chamber above the one we were standing in (the ceiling here is the floor of that) is the nursery chamber for War Eagles colony of brown bats. This tiny "kitten" is newly flying on "his" own and was about 6 feet above my head, hanging from the roof. He was adorable as only babies are trying to shield his eyes from our lights, I could clearly see the tiny ears and delecate membraine of the wings. The colony doubles in size every five years , and is carefully managed and the bats monitored. They provide useful insect control in an area in sore need of such... I have never seen so many bugs in my life
the stench of guano was repulsive, but was only present in this front area. There was pleanty of standing area, necessary for a bat as they must have airspace to take off. They cannot take off from the ground, but must fall into flight.
