Fourth Annual Summer Mist Net Event
7/28/08 - 7/30/08
HOST: HOMOCHITTO NATIONAL FOREST
Registration form (.doc) due 5/30/08
You are cordially invited to the Mississippi Bat Working Group (MBWG) Fifth Annual Summer Mist Net Event. The event will be held on the Homochitto National Forest (NF) in Adams County on Monday 7/28/08 through Wednesday 7/30/08 (netting Mon. and Tues. nights and leaving Wed.). Activities will begin at 4:30 PM on 7/28/08 with dinner at the Group Pavilion at Natchez State Park (SP). Mist net surveys will be conducted at selected sites on the evenings of 7/28 and 7/29. The public and media will be invited as an outreach/education opportunity.
We have 10 cabins reserved at Natchez SP housing 30 people. Free lodging in these cabins will be given to the first people to register. All cabins contain 2 bedrooms and 3 beds and are equipped with kitchen facilities. Natchez SP is located 10 miles north of Natchez, MS off of Hwy 61 and offers an abundance of outdoor activities including hiking and fishing. For more information on the state park visit their website at: http://www.stateparks.com/natchez.html
Mist net sites are currently being scouted for suitability at Homochitto NF. Homochitto NF contains 189,000 acres of upland and bottomland hardwood forests with beautiful swamp areas. For more information visit their website at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/mississippi/homochitto/
During the day on Tuesday 7/29/08, we have an optional field trip scheduled to St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). St. Catherine Creek NWR contains the second largest known maternal colony of RafinesqueĠs big-eared bat in MS, which is located in an artificial roost which was installed by Bat Conservation International. We will visit several additional colonies for this species on the refuge which are located in abandoned buildings.
This event is a great opportunity for the seasoned bat researcher as well as newcomers who want to learn more about bat research and conservation. These types of events not only provide important base-line data to document bat species diversity in an area but is also an opportunity for new students and the general public to acquire free training regarding bats and bat survey techniques. This is also a great opportunity to make new contacts, see old friends, and have a lot of fun! No experience is necessary.
Please, distribute this notice to any interested parties.
Registration forms are due by Friday 5/30/08.Hope to see you all there!
Alison McCartney, MBWG Vice-Chair
601-977-5407
alison_mccartney@blm.gov