John Rodgers on sun 24 jul 05
Be very careful about this.
When I lived in the Florida Keys there was a famous structure, "The Bat
Tower", that sat out off the highway in the palmetos and marsh down
near Key West. It was a bit strange, just standing there, totally
abandoned. Story was that a gentleman had built the tower to house bats
that he imported to the keys to rid the place of mosquitoes. He figured
that tower was a good home and they would hang in the place and eat the
mosquitoes, returning to roost at daybreak. He put the bats in, and the
first night he opened the tower the bats flew away never to return.
Bats have their own ideas about what is a suitable place to set up
housekeeping.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
MudPuppy wrote:
>I'm wondering about the feasability of making bat roosting boxes out of clay.
>I've seen lots of instructions for making wood ones, but none in clay. Does anyone know if its possible to make a ceramic bat box that the little critters would actually use?
>
>Thanks!
>Cathi Newlin, Merce, Mo
>(Angels Camp, Ca very soon!)
>____________________
>My Art
>http://c-newlin.deviantart.com/
>My Alter Ego
>http://www.myspace.com/MrsSlappy
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
MudPuppy on sun 24 jul 05
I'm wondering about the feasability of making bat roosting boxes out of =
clay.
I've seen lots of instructions for making wood ones, but none in clay. =
Does anyone know if its possible to make a ceramic bat box that the =
little critters would actually use?
Thanks!
Cathi Newlin, Merce, Mo
(Angels Camp, Ca very soon!)
____________________
My Art
http://c-newlin.deviantart.com/
My Alter Ego
http://www.myspace.com/MrsSlappy
Jane Murray-Smith on sun 24 jul 05
Don't know about the use of clay (why not?), but the trivia that I have
heard about bat boxes is, first; that bats are incredibly hard to get to
start living in your yard if they aren't there already, and second; if you
make a bat box, you have to put bat poo into it so that it smells juuuust
right for moving in....
Google could be in your future around this
Cheers, Jane
----- Original Message -----
From: "MudPuppy"
To:
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 12:10 PM
Subject: Ceramic Bat Box?
I'm wondering about the feasability of making bat roosting boxes out of
clay.
I've seen lots of instructions for making wood ones, but none in clay. Does
anyone know if its possible to make a ceramic bat box that the little
critters would actually use?
Thanks!
Cathi Newlin, Merce, Mo
(Angels Camp, Ca very soon!)
____________________
My Art
http://c-newlin.deviantart.com/
My Alter Ego
http://www.myspace.com/MrsSlappy
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sun 24 jul 05
Hi Cathi,
Hmmmm...
Nice idea -
I do not know anything about how Bats would roost or rear their young where
a box or confine would be enjoyed and appreciateed by them.
Maybe some 'googles' on that would turn up something of their Natural
History.
I allways imagined them to hang upside down from cielings of one kind or
another...and for theyr Young to cling to them maybe...but I do not know.
I do know that a variety of little Clay 'Houses' of various deferential
shapes and proportion used to be made in previous Centuries, for inviteing
various kinds of small Birds to nest about one's Home's exterior or eves.
These interest me of course...and likely would figure in to what I would
want to make once I get set-up again for Throwing and or other means of
producing fun and useful items of Clay.
Considerations as for how such containers will wick or transmit moisture or
humidity are likely a consideration.
One would not want to have dew condenseing in them, or, if it were to do so,
one would prefer it to be absorbed by the vessel, and not puddle at it's
bottom...so, Glazing matters, and possibly small drainage holes or
'breathing' holes would seem to be something to think about carefully in
these kinds of things...
Keep us posted on your Bat Box progress...!
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "MudPuppy"
I'm wondering about the feasability of making bat roosting boxes out of
clay.
I've seen lots of instructions for making wood ones, but none in clay. Does
anyone know if its possible to make a ceramic bat box that the little
critters would actually use?
Thanks!
Cathi Newlin, Merce, Mo
(Angels Camp, Ca very soon!)
Jocelyn McAuley on sun 24 jul 05
Jane Murray-Smith wrote:
> Don't know about the use of clay (why not?),but the trivia that I have
> heard about bat boxes is, first; that bats are incredibly hard to get to
> start living in your yard if they aren't there already, and second; if you
> make a bat box, you have to put bat poo into it so that it smells juuuust
> right for moving in....
I too have heard from bat experts that it is extrememly difficult to get
bats to move in.
Also, my concern with a ceramic bat house is that it could cook the
suckers if it is hung where sun falls on it for a significant amount of
time. When you do make one, leave it out in summer direct sun with a
probe thermometer and monitor the maximum and sustained tmeperatures.
And report back to us for the estemed archives.
Jocelyn in Eugene
--
culinary notebook http://www.BrowniePointsBlog.com
art gallery http://www.LucentArts.com
Tracy Shea on mon 25 jul 05
Hey- I found your idea interesting, so I called my friends at The =
Organization for Bat Conservation at Cranbrook Institute of Science- =
The gal I spoke with there was not aware of any ceramic bat houses, but =
thought the idea was feasible because bats do live in caves. There are =
plans for bat houses and plenty of info on bats in general on their =
website, batconservation.org. We talked about what variables might make =
good living for bats. She suggested making sure there is proper =
ventilation- they like it warm, but not too humid- and she said wooden =
bat houses are sealed at the top to prevent moisture, so I'm thinking =
glazing the top outside of the bat house would be feasible. She also =
mentioned that there is usually some sort of mesh installed in wooden =
bat houses to give the bats something to hold onto. This might be =
accomplished more simply in clay by texturizing the inside of the bat =
box. =20
Sounds like a pretty cool design project-
She also said it could take up to two years to have your bat house =
occupied- so I guess ya can't be in a hurry.=20
Good luck!
