Bat Flight

Bat flight is the free program given from May - October when the Brazilian/Mexican Free-tail
bats fly out of the cave at sunset. They fly down to the Pecos River in search of their dinner: BUGS, mostly moths and beetles. They're a great help to the local farmers who benefit from the bats eating the insects and leaving behind bat guano (poop) which is an excellent fertilizer.

This summer I've watched bat flight from the back of the amphitheater, while another ranger gives the program. I'm not one who likes to take a back seat, so I asked if I could give the program. Tonight was my first, and hopefully not my last opportunity.

It wasn't a big crowd, sometimes the program draws over a thousand spectators. Tonight there was probably less than 200 people, but it was a lot of fun. Of course, the visitors come to see the bats, but until they emerge from the cave, you have to talk. Tonight they finally made their appearance about 50 minutes into my program! THANK GOD!!! I was running out of material and my throat was drier than the Chiahuahuan Desert.

John was nice enough to come and see it, and a couple of other fellow rangers came for morale support. They all were kind and said it was a good program. The visitors seemed to like it, although with the late bat flight (they flew at 7PM, which was about 15 minutes after sunset), the visitors didn't get to see the thick stream of bats. Earlier summer flights have provided a better show with a thick stream of bats.

Personally, I had a lot of fun and hope to do it again before the bats migrate. If you want to observe it, you better hurry. They migrate south next month sometime...

VAL