tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645645327030250732024-03-13T01:24:13.178+00:00Bats for BatsBats, bats, and more bats... a blog for anyone who's bats for bats.Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-30825113366596641912015-12-27T15:05:00.000+00:002015-12-27T15:05:02.516+00:00THIS BLOG HAS MOVEDIt is now located at <a href="http://batsforbats.tumblr.com/">BATSFORBATS.TUMBLR.COM</a>.Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-79431453166751208362012-06-10T20:53:00.000+01:002012-06-10T20:53:28.816+01:00Bats Are Still Dying! Here's How You Can Help<i>By Christopher Courtley </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLg2jugFAOcovH5EFXqNi8P6kwVE6-Y9ntDs1iL51oLoc45Sq3iTbZjQJcJWZBjv_5FmtmzDGWgAwtr7cK2ad7F9F8qjlwJJul-N80wEOQvat0qzk2cWYqjUHo3kCH1N3-AzTWksE1S0/s1600/tumblr_m553nc49SS1rnd4y0o3_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLg2jugFAOcovH5EFXqNi8P6kwVE6-Y9ntDs1iL51oLoc45Sq3iTbZjQJcJWZBjv_5FmtmzDGWgAwtr7cK2ad7F9F8qjlwJJul-N80wEOQvat0qzk2cWYqjUHo3kCH1N3-AzTWksE1S0/s320/tumblr_m553nc49SS1rnd4y0o3_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It seems that the widespread <a href="http://news.discovery.com/animals/bat-bee-frog-deaths-linked-120601.html">deaths of bats, bees, and frogs may be linked</a>. These three organisms are extremely important to our ecosystem, so we can't afford to sit by and let entire species of bats, bees, and frogs be decimated. Here's how you can help stem the tide and prevent what could be a disastrous blow to our fragile ecosystem.<br />
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<b>Donate </b><br />
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If you can donate funds to a reputable non-profit group such as the <a href="http://www.batconservation.org/">Organization for Bat Conservation</a> or <a href="http://www.njbatman.com/">The Wildlife Conservation & Education Center</a>, then please do so! But keep in mind it's always wise to do a bit of investigating as to
where your money is going and what is being done with it. Also, simply
throwing money at a problem is not enough. In addition, we need to put our
mouths where our money is by helping to educate others. A word or two can make a
huge difference, so don't keep silent when it comes to spreading the
word about bats and other endangered species; especially bats because
they get such a bad rap.<b> </b><br />
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<b>Volunteer </b><br />
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If you can afford to volunteer some of your time to at one or two of these organizations, that would be an immense help as well, not to mention a fun, exciting and extremely rewarding experience for you! Again, the same rules of caution you would use when donating funds applies here. Do your research. Make sure you are volunteering your services to a reputable organization that is actually making a difference.<br />
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<b>Educate Others</b><br />
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One of the best things you can do to help costs you nothing at all except for a few moments of your time. Please help spread awareness about the plight of bats and their importance to the environment and do your best to dispel myths about bats and educate others who may still have misconceptions about them.<br />
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<b>Buy Organic</b><br />
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Since the article we linked to above cites the use of pesticides as a possible factor contributing to the mass destruction of bats, bees, and frogs, one very important way to help save these valuable members of our ecosystem is to join the growing movement toward <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_living">sustainable living</a>. A
very simple first step in this direction is to buy organic. But make sure it's really
organic. If a label says "Organic" and
nothing else, it's essentially meaningless. Look for "USDA Organic" or
"Certified Organic". Even better, if you live in an area where you have the opportunity to support a local organic small farm directly, please do so! <br />
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<b>Hang a Bat House</b><br />
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While it won't solve the problem of where bats are going to spend the winter, which is when they are vulnerable to <a href="http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/">White Nose Syndrome</a>, <a href="http://www.batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/install-a-bat-house.html">hanging a bat house</a> is a nice way to show your appreciation for the bats in your area. It will also give you a chance to better observe these fascinating creatures and perhaps even a few opportunities to educate others about them.<br />
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Thank you for your support. Stay batty! ^V^ <br />
