GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT For more information, contact the park district…
GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geauga parkdistrict.org. Bat Spectacle As white-nose syndrome threatens to decimate area…
GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT
For more information, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geauga
parkdistrict.org.
Bat Spectacle
As white-nose syndrome threatens to decimate area bat populations, Geauga Park District is offering a special opportunity to watch hundreds of little brown bats’ “flight into the night” on property it protects behind South Newbury Union Chapel.
Bat Spectacle: Flight into the Night is Aug. 18 from 8-9 p.m. at South Newbury Union Chapel
The bats’ coordinating effort will spring from a bat condo roosting structure built a decade ago as an Eagle Scout project, which is capable of housing hundreds of bats at once. As dusk proceeds, the bats begin leaving the condo for an evening of food foraging, using echo-location to catch flying insects such as moths, beetles and flies.
White-nose syndrome is a cold-tolerant fungus that has spread to caves and rock shelters throughout the eastern half of the United States, killing hibernating bats by the millions since 2006. Marked reductions have already been observed in Geauga County summer bat populations, with the syndrome found in local rock shelters where bats usually hibernate.
Registration is required by phone at 440-279-0880, as parking is very limited. Registration is therefore by number of vehicles, not people, so carpooling with family and friends is encouraged.
Natures Musicians
Now that the stage is set along the Glacier Trail and down to Lake Kelso at Burton Wetlands, join cricket/katydid specialist Lisa Rainsong to learn about the musicians of the insect orchestra.
Insect Orchestra: Nature’s Musicians is Aug. 17 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve, 15681 Old Rider Road in Burton and Newbury townships.
Insects “sing” by rubbing their wings together – they have a built-in “file and scraper,” the friction of which produces the sound – and each species has a unique song, which may be used to locate and identify the percussionists.
Park naturalists hope that sworn-bearing coneheads, curve-tailed bush katydid, black-legged meadow katydids and black-horned tree crickets will be tuned up and ready to be discovered by Saturday.
Registration is not required; just bring a flashlight.
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