A new Bat House was installed last week in the Wild Flower Preserve near the entrance to Travis Country. It is located 20 feet high on an abandoned light pole and the installation was only possible with the kind assistance of Tom Baker of Driftwood Builders Restoration and his two long ladders. Driftwood Builders Restoration has re-roofed many of the homes in Travis Country over the past few years.
Bats are mammalS, like humans, and play an essential role in the environment. The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat which is common in Austin can catch 600 mosquitos per hour each night, as well as other insects. Other bat species pollinate flowers, fruits, and cacti. Most cacti and bananas cannot reproduce without the pollination of their flowers by bats.
This picture shows the bat house under construction. It has 5 separate living spaces which are only 3/4 inch in width. The bats are happy with this narrow living space and the narrow access keeps out most predators.
With the Bat House installed, Glen Novinger and Tom Baker are seen here with Cynthia Wilcox, Secretary of the Travis Country Community Service Association.
We are happy to hear that our Austin bats began returning from Mexico to the Congress Avenue Bridge during the past few days. We only hope some of them will choose to spend the summer months in the new bat house in the Wildflower Preserve.
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