<br />Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-18858142808621038552012-06-07T19:24:00.000+01:002012-06-07T19:24:12.025+01:00White Nose Syndrome: Devastating Fungus Threatens North American BatsHere's a short video about the disease that is currently threatening North American bats and why it is so important that we understand it so that we can combat it and hopefully find a cure. Please note that the video was apparently made some time ago (the disease was discovered in 2006), so while it is stated in the video that 2 million bats have died from this, the death toll as of the beginning of this year was <a href="http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2012/2012-01-17-092.html">estimated to be 6.7 million</a><span class="st">! :(</span><br />
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<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/23852351" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <a href="http://vimeo.com/23852351">White Nose Syndrome: Devastating Fungus Threatens North American Bats</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mittelstadt">Jeffrey Mittelstadt</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
</center>Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-9707414269728900822012-06-03T22:27:00.002+01:002012-06-03T22:27:29.073+01:00Echo of Bat!<i>By Christopher Courtley </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj447HXzj3Qnr7D4eGkqEZI7wyToCjhPJeTtF_lVYwGiKB_FnosUbI7eWHJw9ee_Tkh0_Zl5bQ7nPww11CsaVjZS50ZJeKSd7FMxYChh9so8WQj0HvLojrnHo3PwjICqw2Eowa_rin9Yg4/s1600/darkwingbat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj447HXzj3Qnr7D4eGkqEZI7wyToCjhPJeTtF_lVYwGiKB_FnosUbI7eWHJw9ee_Tkh0_Zl5bQ7nPww11CsaVjZS50ZJeKSd7FMxYChh9so8WQj0HvLojrnHo3PwjICqw2Eowa_rin9Yg4/s1600/darkwingbat.jpeg" /></a></div>
It goes without saying that bats are often demonized in the media (or at the very least, portrayed as nuisances). Unfortunately, video games have not been innocent of this unfair representation. For numerous examples of this, just check out the "<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GoddamnedBats">Goddamned Bats</a>" and "<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BatOutOfHell">Bat out of Hell</a>" pages on the <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage">Television Tropes & Idioms wiki</a>. I can recall quite a few games I've played in which bats come swarming out of the darkness (usually once you've ventured into a cave or system of tunnels within a cave) and, though easily killed, often attack in such large numbers (and fly in such an unpredictable pattern) that they can become pretty frustrating to deal with.<br />
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Even one of my most favorite games of all time, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castlevania:_Symphony_of_the_Night">Castlevania: Symphony of the Night</a>, is not without its enemy bats attacking from the shadows without warning. But it's also very bat-friendly, as you will see if you watch the YouTube video below. In this video we see not only how this classic game pairs its hero with a bat as one of many helpful "familiars", but also eventually gives him the power to transform himself into a bat. As such, he can not only fly (and thereby explore previously inaccessible areas) but he can also acquire the "Echo of Bat" ability... in other words, bat sonar or echolocation! Check it out:<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b-n5WOOg0XM" width="420"></iframe></center><br />
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In the beginning of this next video, we get to see the bat sonar ability in action. Unfortunately, this is the only part of the game in which that ability is useful. It's a shame they didn't create more areas like this, in which echolocation was necessary in order to navigate safely through complete darkness.<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JPLvFM6sWeo" width="420"></iframe></center><br />
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If you'd like to learn more about echolocation in bats, <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/mammals/bat2.htm">here's a good place to start</a>. Stay batty! ^V^Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-92195968000255391992011-09-27T04:27:00.001+01:002011-09-27T04:31:38.428+01:00Wild Wild World of Bats<i>By Michelle Katrina and Christopher Courtley</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-BUDALZSw2vtGIqhqKODNpRWqZbUKYDMXMBQ6eAH-BtvMNgTNJ4x2Vly1ObsMnWxx3iUwQEZPNC-UBL8ckPHBnsgP4qhIsQqhc5ZnU-Qq-sfm0mN88rIhGcbe7_oNRVCGiiOFyZ0JzU/s1600/fruitbat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-BUDALZSw2vtGIqhqKODNpRWqZbUKYDMXMBQ6eAH-BtvMNgTNJ4x2Vly1ObsMnWxx3iUwQEZPNC-UBL8ckPHBnsgP4qhIsQqhc5ZnU-Qq-sfm0mN88rIhGcbe7_oNRVCGiiOFyZ0JzU/s320/fruitbat.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Michelle Katrina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>"Get up-close and personal with bats from around the world! Join Rob Mies, director of the <a href="http://www.batconservation.org/">Organization for Bat Conservation</a>, for a <a href="http://www.amnh.org/calendar/event/Live-Bat-Encounter/">live bat presentation</a>. Mies has appeared on 'The Tonight Show,' 'The Today Show,' 'Late Night with Conan O’Brien,' and 'Martha Stewart,' among others, and is a co-author of the book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stokes-Beginners-Guide-Bats-Williams/dp/0316816582">Stokes Beginners Guide to Bats</a></i>. His research includes work with the endangered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_bat">Indiana bat</a> of the United States, endangered <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigues_Flying_Fox">Rodrigues fruit bat </a>of the Indian Ocean, and the threatened <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectacled_flying_fox">spectacled flying fox bat</a> of Australia." ~<a href="http://www.amnh.org/calendar/event/Live-Bat-Encounter/">AMNH</a><br />
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This weekend, visit <a href="http://www.amnh.org/">The American Museum of Natural History </a>for a <a href="http://www.amnh.org/calendar/event/Live-Bat-Encounter/">live bat encounter</a>!! While this presentation is geared towards kids, it is fact-filled, entertaining and an excellent opportunity for a close-up look at a number of different bat species. It is recommended that you order your tickets in advance, and arrive early to be sure to get a good seat.<br />
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Also, as indicated in the video below, if you can't make it to the AMNH show on October 1st, Rob and his bats will be at the <a href="http://www.nybg.org/">New York Botanical Garden</a> the following day. ^V^<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lvmqYnx_tUM" width="500"></iframe>Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-37134555330392742172011-08-01T19:09:00.000+01:002011-08-01T19:09:26.518+01:00Bats: Misunderstood Mammals of Flight<div style="text-align: left;">Here's a short documentary on bats from <a href="http://www.batworld.org/" target="_blank">Bat World Sanctuary</a>.</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="310" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VYw52voZXS0" width="520"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="310" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p3KMH26xNLg" width="520"></iframe>Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-73113579195247771052011-07-29T19:36:00.004+01:002011-07-29T19:43:07.190+01:00Batstock!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_8WzTn9Le4OhjFzkZXnSyq1rAzSaV3vMxkWZtdwIDT0kzt6s6_WhFO6NR5Va5B9t9MRu3JgJyj4CzPLtSGS5RDDWrMJ2UWG_VTH_F90OOCkw5tLr4A4oSlvLnxE0i6TqwcRNPAKj0r4/s1600/BATSTOCKPOSTERWBCKRNDAGAINsmaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_8WzTn9Le4OhjFzkZXnSyq1rAzSaV3vMxkWZtdwIDT0kzt6s6_WhFO6NR5Va5B9t9MRu3JgJyj4CzPLtSGS5RDDWrMJ2UWG_VTH_F90OOCkw5tLr4A4oSlvLnxE0i6TqwcRNPAKj0r4/s640/BATSTOCKPOSTERWBCKRNDAGAINsmaller.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">A MUST for bat lovers! Wildlife conservation, fun and music! Bands, Vendors, Artists. Location: <a href="http://mexicalilive.com/" target="_blank">Mexicali Live</a> in Teaneck, NJ. Visit <a href="http://njbatman.com/" target="_blank">NJBatman.com</a> for more info.</div>Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-42944458354944983042011-07-24T18:07:00.002+01:002011-07-25T23:00:09.458+01:00Help Save The Bats!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xJUTcE-2hGM-S2VBOI0WF5dXdEFkMgh5Q7jGWX77fHL99ufgROIOWwBdbQLiCK2DuaFJUXn-bYA0hkJzwZkKVUOkYQTdc62FG4e1Gw2BiOQPis51ZuCwzPCywlQr811kbPpWe5k5dCI/s1600/Golden_crowned_fruit_bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xJUTcE-2hGM-S2VBOI0WF5dXdEFkMgh5Q7jGWX77fHL99ufgROIOWwBdbQLiCK2DuaFJUXn-bYA0hkJzwZkKVUOkYQTdc62FG4e1Gw2BiOQPis51ZuCwzPCywlQr811kbPpWe5k5dCI/s1600/Golden_crowned_fruit_bat.jpg" /></a></div>Bats are one of the most unique creatures on earth, the sole members of the order <i>chiroptera</i>, a term comprised of the Greek words for 'hand' and 'wing', so named because bats do not fly by flapping "their entire forelimbs, as birds do, but instead flap their spread out digits, which are very long and covered with a thin membrane." [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat" target="_blank">1</a>] Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. Even so-called flying squirrels can really only glide.<br />
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Bats are also very important and useful members of the ecological system. For one thing, many bats eat insects, and so play a vital role in keeping the insect population in check. Yet so many myths about bats, and especially their portrayal in the media, usually in horror films, have turned them into objects of unreasonable fear.<br />
