July 1 Field Update



April 19, 2001
The day roost for Ibat #4 was found on this afternoon. The roost was discovered to be a crevice between a joist and basement wall of a private residence. The roost is 6.5 miles straightline from the release point. The bat was visually observed alive and torpid, in plain sight. The homeowner reports no problems with bats in the structure, and a brief investigation did not turn up typical maternity evidence. This is perhaps one of only a few known sodalis roosts in a structure in the entire NE US. Will it stay there? I doubt it. Though in good habitat, the house has westerly exposure. Not only that, but the roost location is incredibly shaded and the bat is roosting on a heat sink (concrete wall) which won't help.
	We staked out the bat working under the assumption it would continue moving south and southeast. However, it refused to emerge and stayed at the roost the entire (yes, ENTIRE) night and morning. Temperatures were fairly cool in the higher 30's and lower 40's. It was a good chance to catch up on the map graphics for project report-- ahh the power of portable computing.

	Above: Overview of Roost 4-1. Not under the deck exactly, but under the addition against the basement wall.
	Left: A closer look, alive and well, but practically hibernating.

		Left: Ibat 4 over the woodpile. The streaks on the wall are not roost staining. Does this bat have a few other roosts nearby? Or is it simply waiting for a warm night to take a 150 mile leap?