On January 18, 2007, the Mississippi Bat Working Group held its fifth annual meeting at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson, MS. Attendance totaled 42 people from four southeastern states, the largest and most geographically diverse participation since the group originated! At least 16 agencies, organizations, and companies participated, as well as interested members of the general public.
Agenda
9:00 – 9:30 am Registration
9:30 – 9:35 am Welcome – Charles Knight, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS)
9:35 – 9:40 am Introductions – Meeting coordinators and participants
9:40 – 9:45 am Meeting objectives – Chester Martin, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and Chair, MBWG, and Alison Sherman, MMNS and Secretary, MBWG
Business Meeting
9:45 – 9:55 am MBWG activities for 2006 – Chester Martin
9:55 – 10:15 am MBWG summer mist net event 2006 – Alison McCartney
10:15 – 12:00 am Agency / Organization overviews
US Fish and Wildlife Service – David Richardson (refuges) and Terri Jacobson (Ecological Services)
MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks – Alison McCartney
Audubon Society – Kristen Lamberson
Department of Defense – Chester Martin
University of Southern Mississippi – Austin Trousdale
Weyerhaeuser – Darren Miller
US Forest Service – Sandy Kilpatrick
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Ed Hackett
National Park Service – Kurt Foote
USDA Wildlife Services – Patrick Smith
Private Exclusion – Mike McDowell
Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 pm Provided by Sponsors
Presentations
1:00 – 1:15 pm Updates on projects coordinated by the SBDN Bat Conservation Coordinator
1:15 – 2:00 pm Use of man-made structures by Rafinesque’s big-eared bats in southern Arkansas – David Saugey, Ouachita National Forest
2:00 – 2:45 pm Anabat orientation/demonstration – Rick Lance, ERDC
2:45 – 3:30 pm Meeting summary and discussion of priority issues
3:30 pm Adjourn
Meeting Minutes
On January 18, 2007, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (MMNS) hosted the MBWG’s Fifth Annual Meeting. The meeting began with a welcome by Charles Knight, Research Coordinator at the MMNS. This was followed by an opportunity for the coordinators and other participants of the meeting to provide their own introductions. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the MBWG, Chester Martin and Alison McCartney, respectively, outlined the objectives of the working group and the meeting. Most of the morning session was included within the business meeting, which began with a recap of the group’s recent activities. Chester reviewed the many contributions (including publications in peer-reviewed and technical journals) of the MBWG membership made toward bat research and conservation in 2006. Alison gave a presentation summarizing results of the 2006 Summer Mist Net Event held at J.P. Coleman and Tishomingo State Parks and surrounding areas. Alison and Dr. Darren Miller each received the Chester O. Martin Award for outstanding contributions to the conservation of bats in Mississippi.
Individuals representing various agencies and organizations (see above agenda) spoke briefly about aspects of their mission and/or activities relevant bats. the following universities were represented: University of Southern Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and University of Louisiana-Monroe. The following federal agencies were represented: US Forest Service (National Forests in Mississippi and Arkansas), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Wildlife Services, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the US Department of Defense, Environmental Laboratory – Army Research and Development Center (ERDC). the following state agencies were represented: MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, MS Museum of Natural Science, and MS Department of Environmental Quality. Private companies represented included: Weyerhaeuser Co., Bowhead Technology and Information Systems, The Critter Catcher, and A&M Wildlife Services. Non-profit organizations represented were the Audubon Society (Strawberry Plains Nature Center) and Southeaster Bat Diversity Network. Interested members of the general public were also present. Attendance totaled 42 people from four southeastern states, the largest and most geographically diverse participation since the group originated!
After lunch provided by event sponsors (Department of Biological Sciences, the University of Southern Mississippi and the Mississippi Chapter of The Wildlife Society), the meeting re-convened to hear an update by Mary Kay Clark (SBDN) on projects coordinated by SBDN. Invited presentations followed and the meeting concluded with an invitation to the upcoming Fourth Annual Mist Net Event to be held June 12-14, 2007. This event is sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and will take place on the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex.