Alabaster Caverns Bat Count 2016

**ABC 16 Total Counts**
Total Count 16,221	Myotis 16,035	Tricolor 120	Big Ear 1	Big Brown 65

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Alabaster Caverns Bat Count - 2016 (ABC16) Thursday - January 28, 2016 This year the bat count has some special guests. Seems there was a multi-day workshop for Oklahoma State Park Naturalists in NW Oklahoma. So as part of their training (and experience) they were asked to come and help out with the annual Alabaster Caverns Bat Count. About 23 people participated in this years bat count consisting of people from the Oklahoma State Parks, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, and private individual bat specialists. These pictures sorta tell the story of the count. NOTE: There are many pictures of the same bat or mat of bats from different angles. These are on here for scientists to do detail study in the monitoring of White Nose Syndrome (WNS). (Though we are sure there is none in the cave as the bats all looked healthy). Click on any photo to see an enlarged version. This will bring up a 40% sized picture. To see the full size (3000x4000 px) click on the link below each picture labeled full size picture.
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The count was to begin at 2:30 p.m. At 2:45 we got a call that the big group had been detained at Little Sahara and would still be there... so Mike kept us entertained with his stories.	Welcome to Alabaster Caverns State Park!	Then a caravan arrived and people came out like clown cars in a circus!
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Many ran for the bathroom, a bunch into the park office for their official passport stamps, and some were ready to go right now!	If you wanted to count off trail, then you had to have a helmet and light.	Getting ready for the orientation / training.
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All righty then... come on over gang!!	So here is what y'all are going to see in the caves....
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	A handy picture guide...	A last disclamer that if you got lost in the cave, a tour will be coming by tomorrow morning.
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Attententive group!	Then... on down to the cave! Let's start ABC16!!!
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	oops...locked gate... who has the key? Oh yeah... Mike...he's still up top!!	The entrance to ... (errie music insert)... THE CAVE!
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Last minute talk & instructions at the mouth of the cave.	Then it is time to split up... some on top, some down to Lower Cave, and the rest on the trail (or just off of) to count the bats.	So we'll first go down into Lower Cave... this is the last light you see after starting down.. and the first hole you have to crawl into to get there.
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So it was Duane's job to take pictures of the bats this year and photo-document what happened.	So... just as you are kinda used to dark holes, BAM... a photo flash blinds you as you crawl into lower cave!	You're welcome! <evil grin>
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We may never see them again!!! :)	Actually this is a very cool section of the cave and is not seen by regular tourists so these people really got a special treat!	Brave souls!
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Click on any photo to see an enlarged version. On the bottom of each picture is fullsize option.

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Last updated: 1/29/16