Live webcast from Bracken Bat Cave next month

Hey, y'all, this sounds really cool via BatsLive.....

A live electronic field trip will be held on September 18 at the Bracken Bat Cave near San Antonio, which is the summer home of the world's largest bat colony. As millions of bats emerge from the cave, watch the live program from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ET. 

With millions of Mexican free-tailed bats living in the cave from March through October, Bracken holds one of the largest concentrations of mammals on earth. The emergence of these millions of bats, as they spiral out of the cave at dusk for their nightly insect hunt, is an unforgettable sight. For more information about Bracken Bat Cave on the Bat Conservation International web site, CLICK HERE. Be sure to check out the spectacular video. Learn about: the Mexican free-tailed bats of Bracken Cave and other bat species, predators that wait for their nightly emergence, threats to bats including White-nose Syndrome, how you can help these beneficial creatures, how bats navigate using echolocation, cave ecology and more.

Watch the May 17 Webcast for Students
BatsLIVE: A Distance Learning Adventure was webcast live on May 17, 2012. CLICK HERE to watch the program. 

Of bats and roses

Last Saturday, we celebrated our third wedding anniversary. James, as he always does, sent me a dozen red roses. As for me, I had something extra special up my sleeve...

I called ahead and made dinner reservations at Alamo Springs Cafe, not far from Luckenbach, Texas. I spoke with Missy on the phone there, and she agreed to set up a special table for us. I had asked for a tablecloth and maybe a candle. Meanwhile, James had no idea where we were headed or what we were going to do. I just told him to dress comfortably and throw in some walking shoes. Then off we went.

Along the way, James told me later, he kept trying to figure out where I was headed. Fredericksburg for dinner? A picnic on our 11 acres outside of town? Nope, nope. I just smiled and kept driving. But when I took the turnoff to Grapevine, then he started figuring it out. A picnic at the bat tunnel? I kept mum.

Then I turned toward the cafe. Ah, dinner here! He laughed. As we walked inside, imagine my surprise when I spotted our table.... Beautiful candles, lovely fresh flowers, and a tablecloth! I was so touched (THANK YOU, MISSY!). James was stunned. Together, we enjoyed our meals.

I ordered the shrimp salad, served over spring mix, tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives, and sliced Provolone cheese, all splashed with a tequila lime vinaigrette...

And James enjoyed the Saturday night dinner special:
cheese enchiladas, boracho beans and rice.

Then we shared a slice of German chocolate cake.

By this time, James had figured out the rest of my plans...visit the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area that's right around the corner from the cafe and watch the Brazilian free-tailed bats emerge at dusk.


We got there in time to hike a little and also listen to a bat presentation given by the park manager Nyta Hensley. Just as she was wrapping up her talk, the bats started flying out. It was our first time there to see them (we've hiked the nature trail a few times in the past), and James' first time ever to watch a bat emergence. He shot a video, which I'm sharing.



I think I'd better get to thinking about what we'll do for our fourth anniversary next year.....this one's gonna be hard to top!