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verbal
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2003 12:19 am |
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We have some bats around our house and after some research I learned about bat houses. I'm going to place one, but I have some questions.
Should I follow that picture as close as I can? We have forest around our house and I was going to put the house on an existing tree instead of putting up a pole for it. Would that be ok? Or should I put up a pole for the best results?
I'd love to take some pics of them, if it works out. Would this be best done during the day? Can I do it at night too? Would using a flashlight or the camera flash spook them?
Any other tips?
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Joe Spencer
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2003 02:35 am |
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Welcome to the BHF verbal! it is late for me as I post this but check out my link below to my help/tips, I hope it answers some of your questions at least and if not please do repost and others or myself will help. Re: spooking the bats lights do spook bats a bit, but after a while they often become accustomed to your visits. Poles and buildings are always a better option than trees but I have had success in attracting bats to a tree which was isolated and did not have a lot of branches. Mounting multiple bat houses particularly back to back and painted different colors when mounting on poles is advantageous. It helps with thermal mass and additionally gives daily/seasonal temperature options:
LINK: http://www.batnic.org/Bat_House_Tips/bat_house_tips.html
also http://www.batcon.org if you haven't done so already and order the Bat House Builder's Handbook (just fantastic).
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verbal
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2003 04:57 pm |
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http://batroost.com/singlebathouse.html
http://store.yahoo.com/greenfeet/sunbathoussm.html
Which bat house do you think is the best? The bottom one caught my eye because it says it has echo-location slots to help the bats find it. Does that really help? The bottom one just looks better built too. But I'd like to now your opinion, because I'll probably be ordering one of those.
I'd like one that you can easily look into, without disturbing them. I can't tell if anything is blocking the opening or not.
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Joe Spencer
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2003 02:22 am |
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Bat Houses that have been bat approved by Bat Conservation International are successful designs: http://www.batcon.org/bhra/approved.html
The houses that you listed above etc (Amanda Lollar very experienced with bats) may be successful as well. I have designed bat houses that not only have the echolocation slots on the side but on the front which may be additionally important. These slots not only help bats find the house but can prevent overheating and can keep the bats from going down to the lower opening on en-vented houses on the hottest days which they would rather not do. One thing I can mention is that the designs you linked above are not very deep and probably would be better suited for mounting on a building or mounted together back to back to increase thermal mass helping to minimize quick temperature changes and extremes. I am showing one of my single chambered bat houses below for buildings only. Verbal, where do you now intend to mount your bat house? building, pole, tree,  :
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verbal
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2003 04:48 am |
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| Haven't really decided yet. I'm thinking on a pole cause it would be easier to see. But poles are a pain to put up. And I don't want to pay $60+ for one. And I don't think my dad would approve of mounting it on the house, he'd think they'd try to get in. So I'm not sure. I have to take a look outside tomorrow.
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2003 06:17 am |
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verbal,
Do you know a handyman or retired carpenter ?The rocket box is a good bat house plan or ou can easiy build 2 nice bat houses from a 4ft x 4 ft. piece of plywood.
BCI website has a good plan for an economy bat house you can print out.
If you are not familiar with rocket box plan Joe can recommend a site where you can print it out. If not e-mail me and I will gladly send you the plan, never a charge for a bat house plan.
Only changes I would do is cut front piece all one piece 22 1/2" long and don't use screen but scratch the surface for the bats with a knife or saw.
AC 1/2" fir plywood works the best and get the 1/2" that is 4-5 plies thick. is more stable, holds paint better and longer ,and will last longer.
Use good caulking and caulk well.
Paint 1 house dark brown and the other brown with the top 6 inches of the front black.
You can use 2 piece front if you want and vents on the side. Your house will last longer if you don't ,not as many exposed edges. I stay in contact with many bat house builders and test sites where they are comparing different bat house designs. One of the most successful designs being tested at nine different sites has no vents daytime temps at these sites is over 100 degrees F. frequently. More bats are using this design than the other ventilated houses.
You can mount these houses back to back on a 4" x 6" post 16 ft. long. Put the post in the ground 3 ft. I have bats using bat houses that are only 6 ft. from the gound. All of my bat houses are mounted 10 - 12 feet from the ground except the rocket boxes.
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