Folks
Here's an interesting report on another flying critter. If anyone has seen anything similar (without outside stimulation) please let me know.

>From Barbara French, Bat Conservation International

I have received information about this event as well (and also information on bat flights south of this location at the same time). I have contacted wildlife biologists in the area who are now investigating this claim. Bats in these numbers have not been previously recorded in this location. I will let you know if I receive verification of the event.
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 16:41:46 -0800
>From: "Gary L. Chipman" <wordsmith at wordsmith1.com>
>To: jbuzbee at nyx.net
>Subject: [Fwd: Bats Galore]
>
>> Greetings:
>>
>> Near dusk, on Friday, February 26, 1999, I saw an extraordinarily large flight of bats proceeding from West to East just to the North of and roughly parallel to Highway 26. The flight was about 200 feet wide and extended from Cornelius Pass Road to past Murray Boulevard to the West of Portland, Oregon. I estimated the number of bats in the flight at between 500,000 and 1,000,000--based on my estimate of density and the geographic area covered by the flight.
>>
>> The sight of that many bats was so startling that many motorists who noticed the phenomenon pulled over to watch in wonder. Other motorists who failed to notice the phenomenon must have thought those of us who stopped were "batty."
>>
>> I'm a birdwatcher, so I notice and, as a matter of habit, count birds and bats that I see flying by. In my 53 years, I do not recall ever seeing so many bats in flight at once.
>>
>> Query: Could such an extraordinary flight of bats be linked to rain-caused slides or bat "cave-ins?" [Note: Our rainfall for February was over 200% of normal.]
>>
>> Query: Could the phenomenon be related to recent non-trivial seismic activity we have had in the area?
>>
>> Thank you for your attention to this matter of interest to me.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> [Image]
>> Gary Chipman
>> wordsmith at wordsmith1.com
>> http://www.wordsmith1.com/
>> http://home.internetcds.com/~kestrel/
>> Voice: (503) 690-4349
>> Fax: (503)690-3475
>> 4722 NW Imnaha Ct
>> Portland, OR 97229-2710

John Fleckenstein, zoologist
Washington Natural Heritage Program
Department of Natural Resources
(360) 902-1674
John.Fleckenstein at wadnr.gov