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kent borcherding
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| Joined: | Fri Jan 7th, 2005 |
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Posted: Thu Apr 28th, 2005 01:08 am |
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This past several weeks I have been checking my bat houses at 2 locations in southern Wisconsin.
There are 51 bat houses and approx. 14 different styles at these 2 locations.
There were a few about 10 bats week of April 17.
Last saturady April 24 i checked one site and today April 27 checked other site.
There were about 100 little browns in bat houses at the Yellowstone State park site. 32 bat houses at that site.
There was no bat house that had a large amount of bats there. In the summer usually have aound 4,000 litle browns and northern long - eared at this site.
Today I checked another site 19 bat houses 5 different styles.
Somewhere around 300 bats in the houses at this site -big and little browns.
What was interesting the Oregon wedge style bat house sprayed with, "Perma -Tech " pick-up truck bed material, was jammed full of bats at least 150 .
This site usually has aound 5.000 bats in the housesin the summer. Big browns , little browns , northern long-eared , and have been getting a few Indiana bats in 2 of the houses .
Next week I will be checking bat houses at a northern Illinios site
I still would try the octagon gazebo roof design for a bat house. I feel very strongly air movement or ciculation has much to do with bat house occupancy.
I will be constructing some Oregon wedge houses with 2" lumber and spraying them with "Perma- Tech " material.
Last year I discontinued using any plywood in new houses I am putting up. Plywood just doesn't seem to last long term, plus I don't care for all the glues used in the plywood.
The 2" material should be more long lasting . holds paint better and also feel I can hold internal temps better with 2" material , sprayed with "perma-Tech" or painted.
I have been able to hold big browns at the one site for over 10 years now, but still think 2" material would be better.
I am always interested in trying new ideas that anyone may have for bat houses. Also any interesting observations of bat colony locations.
Kent Borcherding
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Joe Spencer
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| Joined: | Mon Feb 11th, 2002 |
| Location: | Massachusetts USA |
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Posted: Thu Apr 28th, 2005 10:26 pm |
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Interesting Kent. Kent what color was the Perma-Tech. Did you get a sample or do you have to take it to a dealer and spray the wood? Also since it is thick stuff do you spray it on the boards first and then assemble partitions? What about 1" rough pine boards as a partition to be sprayed?
Are you saying that you believe bats prefer more air movement due to the increase in potential oxygen supply? Or is there another reason you suspect? or is this a case of who knows why it just works! Thanks Kent 
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kent borcherding
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Posted: Sat Apr 30th, 2005 05:23 pm |
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Hi Joe ,
"Perma-Tech" color I use is black.
Some bat houses are sprayed all black -some just the back and 6"- 8" of the top front and bottom front is painted brown.
I never spray the landing pad- but paint it brown.
Also never "perma -tech " or paint or stain baffles.
Houses are sprayed after they are put together.
A "Perma -Tech" dealer that sprays a lot of pick-up truck beds and the under decks of lawn mowers gives me a sustantial discount to spray the bat houses.
Usually I leave 2 or more bat houses at his business and when they are adjusting the spray and have extra spray left ,they spray the bat houses.
The dealer charges me $18 - $24 a bat house.
I have used old boards that were stained or painted from building tear offs for baffles. Usually that material is cedar siding. Doesn't seem to bother the bats.
The air movement is something don't know why.
Could be reason bats roosts under bridges , and prefer bat houses installed along road way near a tree line. I have observed other bat roosts and bat house placements that started me wondering about air movement connected with bat house occupancy.
Also when you first put bat houses on a building with 3/4 " spacers behind it , bats will roost in space behind bat house first.
The octagon gazebo is another observation I have been intrigued with for 4=5 years now.
If bats are in an area where there is an octagon gazebo they will roost under the roof at the top of gazebo.
Where there are triangle shaped roofs at an upward angle the air flow is upward.
A good friend of mine used to construct dome houses using all triangle shaped cut plywood in the roof construction.
Once the roof was enclosed and vents open at the peak of the roof ,when you used saws to cut more material the sawdust went up and out the roof vent at top of the house. I saw it many times. Makes you look twice the first time you see it.
Anyway that what makes me think bats prefer the air whatever at the top of octagon gazebos.
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Joe Spencer
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Posted: Sat Apr 30th, 2005 10:51 pm |
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Ah so if I inderstand you correctly it is the exterior of the bat house that is sprayed with Perma-Tech and not the interior? Ya know each and everytime I see bats congregating at the peak of barns I always thought it had to do with just the heat being trapped there but since hot air rises creating an air flow maybe this is what is so enticing? Last year a neighbor of mine had three big brown bats in his attic all if which were on the same level at the peak next to the RIDGE VENT. Many and most new homes have ridge vents. Since the air flow is vastly increased here by the natural draft of hot air expelling maybe the bats LIKE IT? In Fact my soffit houses I erected recently have perforated holes in then allowing a draft. Nothing in any of my bat houses yet. It has been an extremely cold wet and cold spring thusfar for my area and I have not seen any bats even flying yet. Hopefully by mid-Late May I'll see them. 
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