Acoustic Monitoring Project of Texas Bats 2024

The Texas Master Naturalist, Lost Pines Chapter (TMN, LPC) participated in a new Citizen Science Project in Acoustic Monitoring of Texas Bats for Bastrop and Caldwell counties. Our TMN, LPC Bat Chapter Coordinator/Leader Nicole Mersiovsky worked closely in communication with Craig Hensley, Texas Nature Trackers Biologist, Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) on this project. Our chapter used the Wildlife Acoustic monitor that was a song meter mini bat recorder device to pick up ultrasonic-high frequency sounds from bat activities. Our Lost Pines Chapter area is home to at least eleven species of bats that we know of. Our Chapter had seven volunteer property owners to set up the bat recorder to capture bat activities over a nine-week sample period for our first survey from April to June. Our own TMN, LPC Land Volunteer Ellen Prediger had the song meter mini bat recorder set up on her property to record bats. The importance of this monitoring program will aide Biologist/Scientists to get a clearer picture of bat populations through the state of Texas and for use in effective conservation planning. Please visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/... visit https://txmn.org/lostpines/galleries/... for more information on the program. Enjoy the journey from The Texas Master Naturalist, Lost Pines Chapter and Videographer Michelle Belden.

If you are interested in the Texas Master Naturalist program and wanting to get involved in community projects, please visit txmn.org for more information on Basic Training.