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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Carlsbad Caverns bats (1 Viewer)

OwlTalon

Always Watching
Anybody here evr been to Carlsbad Caverns, NM, to see the Mexican Free-tailed Bats? I went there, and it was amazing. Thousands of bats flying right over our head. Got lots of good pictures! But what was even better was when we went in the morning. There were 9 people ther, and 6 were accounted for by my group. They came in from all directions, in between us, over us, you could feel and hear them going by (the clicking of echolocation and the rev of their wings). I had seen a Painted Bunting that day, and didn't expect the bats to be as good, bt they were!
 
TCondorOwl92 said:
Anybody here evr been to Carlsbad Caverns, NM, to see the Mexican Free-tailed Bats? I went there, and it was amazing. Thousands of bats flying right over our head. Got lots of good pictures! But what was even better was when we went in the morning. There were 9 people ther, and 6 were accounted for by my group. They came in from all directions, in between us, over us, you could feel and hear them going by (the clicking of echolocation and the rev of their wings). I had seen a Painted Bunting that day, and didn't expect the bats to be as good, bt they were!


It is an amazing sight, the smell was pretty bad when they left the caves!

Mark
 
TCondorOwl92 said:
Anybody here evr been to Carlsbad Caverns, NM, to see the Mexican Free-tailed Bats? I went there, and it was amazing. Thousands of bats flying right over our head. Got lots of good pictures! But what was even better was when we went in the morning. There were 9 people ther, and 6 were accounted for by my group. They came in from all directions, in between us, over us, you could feel and hear them going by (the clicking of echolocation and the rev of their wings). I had seen a Painted Bunting that day, and didn't expect the bats to be as good, bt they were!
Yes. My mom and took a road trip years ago and one of the detours was Carlsbad. We 'adopted' bats for all the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I loved the presentation, from both the humans and the bats.
Is Lucy still there? She's the one with the red shoes.
 
TCondorOwl92 said:
Anybody here evr been to Carlsbad Caverns, NM, to see the Mexican Free-tailed Bats? I went there, and it was amazing. Thousands of bats flying right over our head. Got lots of good pictures! But what was even better was when we went in the morning. There were 9 people ther, and 6 were accounted for by my group. They came in from all directions, in between us, over us, you could feel and hear them going by (the clicking of echolocation and the rev of their wings). I had seen a Painted Bunting that day, and didn't expect the bats to be as good, bt they were!
I was just there a couple of weeks ago. Seeing the clouds of bats flying out of the cavern was amazing. We also noticed the odor coming out of the cave. We were told that each species of bat has its own unique smell. How were you able to take pictures? The Park Service Ranger giving the talk before the bat flight hammered us about not taking photographs as it may disturb the bats. One person did not listen and took a picture. He was escorted out by a armed Ranger with a ticket book.
 
RobertB said:
One person did not listen and took a picture. He was escorted out by a armed Ranger with a ticket book.

I'm usually pretty intolerant of idiots, but it's possible the photographer didn't understand English. The national parks attract lots of foreign visitors.
 
I've had the pleasure of seeing this twice. The first time when I was 10 years old and then just a few years back (30 odd years later), Both are sights I won't forget. There seemed to be just as many the second time around. It is truley impressive.
 
I have been there myself and the bats are awesome, so are the swallows and birding in general is good. Rattlesnake flats picnic ground is a favorite place for birds. It has a water source and this is were I saw my first Vermillion Flycatcher.

Just to the northwest is a lake that is a great birding spot as well. I have thought that I might try to get back this way this fall but my schedule doesn't look good.
 
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