Today we had a very busy day. Along with all the other things we focused the majority of our time on BATS!!!!! First we learned about the background of bats and how to identify the different species. We also learned how people have a pre-conceived ideas about bats and think that they are icky but they are totally COOL! After our orientation we set up feces collectors to tell how the bats spread the seeds that they eat. We had dinner and afterwards we went back and put up mist net to try to catch a bat to learn about them. Then we switched groups and got another orientation. After we learned all of these things we saw real bats and got to touch them. We got to touch the wings. It was such a thin leathery membrane. Violet and I were afraid we were going to break it. These bats were definitely the highlight of our day!!!
-Meghan and Violet-
Pictures to come soon, but it's almost 10, we've been up since 7 and we have a 5AM wakeup to see what the feces collectors have for us to find! Students are trying to determine whether or not bats are responsible for spreading the seeds of the fruits they eat to clearings in and around the Sarapiqui rainforest and river. The students have hypothesized that these seeds would grow into fruit plants and become the first stage in a succession of a developing rainforest. Tomorrow can't come sooner!
-Mr. Musselman-
Who would have imagined you would ever say bats were the highlight of your day! Were you checking out caves? Sounds like things are going great and everyone is having fun.
ReplyDeleteLaura, Willy made it back from DC and is now enjoying his vacation time to catch up on sleep. Andrew is thrilled to have to feed the animals for you. He says don't forget his payment!
didn't realize bats could be cool! em, i bet grandma would love getting to know a bat:)
ReplyDeleteWOW, you guys are off and learning right away... no rest for the weary! I've always loved bats... we had lots of them in our back yard growing up in Indiana. We loved to throw tennis balls into the air and watch them dive at them. We always appreciated them for eating mosquitoes. I've never touched a bat though! What an eye-opening experience!
ReplyDeleteI hope you guys are all getting as much sleep as possible... probably falling into bed! Can't wait to learn what you found in the feces collections.
Meghan, Dad booked our flights, for the Grand Canyon in July!!! I enjoyed borrowing your bike and riding with Kerry and Sarah B. around the lake yesterday! The Boston Marathon is being run today!
Sening lots of love, Mom
To Kate and Susan: The Grand Canyon trip sounds amazing! It's another beautiful part of our world. I'm sad to be missing the Boston Marathon. When I lived in Brighton I would walk to the top of my street to watch people run on Mass Ave. Being here isn't too shabby either, though! I'm off to find the kids now that media is uploaded. Enjoy the day off!
ReplyDeleteIts Monday night Megsie, Mom says "don't forget to take out the trash"... oh boy!!!
ReplyDelete~Kate