Nik Schulwitz attaching microphone to capture bat frequencies to top of car.
AuSable Valley Audubon was among the Michigan groups selected by the Organization for Bat Conservation to participate in the Michigan Bat Monitoring Program and to conduct an acoustic bat monitoring survey as part of its Citizen Bat League.
We were sent the equipment for the survey—a microphone to attach to the top of the car, a Garmin blue-tooth device which plugged into the car cigarette holder and a pre-programmed iPad. Any bat frequencies encountered along the route were recorded on the iPad.
Snapshot of Monitoring graph from the iPad
The survey had to start one-half hour after sunset and in temperatures greater than 50 degrees.
Members Larry VanWagoner, Alan Bernard and Nik Schulwitz each prepared a survey route of more than twenty miles which routes were approved by the organization. Bob Kemnitz, Jim Mortimer and Jean Howard also participated in one of the surveys. The equipment will be returned to the Organization for the analysis of the data and determination the identity of the bats encountered!
Route Map:
Join AuSable Valley Audubon for our program on September 12, 2017 at the E. Tawas Community
Center at 7:00 p.m. for a program on “Everything Bats!”
