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"Happiness always looks small when you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and at once you learn how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Stealth...

These are not the most detailed photos I've taken but...
they tell a story just as much as the fine tuned pictures.
Every year, up in the peak of the roof we are hosts to a maternity ward of sorts.
For bats.
They come and set up at the same time every year.
We can hear them with their high pitched murmers as the sun goes down and then...
out they go...foraging for insects to feed the new babies.
You can pretty much set your clock to the time when they begin to fly out.
As soon as the moths and mosquitoes come out.
It starts at between 9:10 and 9:15 and lasts for about 5 minutes until you can't keep track of them anymore.
Stealth.
Flutters in the corner of your eye.
Gone out into the night before you barely see them.
This is one of the more difficult subjects I've photographed. 
Like trying to catch someone blinking an eye.
Although steeped in stories of horror and myth...
they are fascinating animals who do us a world of good.
They eat 1/3 of their body weight in insects every night.
Imagine the world without them.

3 comments:

Tatersmama said...

I've always loved watching them and they don't bother me at all.
I think the only concern I would have is with the bat guano. I've heard that it rots wood and draws cockroaches or something?

Bats themselves? Cute as!

farmlady said...

Aren't bats interesting. Like prehistoric creatures of the night. I love to go outside at night and watch them.
It's amazing that you got any photos at all. But you did... What setting did you use?

Mary said...

I love bats. I made a post on my facebook page one day, and so many people wrote saying bats are disgusting and frightening. I felt heartbroken. I think they're beautiful, and help us in many ways. I've never been afraid of them. Nature doesn't frighten me one bit. One only has to respect and enjoy it..