Weaver Cave, AL bats
Posted: Jul 28, 2013 4:00 pmI was posting some discussion about this in another thread, and then decided it really needed to be in the "Everything Bats" section.
On Friday a group of us went to Weaver Cave, a local sacrificial cave near Anniston, AL. In the area know as Ladies Cave, we came upon a large group of bats roosting, and unfortunately they were very unhappy with our presence. We exited, and then came back a few hours later to try and shoot some video. The main group had apparently moved to another part of the cave, however we did shoot some video of a few bats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P09yVPDcmeI
Then yesterday evening, my wife and son and I shot some video at one of the entrances. There were some bats exiting, but I don't believe there was near as many as we saw in the cave the day before. I am not sure how to capture good video of them- they seem to be spooked by the light, yet I can't shoot good video without a bright light. I ended up placing my light right over the entrance, and turned it to the lower setting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h6uhYy4av0
Also wondering if any of our resident bat experts can give an ID on the species. I am guessing they are grey bats, since from what I read, they are the only ones that roost in caves in the south in the summertime. Other than that, without a good closeup look at one, I'm not sure how to tell. Their main roosting place is about 15-20' up off the floor in a large room called the ballroom. I would guess they covered about 2 square feet of ceiling, if not more.
Trogman
On Friday a group of us went to Weaver Cave, a local sacrificial cave near Anniston, AL. In the area know as Ladies Cave, we came upon a large group of bats roosting, and unfortunately they were very unhappy with our presence. We exited, and then came back a few hours later to try and shoot some video. The main group had apparently moved to another part of the cave, however we did shoot some video of a few bats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P09yVPDcmeI
Then yesterday evening, my wife and son and I shot some video at one of the entrances. There were some bats exiting, but I don't believe there was near as many as we saw in the cave the day before. I am not sure how to capture good video of them- they seem to be spooked by the light, yet I can't shoot good video without a bright light. I ended up placing my light right over the entrance, and turned it to the lower setting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h6uhYy4av0
Also wondering if any of our resident bat experts can give an ID on the species. I am guessing they are grey bats, since from what I read, they are the only ones that roost in caves in the south in the summertime. Other than that, without a good closeup look at one, I'm not sure how to tell. Their main roosting place is about 15-20' up off the floor in a large room called the ballroom. I would guess they covered about 2 square feet of ceiling, if not more.
Trogman