Alabaster Caverns Bat Count 2016 - page 2

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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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	Meanwhile back on the trail....	Right near the entrance hole of Lower Cave was what many counted as one myotis (Myotis velifer)
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but if you look real close, you can see it is actually a long ear and his ears are curled up against his head. Not a common bat during bat counts.	The trail counters...
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A versicolor (what we used to call a pip)	They are small and look a rock in the wall.	We waited for the lower cave and upper rocks group to catch up before we took some into bat hall to see the bats there
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Usually we have large mats down there and it makes the rock climbing worth it...	We got all together and climbed down and over.	Alas... there were NO mats this year... just a few 1's and 2's...
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Again, you'll start seeing the same bat from different angles for the scientists to have their look n' see.	Nice and clean!! Good bat!!
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	In the bat room you can get face to face with these guys!
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Then we all reassembled back on the trail and headed on...	We had a total darkness episode then those who wanted could go down Gunbarrel and pop back onto the trail further down.	The rest of us just took the trail
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	A piece of gunbarrel from the trail above
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