What you're looking at is part of the Riparian Corridor at Tucson's Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. I was here to learn about bats~the world's only flying mammals. (Flying squirrels can't really fly; they're just real good at gliding.)
Think of it [the water] as a runway for for airplanes to do "touch-and-go" landings, only in this case, the airplanes are bats skimming the surface of the water to take a drink.
I didn't photograph a bat tonight, but that turtle was very obliging as he made his way across the pond.
A scientist was capturing the echo-location calls of bats as they flew by, downloading them to her computer, and playing them for us at a frequency humans can hear.
She fascinated us with her explanation of the nature and sophistication of the "radar" that bats use to "see" the world around them.
Come visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
"Close to home, far from ordinary!"
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I have to experience this when I stay the night. Thanks for sharing
Harry,
Call me, and we'll have you over for a Saturday afternoon cookout, and go together. This is only a few miles from our home in the Tucson Mountains. Bring a few Rainers, and we'll have an Active Rain Event!
Mike in Tucson
We need bats and people have all kinds of silly ideas about them. If you ever go to Austin, TX in the summer, there are hundreds of thousands of bats living under the Congress Avenue Bridge. The fly out in huge crowds after the sun goes down. It's a major tourist attraction. My cousins live there, so we went to the bridge and watched them...
Doreen,
Bats are the primary pollinators of fruit trees all across Southeast Asia, according to the Docent. Without them performing this function, that area of the world would have no fruit trees. Interesting stuff.
I've seen the cloud of bats on a summer's evening in Austin when I was there on business.
Mike in Tucson
Wow! A flying turtle!
Nice shot, Mike - it looks like you caught that turtle in mid-air.
font.f1 {font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; color: #000000}Have a great day!
Mike
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You have flying turtles and bats, we have mountain lions and bears. There are zoos everywhere!
Joan,
This is one of the world's 10 Best Zoos! Come visit.
Mike,
It does look like the turtle is flying, doesn't it?
Mike in Tucson
Mike,
"Radar?" Using sound not radio frequencies wwouldn't that be "sonar?"
Bill
Wonderful! Another thing to put on my "Must Do in Tucson" list!
This is really interesting! One of these days I will get out there, perhaps next summer!
Yes,
The bats coming out from under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is an amazing sight to watch! Best spot is on the bridge itself.
Our local zoo has night opportunities as well - I have not yet taken advantage of them, but would love to do so. I think bats are too cool!
That is such a fascinating photo......I don't think the turtle wanted to have any bats disturb his swim.
Mike...what fun!
I have always liked watching the bats converge at dusk..(going after mosquitoes the little dears)Unfortunately the ones that are native to this area have been attacked by some sort of fungus that they fear will descimate the population!
Great post! Well put together. I'm new to Active Rain, but I enjoy reading blogs that are well designed, like this one. Thanks
Tim
Tim,
WELCOME to Active Rain!!
Joan,
Won't happen. Bats make up 25% of the "mammal mass" on the planet. They'll keep on getting those pesky mosquitoes.
Ann,
The turtle was certainly enjoying himself.
Carol,
So do I!
Dorie,
I've stood there myself, and need to do so again.
Barbara-Jo,
Let us know when you're coming.
Emmary,
So when are you coming?
Bill,
Sonar would be the thing, wouldn't it? But isn't sonar underwater?
Mike in Tucson
It's been too long since I've been to Tucson. The best place to watch bats, though, is the Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin, Texas.