FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Bats

["Michelle Brown" <mbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am home today doing those things that I avoid so well.  House cleaning, 
organizing and so on.  

I have a tree trimming company making quite a bit of noise trying to free those 
mighty powerlines from the limbs of a few large trees.  My dogs have been upset 
and barking all morning.  I have been frequently poking my head out the back 
door and giving them the look that says PLEASE SHUT IT!!!  My last head poking 
found me searching the yard for the dogs and then following their gazes up into 
a large maple tree where several birds were scolding some invisible creature.  
I grabbed the binocs expecting a Coopers that had perhaps landed lunch and was 
enjoying his meal in my yard. 

I scanned the tree and tried to focus on the area that the robins and jays were 
swarming.  No Coopers.  Instead I found a clump of fuzz with smooth webbed 
wings wrapped around the fuzz.  There are at least four bats clumped together 
trying to snooze.  I assume they just flew into the tree given the sudden chaos 
that was taking place regarding their presence.  I now wonder if the protection 
of the mighty powerlines on the power companies part has destroyed a cavity or 
roosting tree for these little guys.  I did not know that bats would roost on 
top of one another.  They look like they are cuddling;-)  I also did not know 
that birds would be so annoyed by the presence of a small bat.  Anyone out 
there an expert on bats???  I would love to know more about this clumping 
behavior and perhaps what species I might be looking at.  I looked in my 
Peterson's Mammal guide and there are quite a few bats in the area.  They are a 
bit to high up for me to get a good look.  Very interesting...

Michelle King
Blountville, TN
Sullivan Co.