Calling all Birders ...... or better yet Batters!

PeakXV · Jul 29th, 2006, 05:29

Just read the Jim Corbett Omnibus. Highly recommended! His clear description of the flora/fauna/peoples of the Kumaon and Garhwal region is worth the read alone - let alone the tiger tales.

Clear ... with one exception He describes seeing a cardinal bat

. Here is the excerpt:

"It was in this forest - when Wyndham and I some years previously were looking for a tiger- that I saw for the first time a cardinal bat. These beautiful bats, which look like gorgeous butterflies as they flit from cover to cover, are, as as I know, only to be found in heavy elephant-grass."

Was he just yanking our chain or was/is there really such a bat species? Can't find anything in my Indian wildlife books or in a web search!

Thanks for any help ... all you batty people!

abracax · Jul 29th, 2006, 07:58

He might have been referring to the mitred horseshoe bat, which is now almost extinct in North India. They're leaf-nosed bats that hunt with the sort of snatch and grab tactics that make them look like butterflies.

PeakXV · Jul 29th, 2006, 20:54

Abracax - great theory - sounds like it could be that bat!

For the fun of it I fired off an email to Shahroukh Mistry. He has been studying the ecology of India's bats and wrote a book on the subject a few years back. So will post any definitive answer here once I hear back from the Bat Guru.

PeakXV · Aug 1st, 2006, 01:46

Mr. Shahroukh Mistry, an expert bat ecologist was kind enough to respond promptly with a solution to the mystery:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Cardinal Bat. The bat in reference is Kerivoula picta, the painted bat. It is quite spectacular with a body covered in bright orange and black fur, and it does indeed flit about like a butterfly. You can see a picture at this site:

http://www.mammalogy.org/mil_images/images/mid/1491.jpg

I hope this information is of use to you.

Regards,

Shahroukh Mistry

And here is an excerpt/link from his book "The Bats of India" :

http://www.batcon.org/batsmag/v13n2-5.html

Nick-H · Aug 1st, 2006, 02:26

Fabulous creature

dzibead · Aug 1st, 2006, 02:50

Amazing creature. For anyone interested in bats and their conservtion, I recommend this organization:

Bat Conservation International

http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

Bats are very misunderstood and much maligned, but are important creatures ecologically. I didn't realize this until I read a very moving article in The New Yorker many years ago, and after reading it, I immediately joined BCI!

PeakXV · Aug 1st, 2006, 06:48

Now if only the India hotels could train their local colonies to swoop through our rooms and gobble up all the mossies before bedtime ... we'd all have a much more peaceful snooze

...

dzibead · Aug 1st, 2006, 07:06

Hm-m-m ... do Purple Martins (a type of bird) live in India? They live in groups (bird houses designed for Purple Martin colonies are like bird apartment buildings) and are also big mozzie-eaters! I don't know about sweeping through the rooms (bird poop and bat poop problem) but sweeping through the general vicinity ... not a bad idea.

skell · Aug 1st, 2006, 07:31

Bats are fabulous creatures. It's too bad they have such a bad reputation among the majority of the uneducated public!

Nick-H · Aug 1st, 2006, 08:33

Same for lizards.

The humble house gekko sits around gobbling up insects, being helpful, and Indian people say it is unlicky, poor thing.

Just the sight of one is enough to send whole schools rushing off to hospital with "poisoning".

...not that I'm reccomending eating them!

Bats? Wonderful creatures, Lizards? Superb animals

PeakXV · Aug 1st, 2006, 08:58

I worked at Club Med, Playa Blanca in Mexico for a year. And on occasion did the stage lighting for the theater show. The eaves above the stage were home to a colony of bats - there must have been 60 or 70. The first time I went up there as I was perched precariously on the catwalk they f**cking freaked and took off around me, between my legs .... I just grabbed on to a side railing and held on for dear life till the exodus was over. As the weeks went by the bats got increasingly tolerant of my visits ... till they became so comfortable that I could work closely around them changing bulbs, pulling wires and they wouldn't even bat a wing. I guess they recognized me from sending out their radar signals and knew I wouldn't harm them.

