The Lost Coast Lectures series is back! Presented by Friends of the Lost Coast and BLM King Range, we’ll be kicking things off with a pod of lectures highlighting the varied local work of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Up first, on Wednesday, November 18, USGS Bat Ecologist and Acoustics Specialist, Bethany Schulze, presents Bats and Their Amazing Movements, From the Lost Coast to Offshore and Beyond! in a virtual presentation that will highlight her work monitoring bats on the Lost Coast and other coastal locations in Humboldt County.

The free lecture starts at 6pm – and a Zoom link to view the lecture live will be posted HERE in advance of the event.

Lecture summary:

Bats play a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of diverse ecosystems in California and around the world. Bats are necessary for controlling insect pests, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds, which helps natural habitats and agriculture thrive. Western bat species can be found in a variety of habitats, even over the open ocean!  However, bats are impacted by a variety of stressors, including habitat loss, disease, and fatalities from wind turbines. Very little is known about the movements of migratory bat species, which are the most impacted by wind energy, and even less about migratory activity in coastal and offshore environments. To investigate bat activity Bethany’s team deployed acoustic bat detectors at coastal and offshore rocks and island sites – and are using the Motus Wildlife Tracking system to determine the movements of individual bats.  Come learn about what these bats are up to in coastal and offshore environments and see the latest results from their tracking efforts.