2005 Annual Meeting of the TN Bat Working Group

[L Roebuck]

The second meeting of the Tennessee Bat Working Group (TNBWG) will be held on 16 November, 2005 in Nashville at the Ellington Agriculture Center, TWRA Region 2 Office Building, Commissioner's Meeting Room. The TNBWG was formed in the summer of 2004 in recognition of the need for cooperation among various groups and individuals to help coordinate the
conservation of bat species in Tennessee.

This is an opportunity to learn more about the status of bat conservation efforts and participate in discussions regarding the current and future needs of bat species in Tennessee. Anyone with an interest in bat conservation is encouraged to attend.

Individuals with an interest in bat conservation in Tennessee are also encouraged to join the working group by contacting Andrea English, the current Secretary of the TNBWG, by phone [phone]) or email ([e-mail]).

In order to insure availability of materials and space, please notify John Lamb, the current Chair of the TNBWG, by phone [phone]) or email ([e-mail]) if you plan to attend.

TNBWG 2005 Meeting Agenda
09:00 – Welcome and Introductions
09:15 – “Progress Report and Request for Input on the Development of a TNBWG Website” Andrea English, Region 2 Wildlife Diversity Coordinator / State Wildlife Grants Program, TWRA, Nashville, TN
9:45 – “A Review of Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens) Surveys, Population Trends, and Cave Protection Activities within the Tennessee River Valley” Hill Henry & Jenny Fiedler, TVA Natural Heritage, Norris, TN
10:05 – “An Update on Bat Mortality at the Expanded Buffalo Mountain Windfarm, Eastern Tennessee” Jenny Fiedler, Lauren George-Smith, and Erin Schiding, TVA Natural Heritage, Norris, TN
10:25 – “The TWRA SWG WMA Bat Inventories” Scott Dykes, Morristown; Chris Simpson, Crossville; Josh Campbell, Nashville; & Jim Hamlington, Jackson; Wildlife Managers, TWRA
11:00 – “Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens) and Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) Status Review” Michael J. Harvey, PhD, Professor Emeritus/Senior Affiliate Faculty, Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN
11:15 – 12:45 – Lunch on your own
12:45 – "Censusing Gray Bat Maternity Caves in Tennessee: Thermal Infrared Videography Technique" Bruce M. Sabol, P.E., Environmental Laboratory (EE-C), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS
13:15 – Introduction of Group Discussion Topics
• A TNBWG Project Database
• Advising Land Managers
• 2005 Bat Blitz
John W. Lamb, Conservation Biologist, ATA Conservation, Arnold Air Force Base, TN & Heather Garland, Cave and Karst Program Manager, The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee, Nashville, TN
13:45 – Group Discussion
14:15 – Break
14:30 – Group Discussion
16:00 – Adjourn
Note: All times are Central Standard Time

[Jennifer]

I attended this meeting (thanks for posting the info Lynn, I would never have know about it otherwise!). I was suprised that I was the only caver there. Of course if was a work day, Anyway, it was an interesting meeting, there were representatives from Tennessee and Mississippi state resource management agencies, the Nature Conservancy, and several universities. One of the most interesting topics of conversation was the status of the gray bat. They were on the brink of extinction 20 years ago and are currently on the endangered species list. All of the biologists at the meeting think they have rebounded enough that the species should be removed from the endangered species list. If that happens, the species will still be monitored for five years to make sure the population stays stable.

A rep from the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network also attended. I'd never heard of that group. They hold "bat blitzes" around the southeast -- these are weekends where the public is invited to join biologists to conduct bat counts. A great way to educate people about bats!

The TN Bat Working Group has a web page with really useful information about area bats. Here it is:

www.state.tn.us/twra/tnbwg/tnbwg.html

[L Roebuck]

;D Glad you made it to the meeting Jennifer! I hope you didn't mention my name. (just kidding)

As far back in 2001 many of the biologists were talking about the gray bats recovery status and the fact that they had not been de-listed yet. ( www.sbdn.org/priorities_action.html ) It was such wonderful news the grey's have recovered and have no threat of extinction! Now if someone would just get busy on the de-listing paperwork.....

Here's a couple more useful links.

Southeastern Bat Diversity Network www.sbdn.org/index.html

Tennessee Bat Working Group (Yahoo Discussion Group) groups.yahoo.com/group/TBWG/