Annual Meeting at Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

The Mississippi Bat Working Group held its 2017 membership and business meeting at the Museum of Natural Science on Thursday, February 9. Over 40 biologists and land managers from state and federal conservation agencies, natural resource graduate students, wildlife rehabilitators, environmental educators, master gardeners, and other bat enthusiasts attended.  There was a full agenda, including research presentations, updates for on-going monitoring within the State, report-outs on the MBWG’s activities and accomplishments in 2016, and planning for the upcoming year.  

Tentative plans for outreach events include hosting a booth at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science’s NatureFest on April 1 and the Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Wildlife Festival and BioBlitz in Tupelo, MS on April 22.  The 2017 mist net event will be held in September and potential locations include Copiah or Adams County.  A 2nd Annual Culvert Blitz will be organized for January 2018.  

Agenda 

LOCATION: MMNS, Environmental Classroom

TIME: 9am – 4pm

9:00 – 9:15     Registration (no fee required)

9:15 – 9:30     Welcome, introductions, housekeeping

9:30 – 9:50     “Bat species records in Mississippi,” Chazz Coleman, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

9:50 – 10:10   “Factors affecting acoustic detection and occupancy of bats in forested communities,” Scott A. Veum, Jr., Scott Rush, Mike Colvin, and Steve Reagan, Mississippi State University

10:10 – 10:30   “Back to Bracken Cave,” Chester Martin, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, retired

10:30 – 10:40    BREAK

10:40 – 11:00    “Winter habits of Perimyotis subflavus in Mississippi”, Eric Britzke, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

11:00 – 11:20   “First annual culvert blitz,” Becky Rosamond, Chair MBWG

11:20 – 11:30    Update on State’s activities: caves, culverts, and white-not syndrome, Kathy Shelton, Mississippi Bat Working Group

11:30 – 11:45     Education Committee Report – Bat Powerpoint, Deb Waz, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

11:45 – 12:00     Tips for Bat Programs, Jackie Kerr and Deb Waz, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

12:00 -1:00         LUNCH

1:00 – 1:20          Summary of the 2016 Mist Net Event – and plans for 2017, Becky Rosamond Chair

1:20 – 1:40          MBWG Secretary/Treasurer Report – Amber Floyd

                             Accomplishments and Awards for 2016 – Chester Martin, Awards Committee Chair MBWG

1:40 – 2:15          Updates:

                                   – Update on website – Amber Floyd

                                   – Updates from SBDN, upcoming meeting, Becky Rosamond

                                   – Update on bat conservation document, James Austin, US Fish and Wildlife Service                                

2:15 – 2:30          BREAK

2:30 – 4:00          New Business

                                – Upcoming outreach: NatureFest (MMNS, April 1, booth, mist net) and Trace Festival (Tupelo, April 22, booth, mist net)

                                – Grant opportunities: Wildlife Acoustics (Eco Meter Touch)

                                – Discussion of the culvert blitz / suggestions for the future

                                 – Other Items?

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