efs4ever 3 #1 March 22, 2006 I live a stone's throw from the Waugh Street Bridge in Houston where a quarter of a million Mexican Freetail bats have a colony. Every evening, just before sunset, they swirl out from under the bridge looking like plumes of smoke. I hear they eat literally tons of insects each night. I went there tonight with only my cheapie camera but still managed to get some shots. Maybe tomorrow I'll take the big gun Eos 20D with a stronger flash. As they egress from their "cave" birds of prey are waiting for a meal. I think I even saw a pelican hovering around. The hawks just fly into the crowd and snatch up a tasty meal. Sorry I didn't get a shot that, (because I was fumbling around with the camera ) but I will keep this thread updated with cool pics if I see a bird snatch. ______________Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #2 March 22, 2006 Wow--I wanna stop by one of these evenings and see that!!! Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #3 March 22, 2006 I posted the pictures. You might have missed em, because I forgot at first. In the second shot you can see a lurker about to swoop for dinner. ________________Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #4 March 22, 2006 QuoteI posted the pictures. You might have missed em, because I forgot at first. In the second shot you can see a lurker about to swoop for dinner. ________________ I did come back to see the pics. Those are some great shots. I went to Austin a few years back to see the Mexican Freetail bats that reside under the Congress Avenue bridge and many had already migrated, so there weren't all that many. There are shitloads of 'em in your pics, though, and I wanna see 'em. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #5 March 22, 2006 QuoteI did come back to see the pics. Those are some great shots. I went to Austin a few years back to see the Mexican Freetail bats that reside under the Congress Avenue bridge and many had already migrated, so there weren't all that many. There are shitloads of 'em in your pics, though, and I wanna see 'em. Call me tomorrow. You can help do camera. I want to get a video mounted somewhere so I can let it run. Need someone to guard it so the camera doesn't walk away. _____________________Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #6 March 22, 2006 Sounds good. I'll see if I can get out of work a bit early.Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy_Copland 0 #7 March 22, 2006 Christ Walt, how did i know after reading the first lines of that bat post that you would be first in there to comment!1338 People aint made of nothin' but water and shit. Until morale improves, the beatings will continue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #8 March 22, 2006 QuoteChrist Walt, how did i know after reading the first lines of that bat post that you would be first in there to comment! Well, your first clue was that it is in Houston! You don't know this, but Russ (efs4ever) and I have been friends for years. He doesn't post here nearly enough, but he's a really interesting guy. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #9 March 22, 2006 Looking at that big cloud of bats in flight: how do you know that perhaps even a tiny percentage of those bats aren't vampires? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #10 March 22, 2006 'Cause all the blood-sucking Texans moved to DC? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justinb138 0 #11 March 22, 2006 Quote In the second shot you can see a lurker about to swoop for dinner. That's Batman. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlueSBDeath 2 #12 March 22, 2006 When I was a kid we would use a rod and reel and cast a fishing weight into the air (NO hooks), the bats would dive at it (food?) and some would get knocked out, then we would check them out and play with them Good Times!!!! ArvelBSBD...........Its all about Respect, USPA#-7062, FB-2197, Outlaw 499 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyPsycho 0 #13 March 23, 2006 QuoteWhen I was a kid we would use a rod and reel and cast a fishing weight into the air (NO hooks), the bats would dive at it (food?) and some would get knocked out, then we would check them out and play with them Good Times!!!! Arvel pretty cool, sounds kind of like what i used to do, but with a kite. id go up to the boardwalk by the ocean at night late, and let a kite all the way out, then pluck the string, and then move it around in all directions. the bats would attack it and you could feel them run into it. _______________________________ HK MP5SD.........silence is golden Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydemon2 0 #14 March 23, 2006 where I grew up my folks drank alot so attached to the bar was a dance hall that was infested with bats so all the grownups would get shitfaced then turn on the lights in the dance hall and run thru with tennis rackets and see who got the most, it was our job to pick up the kills and stack them for proper score keeping......... ahhh good timesBeauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone! I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thunderbow 1 #15 March 23, 2006 http://community-2.webtv.net/masternaturalist/THEWAUGHBATMONITOR/ Above is a link about this subject.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Lord, let me be the person my dog thinks I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laurel 0 #16 March 23, 2006 I've seen them in Austin, but I didn't know you guys had them in Houston. Please send a colony up here. We need some bug eaters...................................................................... PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074 My Pink M Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #17 March 28, 2006 Here are some more BAT pics. The hawk was there waiting, but, again, I just had a cheapie camera with me. __________________Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #18 March 28, 2006 This is a shot of the crack between bridge supports right before the flight. You can see them all crammed in there. _____________________Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #19 March 28, 2006 How'd that picture I took for you the other night come out?I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
efs4ever 3 #20 March 28, 2006 QuoteHow'd that picture I took for you the other night come out? See it HERE Looks great. It would be the first decent wings picture I had taken. ___________________Russell M. Webb D 7014 Attorney at Law 713 385 5676 https://www.tdcparole.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #21 March 28, 2006 Of course I have bats. I AM BATJEW! http://spiceweasel.net/batjew2.jpgcavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
karenmeal 0 #22 March 28, 2006 Awww!!! Bats are so freaking cute. I want a pet bat. -Karen "Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #23 March 28, 2006 I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #24 March 28, 2006 QuoteThis is a shot of the crack between bridge supports right before the flight. You can see them all crammed in there. I don't want to know what all the brown stuff is oozing out of the bridge crack... Otherwise, terrific photos! It's interesting to note the angle of the wings amongst those thousands of bats. The highest upswing I see is at about a 45-degree angle upwards on each wing. While the lowest point in a stroke has their wings pointing almost straight downward. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
altichick 1 #25 March 30, 2006 Heh - i thought of that shirt when I had a bat in my appartment in Israel last night!! here Didn't look closely enough to see if he was Jewish though Cute little critters Awesome pics you guys Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
