Research Equipment is Monitoring Bat Activity (All Photos From Winter 2010) Sarah Brownlee is working with Dr. Reeder on her master’s thesis project at Bucknell University. Woodward Cave had a few signs of the disease last year and will probably (unfortunately) be hit with the disease much harder this year. Sarah is installing infrared (night-vision) cameras within Woodward cave and will be focusing on groups of hibernating bats (as well as the entrance) to monitor the behavior of the bats throughout the season. Her camera system is motion activated will only be recording when (or if) the bats are active and, with the minimally invasive set-up, she should be able to capture their natural behaviors. The digital recording device (where the video is saved) can be kept up to 500 ft away from each of the cameras (they plan on putting 4 in the cave), so equipment can be kept close to the entrance and not disturb the bats on a regular basis. The goal would be to not disturb them at all. The video will then be compared to similar video’s from a “clean” or white-nose free site and see if bats with white-nose behave differently than healthy bats.

Research Equipment is Monitoring Bat Activity

(All Photos From Winter 2010)

Sarah Brownlee is working with Dr. Reeder on her master’s thesis project at Bucknell University.

Woodward Cave had a few signs of the disease last year and will probably (unfortunately) b

e hit with the disease much harder this year. Sarah is installing infrared (night-vision) cameras within Woodward cave and will be focusing on groups of hibernating bats (as well as the entrance) to monitor the behavior of the bats throughout the season. Her camera system is motion activated will only be recording when (or if) the bats are active and, with the minimally invasive set-up, she should be able to capture their natural behaviors. The digital recording device (where the video is saved) can be kept up to 500 ft away from each of the cameras (they plan on putting 4 in th

e cave), so equipment can be kept close to the entrance and not disturb the bats on a regular basis. The goal would be to not disturb them at all. The video will then be compared to similar video’s from a “clean” or white-nose free site and see if bats with white-nose behave differently than healthy bats.

Sarah writes:

Woodward Cave is a perfect study site for my experiment and I want to thank you for allowing us access to do our research. If you have any further questions about my project please feel free to ask. Please see the attached photos for shots of some of my camera set-ups.

Thanks
Sarah Brownlee
M.S. Candidate
Bucknell University

Bats Hibernating in Woodward Cave January 2010

Infrared Camera

Monitoring Equipment at the Mouth of the Cave