Archive for the 'Bat Houses' Category
Today the post was planned for bat houses, and this Colony bat house accommodates dozens of mature bats and their offspring. You can control mosquito populations around your yard by inviting little brown bats to take up residence.
And that’s all for bat houses, because I was more excited about my bluebird fledglings today! For the first time ever, I was lucky enough to witness all four babies inside the mealworm feeder at once. What a rewarding moment, to finally see them enter the feeder themselves and learn to retrieve the worms. We had 2 successful broods this season, with three fledglings and then four.
First on the scene was a female baby, and since she was all by herself, it caught my attention. As I went to sit outside with the binoculars, she flew off, but I was able to spot her perching high above in the pine tree. Several minutes went by, and no signs of the family. First thought is always, I hope they’re okay?
I went inside to feed the critters, but kept watching out the kitchen window. A juvenile male appeared (from the first brood) and sat on top of the feeder. Then they all came, numbers one, two three and four! The older brother entered the feeder, and a few seconds later a baby male went right in. The other three flew from the nearby shepherds’ hook and sat on top for a few seconds. One by one, they hopped on in! Now there’s five birds inside the feeder, and I’m thinking: “how are they going to get out?” It was very crowded in there! Next came daddy, the adult male landed on he shepherds’ hook as if to say “good job!” Then one by one, just as they had entered, they flew out.
It was one of the best sightings this season, and I’m just so sorry that I couldn’t catch it on film, because it was all just so perfect!
A common and recent disease found only in brown bats threatens to wipe out entire species. In terms of ecology and the food chain in general, this is a serious concern for scientists. Insect populations may grow wildly without control from brown bats. Confused bats are being seen in broad daylight, during hibernation cycles when food sources are not available. Their cycles are interrupted and whole colonies are dying off at an alarming rate.
Erecting bat houses may help some of the stray bats find adequate shelter in hopes of survival. The following video explains further about the bat’s disease known as White Nose Syndrome.
The Battle for Bats: White Nose Syndrome from Ravenswood Media on Vimeo.
Control insect populations naturally with a bat house.
Adding a bat house for shelter to tiny brown bats is a wisely ecological choice. The bats have earned a bad rap as the winged symbol of Halloween, blood and vampires…This is the biggest misconception, as bats can be man’s best friend during the buggy, summer months.
Bats pollinate fruit as well as taking care of pesky insects that make our lives miserable during summer. They’re able to wipe out thousands of blood-sucking mosquitoes in one night’s feeding. Farmers have known the advantages to keeping bat populations, in order to keep crops bug-free.
So next time you reach for an insecticide to rid the yard of unwanted pests, think about installing a bat house instead!
Recycled plastics are where it’s at today! For so many reasons they’re the perfect choice for just about any product. Aside from keeping the milk jugs and containers out of landfills, the birding accessories manufactured are guaranteed to never crack, split, fade, or warp.
This is an awesome claim, and most companies even stand by the guarantee…because it’s true. Another benefit is the non-porous surface. It’s easy to clean and disinfect, and less likely to breed bacteria. Recycled Bat Houses offer bats an excellent habitat. The material also stabilizes temperatures more effectively than wood. This is an important factor with bat houses, as bats prefer a warmer, and somewhat moist environment.
Invite bats to hang out in your yard and control insect populations the natural way!
Providing homes for bats is mostly beneficial as natural pest control. Bat conservation groups have been growing in popularity, as these little guys are pretty good neighbors to have around. You need not spend a fortune on a bat house. Smaller wooden houses are comparable to your basic nest box. However, there are the deluxe models for accommodating whole colonies too.
You may want to try building your own bat house if you’re so inclined. Many plans are available on the internet, some are even offered free by bat conservation groups. Bat habitat has become a front row player among birding accessories, as several reputable companies now manufacture recycled plastic bat houses that are guaranteed to last a lifetime!
Brown bats are extremely beneficial to backyards as they control insect populations. It’s the natural order of things, no pesticides necessary.
Providing bat habitats, or bat houses, will greatly reduce insect populations in your environment.
Recently in the Northeastern US, brown bats have been discovered to be dying off by the thousands. A mysterious fungus plagues them, and scientists are working dilligently to unravel the mysteries. They fear an entire species may actually become extinct if an answer is not found soon.
You can learn about “White Nose Syndrome” in this amazing video clip.
White-nose Syndrome from Gerrit Vyn on Vimeo.