Jul 29th, 2006, 05:29	#1
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,390	Calling all Birders ...... or better yet Batters! Just read the Jim Corbett Omnibus. Highly recommended! His clear description of the flora/fauna/peoples of the Kumaon and Garhwal region is worth the read alone - let alone the tiger tales. Clear ... with one exception He describes seeing a *cardinal bat* . Here is the excerpt: "It was in this forest - when Wyndham and I some years previously were looking for a tiger- that I saw for the first time a cardinal bat. These beautiful bats, which look like gorgeous butterflies as they flit from cover to cover, are, as as I know, only to be found in heavy elephant-grass." Was he just yanking our chain or was/is there really such a bat species? Can't find anything in my Indian wildlife books or in a web search! Thanks for any help ... all you batty people! __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions? Last edited by PeakXV : Jul 29th, 2006 at 07:30.

Jul 29th, 2006, 07:58	#2
abracax Mahaguru Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 435	He might have been referring to the mitred horseshoe bat, which is now almost extinct in North India. They're leaf-nosed bats that hunt with the sort of snatch and grab tactics that make them look like butterflies. __________________ He travels fastest who pays for a cab.

Jul 29th, 2006, 20:54	#3
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,390	Abracax - great theory - sounds like it could be that bat! For the fun of it I fired off an email to Shahroukh Mistry. He has been studying the ecology of India's bats and wrote a book on the subject a few years back. So will post any definitive answer here once I hear back from the Bat Guru. Last edited by PeakXV : Aug 1st, 2006 at 01:39.

Aug 1st, 2006, 02:26	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Fabulous creature __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Aug 1st, 2006, 01:46	#4
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,390	Mr. Shahroukh Mistry, an expert bat ecologist was kind enough to respond promptly with a solution to the mystery: Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Cardinal Bat. The bat in reference is Kerivoula picta, the painted bat. It is quite spectacular with a body covered in bright orange and black fur, and it does indeed flit about like a butterfly. You can see a picture at this site: http://www.mammalogy.org/mil_images/images/mid/1491.jpg I hope this information is of use to you. Regards, Shahroukh Mistry And here is an excerpt/link from his book "The Bats of India" : http://www.batcon.org/batsmag/v13n2-5.html

Aug 1st, 2006, 02:50	#6
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,176	Amazing creature. For anyone interested in bats and their conservtion, I recommend this organization: Bat Conservation International http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp Bats are very misunderstood and much maligned, but are important creatures ecologically. I didn't realize this until I read a very moving article in The New Yorker many years ago, and after reading it, I *immediately* joined BCI!

Aug 1st, 2006, 06:48	#7
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,390	Now if only the India hotels could train their local colonies to swoop through our rooms and gobble up all the mossies before bedtime ... we'd all have a much more peaceful snooze ...

Aug 1st, 2006, 07:06	#8
dzibead Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,176	Hm-m-m ... do Purple Martins (a type of bird) live in India? They live in groups (bird houses designed for Purple Martin colonies are like bird apartment buildings) and are also big mozzie-eaters! I don't know about sweeping through the rooms (bird poop and bat poop problem) but sweeping through the general vicinity ... not a bad idea.

Aug 1st, 2006, 07:31	#9
skell Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The OC Posts: 975	Bats are fabulous creatures. It's too bad they have such a bad reputation among the majority of the uneducated public!

Aug 1st, 2006, 08:33	#10
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Same for lizards. The humble house gekko sits around gobbling up insects, being helpful, and Indian people say it is unlicky, poor thing. Just the sight of one is enough to send whole schools rushing off to hospital with "poisoning". ...not that I'm reccomending eating them! Bats? Wonderful creatures, Lizards? Superb animals

Aug 1st, 2006, 08:58	#11
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,390	I worked at Club Med, Playa Blanca in Mexico for a year. And on occasion did the stage lighting for the theater show. The eaves above the stage were home to a colony of bats - there must have been 60 or 70. The first time I went up there as I was perched precariously on the catwalk they f*cking freaked and took off around me, between my legs .... I just grabbed on to a side railing and held on for dear life till the exodus was over. As the weeks went by the bats got increasingly tolerant of my visits ... till they became so comfortable that I could work closely around them changing bulbs, pulling wires and they wouldn't even bat* a wing. I guess they recognized me from sending out their radar signals and knew I wouldn't harm them.

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