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Bats don't go around attacking people, nor is there a likelihood that one will ever get caught in your hair, due to their highly sophisticated sonar system of navigation known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_echolocation" target="_blank">echolocation</a>. The majority of them don't drink blood either, and even <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_bat" target="_blank">vampire bats</a>, which do drink blood, usually only drink the blood of animals, without harming them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZwX_c-7sUnUTlt1wuDXV04lFv8mR4ci4i434KAtFPeSfMbNncc-c61XZNlZRMqgdTQhV4VofHE-WWxRKN1Ph8KsYK_ZpRPjQx5d0BpvVCDyBvv5q8fSP6O0PjGGahZlE6PoAHbmllas/s1600/220px-Little_Brown_Bat_with_White_Nose_Syndrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZwX_c-7sUnUTlt1wuDXV04lFv8mR4ci4i434KAtFPeSfMbNncc-c61XZNlZRMqgdTQhV4VofHE-WWxRKN1Ph8KsYK_ZpRPjQx5d0BpvVCDyBvv5q8fSP6O0PjGGahZlE6PoAHbmllas/s1600/220px-Little_Brown_Bat_with_White_Nose_Syndrome.jpg" /></a></div>Now more then ever it is important that we educate people about the importance of bats to the ecological system as well as dispel these erroneous myths about them, due to the widespread decimation of bat populations from <a href="http://www.batcon.org/index.php/what-we-do/white-nose-syndrome.html" target="_blank">White Nose Syndrome</a>.<br />
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Over the last five years or so bats all over the northeastern United States and now even as far north as Canada have been affected by this devastating plague, named for the presence of a white fungal growth around the muzzles and sometimes the wings of affected hibernating bats. The cause of this disease is still unknown, and it is spreading at an alarming rate. According to <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>, this "poorly understood malady [is] associated with the deaths of more than a million bats." [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nose_syndrome" target="_blank">2</a>]<br />
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This is bound to have long-reaching detrimental effects on our ecosystem. After all, insects are more than just a minor annoyance. They also destroy crops, and the presence of bats is a much healthier and natural means of insect population control than human methods such as the use of harmful pesticides.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzX6sVzzFSTm5TWZkXLyZLzOG9n1ppWh3WIRPOKuqGpFAnd8Z7LBAZiIaSxxiES_Wzy60HWr_IIk06q0YqwT4MlHt2RELOC22Qbak9wcwMSGOl4D2jfFeZMxAVBH4rkCf6WuxMskXVos/s1600/two-scientists-Bat-Conservation-International-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzX6sVzzFSTm5TWZkXLyZLzOG9n1ppWh3WIRPOKuqGpFAnd8Z7LBAZiIaSxxiES_Wzy60HWr_IIk06q0YqwT4MlHt2RELOC22Qbak9wcwMSGOl4D2jfFeZMxAVBH4rkCf6WuxMskXVos/s320/two-scientists-Bat-Conservation-International-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Much is being done by wildlife conservation groups and other organizations to address this concern, but there are things that ordinary people like us can do to help as well. One important way, which is one of the main reasons for this blog, is in spreading awareness of this threat and also helping to dispel myths and misconceptions about bats.<br />
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You can also donate to any of the following organizations:<br />
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<a href="http://www.batconservation.org/" target="_blank">Organization for Bat Conservation (The Bat Zone)</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.batcon.org/" target="_blank">Bat Conservation International</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.njbatman.com/" target="_blank">The Wildlife Conservation & Education Center (NJ Batman)</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.batworld.org/" target="_blank">Bat World Sanctuary</a><br />
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Thanks in advance for your help, and be sure to stop back here again for more updates on White Nose Syndrome and of course, lots of fun bat facts, stories, events, pictures, and videos.Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1964564532703025073.post-75458659534839578422011-07-05T17:02:00.000+01:002011-07-05T22:05:08.219+01:00Calling All Bat Lovers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OvqwWurAXYEDN9EJT8vFJqg4JqG_IyF_3Af9Y55EC00GBqcsX4yh4hxg2iX717S24Tg3wIVZaIISfPcBuLDbQ84d4RkMivT79UNtr3DtAxmIMiQW4F6c3en_WBPyGSJ6bnnNs0qlXmk/s1600/batsyumagrande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OvqwWurAXYEDN9EJT8vFJqg4JqG_IyF_3Af9Y55EC00GBqcsX4yh4hxg2iX717S24Tg3wIVZaIISfPcBuLDbQ84d4RkMivT79UNtr3DtAxmIMiQW4F6c3en_WBPyGSJ6bnnNs0qlXmk/s200/batsyumagrande.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>If you're bats for bats, then this is the place for you! This brand new blog will feature lots of fun and interesting facts about bats, stories and news about bats, as well as plenty of photos of bats, videos, and more. <br />
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Please bookmark this site and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/follow-blog.g?blogID=1964564532703025073" target="_blank" title="Follow With Google Friend Connect">follow us</a> into the darkness! ^V^Christopher Courtleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305731836001862427noreply@blogger.com0