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Past Blitzes
2002 Bat Blitz - the one that started it all!
Host: Jackie Belwood In 1998, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) began all All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). The goal of this 15-year project is to inventory every living thing in the Park, mostly during taxon-specific "bio-blitzes" that allow large numbers of biologists and volunteers to converge on the Park collecting activities. Past blitzes have focused on taxa ranging from ferns to beetles to slime molds. Some ATBI participants noted gaps in data on ecto- and endoparasites from bats, and this led to the organization of the first Bat Blitz in the southeast. From 17-20 June 2002, 26 biologists from nine institutions trapped 205 bats at 12 locations in the Park. Seven bat species were captured, including endangered Indiana bats and a Rafinesque's big-eared bat. Blitz volunteers collected ectoparasites, feces, blood, tissue and fur; these samples were sent to five different institutions for further study on parasites and genetic analyses. An Indiana bat maternity roost was found as a result of the Blitz. The Blitz also allowed numerous bat biologists to work in teams, sharing ideas and information plus tips on field techniques. The Bat Blitz received media attention and generated several newspaper articles favorable to bats.
2003 SBDN Bat Blitz
Hosts: Blake Sasse (AR Game and Fish Commission), David Saugey (USFS), Shawn Cochran, Clay Vanhorn, Dan Miller Following the success of the Great Smoky Mountain Bat Blitz in 2001, the U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network sponsored a second Bat Blitz in 2003. Volunteer biologists from state and federal agencies, universities, and private companies from 9 states came together in the Ouachita National Forest of western Arkansas to learn as much as possible about the bat fauna of the area while sharing techniques with each other. From August 4-7, 2003 a total of 209 bats, including 156 red bats (Lasiurus borealis), 25 eastern pipistrelles (Pipistrellus subflavus), 16 evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis), 7 northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis), and 5 big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) were captured at 22 sites on streams and roads in 4 Ranger Districts. Blood, DNA, feces, and hair samples from captured bats were collected to aid in ongoing research projects. In order to generate positive publicity for bats, one evening was designated as "media night" and representatives from Arkansas' statewide newspaper and 7 television stations from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee attended trapping sessions. Photo of attendees: Joy O'Keefe's 2003 Blitz page. 2004 SBDN Bat Blitz The third annual Bat Blitz was held from 1-5 August 2004 in the Uwharrie National Forest and the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, an area lacking baseline data of bat distribution and abundance. Forty-seven volunteers came from 11 states, including Michigan, California, New Mexico, and Texas. Eleven experienced bat biologists each led teams of 1-6 volunteers to conduct mist net surveys at over 30 sites in three counties. Each team had standardized kits for collecting tissue, fecal samples, and echolocation reference calls. Seventy-seven bats representing five species were captured: red bats (Lasiurus borealis), evening bats (Nycticeius humeralis), Seminole bats (L. seminolus), big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), and eastern pipistrelles (Pipistrellus subflavus). We saw evidence and recorded echolocation calls of two other species: Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) and southeastern bats (Myotis austroriparius). Data collected at the Blitz were used for local studies of the effects of water quality on foraging behavior of bats in Piedmont watersheds. The Bat Blitz was covered in local and statewide papers and featured as a four minute CNN television piece. Major monetary and logistic sponsors of the event included Beth Haltiwanger Retreat Cente, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge* (NWR), Friends of the Pee Dee NWR, Land Trust of Central NC, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, NC State Parks, University of NC-Greensboro, Clemson University, and the U.S. Forest Service. Photos: Joy O'Keefe's 2004 Blitz page -- Joe Szewczak's 2004 and 2005 Bat Blitzes and other blitzes More about this event: CNN -- Independent Weekly -- Public Radio (mp3) -- Herald Tribune.
