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Natural History and Identification of Bats in Central Coastal California (M-Mc).
Mark R. Stromberg, Hastings Reservation
The best way to introduce the bats is probably by showing you a picture or two for each and then giving you a bit of information on the natural history of the bats. I will present them in alphabetical order, using their scientific names. The photos are mostly from a great book ("Bats of America" by Roger Barbour and W. H. Davis. 1969 Univ. of Kentucky Press). This book has a good key to the bats of North America. A Key to the California Bats will allow you figure out which bat you have in hand. Photos should not be used elsewhere without permission. Contact Bat Conservation International for photographs of bats. Amy Fesnock of Pinnacles National Monument straddling San Benito and Monterey Counties, made the bat voice recordings. Bat vocalizations are recorded with special microphones that can hear sounds that are 10x higher in frequency than humans can hear. To let us hear the sounds, they were translated by dividing the frequency by 10; thus a 20,000 Hz sound is beyond most of our hearing and is presented here as 2,000 Hz. Jeff Froke, Santa Lucia Preserve, on the southwestern flanks of Carmel Valley provided information on bat distribution there. Other information is derrived from the files at Hastings.
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LittleBrownBatMyotis lucifugus
photo by Roger Barbour
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Maybe the most abundant bat in North America, the little brown bat is also a bat people are most likely to know as it commonly occupies buildings. Known from only a few specimens in Monterey County, it ranges from Alaska south to Monterey County, then down the Sierras, across AZ and NM and across Canada to the east coast to FL. Often inhabits attics barns, caves, rock crevices, in colonies of hundreds if not thousands.Usually close to streams or lakes. Hibernate in caves and mines. Emerge at dusk and fly out for a drink and then forage widley. Individuals have set hunting flights, repeating routes all night. At dawn, often fly around rost entrance, and may land several times before entering. Wide variety of insects taken, including bugs, flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and beetles. Some noctuid moths can detect little brown bats and will fly in zig-zags or drop when bats approach. Breeding in fall, with single young born in maternity roosts during spring. Bats usually hang head-down, but when giving birth, hang head up and catch young in tail membrane at birth. Baby kept beneath wing during day. |
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Fringed-tailed BatMyotis thysanodes
photo by Roger Barbour
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This is the only Myotis with a conspicuous fringe of hairs on the edge of the membrane between the hind feet. A relatively large Myotis (total length 75-105 mnm), it has realtively long ears (16-20 mm). Found in patchy distribution from BC, along w. CA, in much of AZ, NM, CO and UT with some in eastern WY, w. NE and SD. Range extends to Veracuz and Chiapas. Winter range is unknown, but a colony found hibernating in SD. Summers in desert scrub to oak/piñon and juniper forests of southwest, gen. below 7,000 feet. Roosts in rock crevices, caves, buildings, and mines. Highly colonial, nursery colonies form. Adult males live apart from females, but also in colonies. Single young produced each year; little else known of reproduction. Fly over water sources in evening, and may use barns and caves as night roosts. Agile fliers- a captive bat was able to hover in a lab sink and drink water from the bottom. Known from Pinnacles National Monment, but not yet observed at Hastings or Santa Lucia Preserve. |
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Long-legged MyotisMyotis volans
Photo by Roger Barbour
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A large Myotis (total length 95-103 mm) with underwing furred near body, from knee to elbow, and with obvious keel on calcar. Fur tawny to dark brown.Occurs in western NA from AK to Veracruz, then east to Dakotas and NB. Can be abundant, using buildings and crevices in rocks and trees (loose bark) for day roosts. Emerges while still light, and commonly forage 10-15 feet high over water and in openings in forests. Occurs in oak, conifers and juniper woodlands from 4,000 feet to sea level. Maternity colonies formed, birth to single young from Apr to Jul. Known from Pinnacles, Hastings and Santa Lucia Preserve. |
