Echoes in the Dark: The Bats Around Us
When: Tuesday, October 28 @ 6:30 p.m
Where: Free virtual presentation – register below
The last week in October is Bat Week! Join us for a fun evening on October 28 looking into the mysterious and extraordinary world of bats – the only mammal capable of true flight! Jessie Bunkley of Bat Conservation International will lead us in an exploration of the fascinating biology and nocturnal habits of bats, their critical role in our local ecosystems, (including pollination and insect control) and threats of extinction. She’ll tell us about some of the 13 local bat species found in Marin, dispel common myths, and discuss how we can live alongside them in mutually beneficial ways.
Did you know that bats are responsible for pollinating many fruits we love, such as bananas, avocados, and mangos? That their wings evolved from hands? That some bats can eat more than 1,000 mosquitos an hour and fly more than 60 miles an hour? That they can find insects to eat in total darkness using echolocation?
Register below for this program and dive into the wondrous, incredible lives of the bats around us.
Bat Conservation International’s mission is to conserve the world’s bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet. Its work includes endangered species interventions and protecting and restoring landscapes among other things. Their work encompasses global bat populations. More information can be found at https://www.batcon.org/
This presentation is part of our ongoing series of educational events about our precious local wetlands. Click here to view previously recorded Wetlands Committee presentations that are posted on the Coalition’s YouTube Channel.
Speaker
Jessie Bunkley, M.S. Conservation Research Coordinator
Jessie serves as the Conservation Research Coordinator for the PacWest region, facilitating and supporting bat-related research, management, and policy efforts in California and Nevada.
Her research and conservation of a diversity of organisms, including bats, small mammals, shorebirds, seabirds, songbirds, reptiles, cetaceans, and numerous plant species, has inspired a holistic, ecological approach to conservation and commitment to public education and engagement.
With a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz, an M.S. in Biology from Boise State University, and professional experience with federal and state agencies, non-profits, and universities, Jessie contributes a nuanced understanding of applied conservation to Bat Conservation International’s team.
Donations to the Bat Conservation International, a 501(c) (3) organization, are greatly appreciated.