Special Guests During Bat Survey Nights

by Leah Wells

The Bat Team setting up a mist-net in the Pine Barrens

Surveying for bats means staying up late and spending a lot of time in the dark. Our evenings begin a few hours before sunset, giving us just enough time to set up for the night. We start off by scouting locations to set up our mist-nets which we use to capture bats. These fine nets, ranging from 8 – 30 ft across and 16 ft high, are attached to tall poles stationed along corridors which bats often use to forage for food. With our nets ready to be deployed, we use the last of the daylight to set up our work station where we will process the bats we hopefully catch.

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Pollinators in Peril: State of Change Podcast, Episode 3

Conserve Wildlife Foundation is excited to release Pollinators in Peril, the third episode of ‘State of Change’, our podcast exploring the impacts of climate change on New Jersey’s wildlife.

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, moths and other insects
are facing perilous times due to pesticides, habitat loss and climate change.
Photo by Krzysztof Niewolny from Pixabay.
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National Moth Week, July 23rd through July 29th

The first National Moth Week (2012) will occur this week, July 23-29! 

The purpose of National Moth Week is celebrate these amazing insects and bring people together to learn about their importance.  Groups and individuals from all over the world will spend some time during National Moth Week looking for moths and sharing what they’ve found.

With more than 10,000 species in North America, moths offer endless options for study, education, photography, and fun. Moths can be found everywhere from inner cities and suburban backyards, to the most wild and remote places. The diversity of moths is simply astounding. Their colors and patterns range from bright and dazzling, to so cryptic that they define camouflage. Moth shapes and sizes span the gamut, with some as small as a pinhead and others as large as a hand.

Most moths are nocturnal and need to be sought at night to be seen, but others fly during the day. Finding moths can be as simple as leaving a porch light on and checking it after dark. Serious moth aficionados use special lights and baits to attract them. Popular interest in moths is rapidly growing, as noted by recent publications and web-based resources. The new Peterson Field Guide to the Moths by David Beadle and Seabrooke Leckie, moth caterpillar guides by David Wagner,  and a vast number of moth-oriented Internet resources such as the Moth Photographers Group and BugGuide are just some examples of moth’s growing popularity. Moths are also featured widely in literature and art providing a different angle for enjoyment and study. “Moth Nights” are often held by nature groups, and provide an opportunity for either an introduction to the creatures, or a venue for more serious pursuits.

To date, National Moth Week has more than 160 events planned all over the world in 16 countries and 46 US States. Participating countries include Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Czech Republic, French Guiana, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

National Moth Week was spearheaded by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission.  National Moth Week’s partners include Butterflies and Moths of North America, BugGuide, Discover Life, The Lepidopterists’ Society, the North American Moth Photographer’s Group, The Pollinator Partnership, Project Noah, What’s That Bug and Wild New Jersey.

Join CWF at the Allaire Nature Center for a Moth Night this Friday, July 27th at 8pm. 

For more information, call Charlene at 732-567-3675.