Join the Nightlife: 2024 Recap
October 31, 2024
Thanks to all the Join the Nightlife: Bats and Agriculture attendees who joined us out in the field this year! Guests got hands-on experience with
Earlier this year, we partnered with Bat Survey Solutions to survey for bats at Swift River Pecans, where MTBC is currently testing characteristics of bat house success in Texas. The goal was to identify bat species using native pecan forests and cultivated orchards and to document their role in agricultural pest control. We identified seven species using mist nets, harp traps, and acoustic monitoring, including Brazilian free-tailed bats, evening bats, and cave myotis. These species are known to occupy bat houses and other man-made structures, increasing the potential for attraction to bat houses on these properties. Many insect pests listen for bat echolocation and flee areas where bats are heard, making bat houses a unique tool for commercial growers.
This fall, we will be partnering again to bring you an educational workshop where you’ll visit the orchards along the San Marcos River in Central Texas, the birthplace of the commercial pecan industry. You’ll be immersed in the world of bats and agriculture, while learning field survey techniques including mist netting and acoustics. Participants will be able to see bats up close and view live echolocation recordings. This Discovery Workshop showcases a holistic approach toward commercial agriculture that safeguards native soils, water, and wildlife – including bats!
Dates: Thursday thru Saturday 22-24 September 2022
3 nights / 2 days
Cost: $275 per person before September 1, $325 after (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Activities: Thursday night kicks off with a picnic dinner and spectacular bat emergence at the famous Bracken Cave Preserve, just north of San Antonio.
Friday morning (9am) formal instruction begins and will conclude by Saturday night (10pm). Field trips include exploring Central Texas bat habitat, building artificial roosts, and visiting both commercial and native pecan groves to learn about sustainable agricultural practices.
Additional evening programs to see bats in the wild are planned for Friday and Saturday. We will capture live bats in the orchards with mist nets and harp traps and record the echolocation calls of bats flying overhead.
Location and Directions: Lecture presentations will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, San Marcos. Demonstrations and field trips will be at Swift River Pecans LLC.
Lodging: Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. For convenience, we suggest booking at the Courtyard Marriott. Discounted rates are available under Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation until September 11.
Meals: Picnic dinners are provided on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Vegetarian fare is available with advanced notice. Breakfast and Lunch are on your own, with many restaurants to choose from in San Marcos.
Course Instructors:
Pre-course Preparation: There is no prerequisite for this workshop. All naturalists, educators, students, aspiring bat biologists, animal-lovers, and anyone interested in learning more about bats as a form of integrated pest-control and agricultural health are welcome to attend! Though the instruction and activities are geared towards adults, mature school-age children are welcome with an accompanying parent or guardian. Registered participants will receive information about how to prepare for the trip, including a suggested packing list and directions to field sites via email.
This workshop includes many opportunities for field trips and nighttime work with bats. A headlamp is suggested in addition to a secondary light source for participation in evening and nighttime activities. Participants will not be allowed to handle bats, but photography and echolocation call recording is permitted.
How to Register: All non-student tickets are sold through Eventbrite. For information about student discounts and any other questions, please contact Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation.
Photos: (top, L-R) removing an eastern red bat from a net; portrait of an eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis); setting up a mist net; (middle) Brazilian free-tailed bats emerging from Bracken Cave in 2022; (lower right) recording bats’ echolocation; (bottom right) Merlin Tuttle photographing as team erects mist net pole.
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Thanks to all the Join the Nightlife: Bats and Agriculture attendees who joined us out in the field this year! Guests got hands-on experience with
Supporter and friend of MTBC, Australian conservation and animal welfare photojournalist Doug Gimesy, had his images recognized in two categories at the recent Siena International
Fieldwork requires a lot of equipment, but photography requires even more! During our June 2024 photography workshop, we transported over 100 lbs. of equipment —
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Michael Lazari Karapetian has over twenty years of investment management experience. He has a degree in business management, is a certified NBA agent, and gained early experience as a money manager for the Bank of America where he established model portfolios for high-net-worth clients. In 2003 he founded Lazari Capital Management, Inc. and Lazari Asset Management, Inc. He is President and CIO of both and manages over a half a billion in assets. In his personal time he champions philanthropic causes. He serves on the board of Moravian College and has a strong affinity for wildlife, both funding and volunteering on behalf of endangered species.