[PumaMan]

Pretty soon the Lesser Long-nosed Bats or the Mexican Long-tongued Bats (not sure which) will arrive and then I have to bring my feeders in after dark and put them out before dawn. It's a pain and it lasts until sometime in October. Sometimes I put out a 30-oz hummingbird feeder for them and they drain it by morning. If I go out with a flashlight I can see them swooping in.

Here are some great pics of the bats (that I didn't take ):

http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/200...d-feeder-bats/

It's strange how I don't have this problem in the Spring. It's only in the Fall.

[Geni3]

Originally Posted by PumaMan

Pretty soon the Lesser Long-nosed Bats or the Mexican Long-tongued Bats (not sure which) will arrive and then I have to bring my feeders in after dark and put them out before dawn. It's a pain and it lasts until sometime in October. Sometimes I put out a 30-oz hummingbird feeder for them and they drain it by morning. If I go out with a flashlight I can see them swooping in.

Here are some great pics of the bats (that I didn't take ):

http://fireflyforest.net/firefly/200...d-feeder-bats/

It's strange how I don't have this problem in the Spring. It's only in the Fall.

The autumn arrival of these migratory Mexican bats coincides with the blooming of the agaves and certain cacti where they find nectar -- and which they pollinate.

Some of them have discovered that hummer feeders are easier sources of food however.

They don't tolerate colder weather, and go back home when Tucson cools off, usually during mid-to-late October, as I recall.

Wild Birds Unlimited (Tanque Verde Rd.) used to make (maybe still do?)a nice cage that kept the bats from draining feeders without excluding or
intimidating hummers. (Some ignored it and some used it as a perch.)

I purchased one of these cages, with which I was pleased, but found that I
needed more. (I was feeding dozens of hummers at that time.)

I made a very simple cage myself using plain ol' hanging plant baskets (Ace Hardware - two for $5.00) and a few S-hooks. That worked just as well. And probably just one basket over the top of the feeder would have done the job.

If I find a photo, I will attach it.

It seems like we've had this conversation before, a couple of years ago?http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=152637&page=2

[Lisa W]

I had one hanging onto the roof of my back porch last night, the first I've seen this year.

[PumaMan]

Originally Posted by Lisa W

I had one hanging onto the roof of my back porch last night, the first I've seen this year.

So, they're on their way up here. Thanks for the warning!! I usually know they're here when one or more of my feeders are empty in the morning.

Also, I may be mistaken, but it seems like the hummer activity is up a notch, a few more "aerial combats" than normal. Am I seeing the first of the migrants?

[Lisa W]

Also, I may be mistaken, but it seems like the hummer activity is up a notch, a few more "aerial combats" than normal. Am I seeing the first of the migrants?

Probably, saw my first Rufous this morning. So they should be coming through the Vail area.

[PumaMan]

Originally Posted by Geni3

The autumn arrival of these migratory Mexican bats coincides with the blooming of the agaves and certain cacti where they find nectar -- and which they pollinate.

Some of them have discovered that hummer feeders are easier sources of food however.

They don't tolerate colder weather, and go back home when Tucson cools off, usually during mid-to-late October, as I recall.

Wild Birds Unlimited (Tanque Verde Rd.) used to make (maybe still do?)a nice cage that kept the bats from draining feeders without excluding or
intimidating hummers. (Some ignored it and some used it as a perch.)

I purchased one of these cages, with which I was pleased, but found that I
needed more. (I was feeding dozens of hummers at that time.)

I made a very simple cage myself using plain ol' hanging plant baskets (Ace Hardware - two for $5.00) and a few S-hooks. That worked just as well. And probably just one basket over the top of the feeder would have done the job.

Thank you for the info.

[Rob_D]

Interesting photos Puma. I hadn't really thought much about the ability of bats to perch!

There are large numbers of insect eating bats here, of several species, on the edge of the city of Bucaramanga, and at least one nectar feeder - Pallas's Long-tongued Bat. I'd actually quite like to get some shots of them at my balcony hummer feeder but although sometimes the nectar level drops slightly overnight, I've not yet seen any bats taking nectar.

If I put red dye in the feeder, will I attract vampire bats?

[PumaMan]

We have quite a few insect-eating "House Bats" (not quite sure what species) that come out at dusk and put on a good show along with the Lesser Nighthawks. Sometimes I toss up a small rock and both the Nighthawks and the bats will zoom over to check it out.