Tracy Shea
Garrettsville, OH
Wayne Seidl on mon 25 jul 05
John:
The Bat Tower still exists, and is now listed on the National
register of Historic places. The bats he imported did not find it
to their liking. Some suspect it was the type of wood he used in the
construction, still others have other theories. For whatever
reason, there it sits, a testament to man's folly in trying to bend
nature to his will.
The bats, on the other hand, have taken up residence in palm tree
"skirts" (the dead branches that hang down around the trunk of a
palm tree beneath the living fronds) all over the islands. We sit
out at night and watch them flit hither and yon. In Key West,
they've taken up residence in a School Board maintenance building,
getting in to an area above a ceiling and below a roof, their
entrance being a chink of missing concrete block behind a rain
gutter downspout. Quite a crowd gathers to watch each night as they
come out and feed. And they live in the skirts of the Royal Palms
by the Church on Truman Avenue, the skirts being almost 40 feet from
the ground. These are fruit and insect eating bats, not those South
American blood suckers. They don't get caught in your hair (unless
insects and fruits seem to fly into your 'do in which case all bets
are off...Carmen Miranda take note!) I've seen them at night
hanging on mangoes still on the tree, happily munching away.
They are most welcome here. Even with competition from the
fruit-eating tree rats, they seem to thrive. That gentleman may not
have known how to house them, but he certainly did us a favor by
bringing them in.
Best,
Wayne Seidl
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John
Rodgers
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 11:04 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: Ceramic Bat Box?
Be very careful about this.
When I lived in the Florida Keys there was a famous structure, "The
Bat
Tower", that sat out off the highway in the palmetos and marsh down
near Key West. It was a bit strange, just standing there, totally
abandoned. Story was that a gentleman had built the tower to house
bats
that he imported to the keys to rid the place of mosquitoes. He
figured
that tower was a good home and they would hang in the place and eat
the
mosquitoes, returning to roost at daybreak. He put the bats in, and
the
first night he opened the tower the bats flew away never to return.
Bats have their own ideas about what is a suitable place to set up
housekeeping.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
MudPuppy wrote:
>I'm wondering about the feasability of making bat roosting boxes
out of clay.
>I've seen lots of instructions for making wood ones, but none in
clay. Does anyone know if its possible to make a ceramic bat box
that the little critters would actually use?
>
>Thanks!
>Cathi Newlin, Merce, Mo
>(Angels Camp, Ca very soon!)
>____________________
>My Art
>http://c-newlin.deviantart.com/
>My Alter Ego
>http://www.myspace.com/MrsSlappy
>
>___________________________________________________________________
___________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________
__________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
David Guy Fetzer on mon 25 jul 05
At 08:18 PM 7/24/2005, you wrote:
>Jane Murray-Smith wrote:
>>Don't know about the use of clay (why not?),but the trivia that I have
>>heard about bat boxes is, first; that bats are incredibly hard to get to
>>start living in your yard if they aren't there already, and second; if you
>>make a bat box, you have to put bat poo into it so that it smells juuuust
>>right for moving in....
>
>I too have heard from bat experts that it is extrememly difficult to get
>bats to move in.
>
>Also, my concern with a ceramic bat house is that it could cook the
>suckers if it is hung where sun falls on it for a significant amount of
>time. When you do make one, leave it out in summer direct sun with a
>probe thermometer and monitor the maximum and sustained tmeperatures.
>And report back to us for the estemed archives.
>
>Jocelyn in Eugene
>
>--
>culinary notebook http://www.BrowniePointsBlog.com
>art gallery http://www.LucentArts.com
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.
Jocelyn:
This thread gives me the willies, as do bats! =-O
Cheers,
Dave
Wood Jeanne on mon 25 jul 05
Occasionally bats fly in my studio at night, I really
enjoy the little critters, although they aren't at all
happy after they have accidentally flown in, and
circle at top speed until they find their way out
again.
One summer I made a number of mugs with dragons
sprigged on the outside. Before I left for the evening
I lightly draped plastic to slow the drying. When I
came in the next day I found a bat hanging inside one
of the mugs! A perfect bat cave, leatherhard mugs.
When I first removed the plastic I recieved from the
occupant one of the dirtiest looks I've ever had.
I did some research a few years ago as I wanted to
build some bat houses too. They might work in clay and
it would be fun to try but I didn't continue because
it seemed like wood might be more appropriate as a bat
home.
Phil's question of condensation is a good one.
Sites I found on the web (sorry I didn't keep
them)described the construction. I remember some
details such as an interior ridge from which they can
hang, open base so the guano can fall out. The sites I
found also specified where bat houses should be
placed, warm during the coldest, cool during the
warmest, high enough to keep away intruders, etc.
-Jeanne W.
--- Jocelyn McAuley wrote:
>> Also, my concern with a ceramic bat house is that
it
> could cook the
> suckers if it is hung where sun falls on it for a
> significant amount of
> time. When you do make one, leave it out in summer
> direct sun with a
> probe thermometer and monitor the maximum and
> sustained tmeperatures.
> And report back to us for the estemed archives.
>
> Jocelyn in Eugene
>
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