Bat pictures: 11 images and facts about a misunderstood creature

[knocker]

They get a bad rap as rabies-infested pests, but bats are some of the most fascinating and ecologically indispensable animals on Earth.

 

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/bat-pictures-11-images-and-facts-about-a-misunderstood-creature

[Andy Bown]

The school where my wife works is a typical old Victorian era village school so plenty of opportunity for bats to get in. They are quite often found indoors and I was fortunate to be there on one such occasion and it is the only time I have seen one close up, after many occasions enjoying watching them flying around at dusk.

Such a fragile looking creature, their wings are amazing.

[knocker]

Captured the nightly ritual on August 2nd 2009. Bats emerging from under the Congress Avenue bridge for their nightly feeding run. This is the largest urban bat colony in North America. These bats consume over 20,000 pounds of insects per night. The experience was totally unique. If ever you are near Austin, you MUST experience this...

 

 

A little history.

 

http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/visit-a-bat-location/congress-avenue-bridge.html

[Mountain Snow]

Never thought there would be so many bats in a city. I wonder what they think of all the humans watching, maybe this is what pigeons do when they congregate on buildings looking down on us!

[nitro_deluxe]

Saw a fair few bats this evening as a storm brewed up in the distance.Certainly added to the ambience.Was as if they became excited by the lightning and thunder rumbling ever nearer.

They were quite small so probably the common Pipistrelle.