2005 SBDN Bat Blitz
Hosts: Frances Rothwein, Joe Neal, and Mary Lynn Mentz (all USFS) The fourth annual Bat Blitz returned to the Arkansas portion of the Ouachita National Forest July 31 - 4 August and was conducted on portions of the Cold Springs, Fourche and Poteau Ranger Districts located in the west-central portion of the Forest. Communities located in the vicinity of the event were Danville, Booneville and Waldron. Rogers Scout Camp near the community of Ione served as base of operations to 56 participants from a wide range of institutions and agencies. Sponsors were the U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and Southeastern Bat Diversity Network. A total of 393 bats was captured during three evenings of field activity in spite of very dry conditions. Several streams selected as netting sites during event planning turned out to be completely dry and did not contain pools typically associated with them during summer months. Species captured were 218-Lasiurus borealis, 95-Myotis septentrionalis, 45- Nycticeius humeralis, 8- Lasiurus seminolus, 7-Eptesicus fuscus, 12-Perimyotis subflavus, and 8-Lasiurus cinereus. A variety of biological samples were taken on selected species for on-going and future studies. The Blitz received local media attention resulting in an entire page of text and photos favorable to bats. Sincere appreciation is extended to Ouachita National Forest biologists Frances Rothwein, Joe Neal, and Mary Lynn Mentz who served as the primary host committee. Photos: Joy O'Keefe's 2005 Blitz page -- Joe Szewczak's 2004 and 2005 Bat Blitzes and other blitzes
2006 SBDN Bat Blitz
Hosts: Susan Loeb, Gary Peters (both USFS) The 2006 SBDN-Blitz was held August 6-10, 2006 in the mountains of northwestern South Carolina and northeastern Georgia. The Blitz was sponsored by the Francis Marion National Forest, the Southern Research Station, the Chattahoochee National Forest, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Our home for the Blitz was Camp Chatuga in Mountain Rest, SC. We had 62 volunteers, 5 guests, and 3 members of the media participate in and observe the activities. Attendees came from 11 states across the South and represented 8 universities, 2 federal agencies, 5 state agencies, 3 private companies, 2 city agencies, 1 zoo, and 2 elementary schools. Mist netting was conducted for 3 nights and 31 sites were surveyed. We captured 261 bats of 10 species: 1 Rafinesque's big-eared bat, 36 big brown bats, 141 red bats, 1 hoary bat, 1 Seminole bat, 5 small-footed bats, 18 little brown bats, 34 northern long-eared bats, 2 evening bats, and 22 eastern pipistrelles. Because Rafinesque's big-eared bats and small-footed bats are species of special concern in South Carolina and Georgia, their captures were of particular note. Further, we obtained only the second record of a Seminole bat on the Andrew Pickens District. Thus, valuable data on the status and distribution of bats of the area were collected. We also hosted a "Kids Night at the Blitz". Several children ranging from 3-12 years attended. Although we did not catch any bats that evening, the children were able to observe free flying bats and hear them with the bat detectors. Photos: Joy O'Keefe's 2006 Blitz page.
2007 SBDN Bat Blitz
Hosts: Marcia Carter, Mary Dodson, Laura Lewis, Joe McGuiness, Scotty Myers, Mark Robison, and Gary Watson (USFS) with Scott Dykes, Pete Wyatt, and Allen Ricks (TN Wildlife Resources Agency). Over 110 bat biologists, researchers, managers and students converged at Roan Mountain State Park, TN July 29-August 2, 2007 for the 6th Annual SBDN Bat Blitz, the largest gathering of its kind in the region. These volunteers -- almost half of them women-- represented 42 agencies, corporations, universities and organizations and traveled from 16 states including FL, NY, MO, and TX. In four nights, the volunteers logged 248 net-nights of effort for a landscape-scale survey of bats at 50 sites in the northeastern Cherokee National Forest (CNF), plus adjoining state and private lands. Over 462 bats representing seven species were captured or recorded using acoustic detection equipment. Captures included 203 northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis), 121 big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), 53 red bats (Lasiurus borealis), 31 little brown bats (M. lucifugus), and 24 eastern pipistrelles (Perimyotis subflavus). In addition, 29 small-footed bats (M. leibii; Sensitive) and one gray bat (M. grisescens; Endangered) were captured. A total of six new locations for rare species were added to state and federal databases as a result of this Bat Blitz. On July 29, volunteer biologists gave a bat presentation and demo of mist netting techniques to campers and visitors at Roan Mountain State Park. Print media responses included articles by the Associated Press, Knoxville News Sentinel (PDF), Chattanoogan (PDF), Tricities (PDF) and the Johnson City Press. Johnson City's News Channel 11 (WJHL) covered the event. An article about the Blitz appeared in the November-December 2007 issue of the Tennessee Conservationist magazine and another article will appear in Tennessee Wildlife magazine. A Tennessee Wild Side episode (no. 1409 - link leads to a free streaming video) was filmed and has aired on several public television stations. Major sponsors of the Blitz included the U.S. Forest Service, TN Wildlife Resources Agency, TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation, Partners of the CNF, National Forest Foundation. Further contributions came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Johnny Lynch (artist), Wal-Mart, and Rise N' Shine Coffee (Knoxville, TN). Photos: Joy O'Keefe's 2007 Blitz page. |
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