> From: "John Gardner" <vu49@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> The *only* way to see a bat is when its flying indoors. Their skill is
> beyond belief.
You can say that again!
>They are of course hunting with radar (yours >was probably
>transmitting ultrasound at between 45 and 55Khz - >humans can hear
>upto about 19Khz) and can sense something as fine >as a human hair
>in their flight path, in total darkness, and avoid it.
Yes, Yes, but do they eat midges in numbers? If so I shall breed
them!
>
> without harming them. BTW they don't bite and they don't carry any disease
> you can catch (UK bats we're talking here).
I am not sure of the can't bite bit. One appeared crawling on the
Kitchen floor about mid-morning a couple of months ago - must have
fallen out of an as yet un-fixed hole in the ceiling. I picked it up
gently and took it outside to find a dark place to put it. While
trying to get it to try out its new temporary home it gave my finger
a nip - it didn't break the skin but unfortunately I did drop it.
Oly content - I did get a photo of this one with 90mm f2 macro but it
looked rather unkempt as it had a slight coating of cobwebs and dust.
John, I don't think they are Pipistrels - they look similar to my
uneducated sight but are larger - certainly the one flying around
inside seemed to have at least a 20+cm wingspan though I could be
wrong.
> I should, however, point out that (in the UK) it is illegal to catch bats
> as they are all protected by law (I have a government licence though). But,
> Giles, it seems they pay you a regular visit so there would be nothing to
> stop you making the bat leave the house via the above setup :)
> regards
> John.
I don't catch them, I just 'relocate' them as required.
I might be ale to get a photo of one in flight without such an
elaborate setup as you describe.
The bats often fly very close to the house at night. Unfortunately
I am cursed with being a veritable insect magnet so If I go
outside and stand still in the dark I have noticed that the bats
start to fly very near to me - repeatedly.
I think I must be attracting the insects and the bats are then
attracted to the feast. I can almost hear them squeak/sing "Stand
still laddie!" Or when I can't take the midges any longer - "Please
don't go, don't go ow ow"
All I need to do is try this again while armed with the 4Ti and T32
and - surprise.
I think I shall wait until the midges are a bit less prevalent before
trying this though.
Giles
Quotes:
(Pink Floyd)
(KC and the Sunshine Band)
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|