Skip to main content

Gables bat enthusiasts get a rare glimpse

Bright beams pierced the banyan trees peppered throughout Coral Gables’ Granada Golf Course last Sunday night as hundreds of visitors flashed the night sky searching for a quick glimpse of the recently discovered bonneted bats.

Calls from crickets and other insects camouflaged the their high-pitched squeaks as two of the bats swiftly swooped and fluttered above the multitude of guests.

The bat watch was organized by a Florida International University biologist, Kristen “Kisi” Bohn, who discovered the bats in late 2012 when she moved three blocks away from the course.
“We put this together pretty quickly because I wanted to take advantage of the momentum. Tonight was really an info session for the public,” Bohn said.

As the bat news began to go viral around the Coral Gables community, Bohn’s email began to flood.
For Bohn, who believes there might be around 20 to 40 bonneted bats living in the area, the most important goal for this event was twofold. Not only was it aimed as a way to foster awareness about the bats but also to help gather support from the community to further study them.
Some members of the enthusiastic crowd Sunday used their smart devices to transform the bats’ low-frequency echolocation signals into a visualization with the help of a free iOS app called SpectrumView.

With an iPad in hand, volunteer Juan Escorcia came out to survey the bats with his wife Gloria.
“We came out here to get informed on how and what we can do to help the doctors,” said Escorcia, who was amazed there were bats in Miami. “It’s crazy, but they’re in our backyards.”
According to Bohn, the bats – also known as Eumops floridanus – are one of the most critically endangered mammals in North America.

“I feel bad for them and I don’t want them to be extinct,” said Elisa Chong, 10, who came to the event with her dad Hernando and 8-year-old sister Gabriella. “Before I got here I thought that we would just be able to hear the bats, but when we got to see them that was really awesome and I couldn’t believe it.”

Among the organizers for the event, was Don Slesnick, former mayor of Coral Gables, who lives in front of the golf course and had never met Bohn.



As a community effort, Slesnick donated the front property of his house to allow the events sponsor, Bacardi, to host a free beverage booth for those in attendance.

“I hope that whatever has happened tonight and whatever happens in the future because of tonight will help protect these bats,” said Slesnick, who was overwhelmed by the amount of visitors he saw.
“I think it’s great to have a situation where there was great camaraderie and interaction. These people came out for the right reasons and the right cause.”

Currently, Bohn is looking for more volunteers who can help her conduct further studies.

For information, email Bohn at batcomlab@gmail.com.
Original story here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/22/4249485/gables-bat-enthusiasts-get-a-rare.html#storylink=cpy

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SOUTHCOM Change of Command Presided over by Defense Secretary Panetta and Veteran's Day Ceremony at Jungle Island

General Douglas Fraser, U.S. Southern Command, giving the keynote address at the Jungle Island Veteran's Day event.                  U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Martin Dempsey, incoming SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. John Kelly and outgoing  SOUTHCOM Commander  Gen. Douglas Fraser at Change of Command Ceremony on November 19, 2012 . General Douglas Fraser of the Southern Command is retiring after nearly 40 years of service to the United States Air Force. At a Veteran's Day celebration held at Jungle Island in Miami, the General was recognized along with other veterans for their outstanding dedication to protecting our country.     Last week, Gen. Fraser was also honored by United States Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, who commended his accomplishments in leading SOUTHCOM. Secretary Panetta described the General's notable efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster reli

Peter Dolara of American Airlines Honored at the Biltmore

Business and civic leaders from around Miami and South Florida joined last week at the Biltmore Hotel to honor Peter Dolara for his service to the South Florida community as Vice President of American Airlines. M r. Dolara, who joined the airline in 1963, will retire handing over the Vice President post to Art Torno. American Airlines has about 9,000 employees in South Florida and more than 300 flights a day, up from just 18 flights in 1989 when Mr. Dolara took the helm. Pictured:  Art Torno, Miami International Airport Director Jose Abreu (receiving Eagle Award) and Peter Dolara.

Single Family Home Prices Up

Thought you would find this interesting. Single family home prices in Coral Gables have been rising since inventory started dropping in 2009 when we had 650 homes for sale on the MLX. It is a case of supply and demand and the supply is definitely dropping in all price ranges but especially in the $2M and under range. What bodes well for South Florida real estate bodes well for the rest of our economy and should help all businesses soon as well as our non-profits. There are also going to be a large amount of closings coming up in December as we have seen tremendous traffic the last three months.