BEEPS Peachland Newsletter
BEEPS Board of Directors Darlene Hartford President Joey Byatt Vice President
March 2017
New Bat Helpers
At the January 30th AGM three new Directors were voted onto the Board. We welcome Jennifer Clute, Rachel Truant and Sam Theriault. These enthusiastic ladies are eager to assist in expanding our programs, revamping the bat display in the Legends of the Lake Interpretive Centre and participating in this season’s bat events. Just watch us spread our wings!
Doris Muhs Treasurer
Borana Bach Secretary Patrick Van Minsel Director
Doreen Hall Director
Jennifer Clute
Rachel Truant
Jennifer Clute Director Rachel Truant Director Sam Theriault Director BEEPS Peachland
Sam Theriault
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BEEPS Peachland Newsletter
March 2017
BEEPS’ 2017 Goals 1. Increase our income
2. Increase awareness of our society and goals 3. Continue bat education to the public and increase awareness of our accomplishments
AKA: Hey, look at us, see what we’ve done and look out for what’s coming next!
Guano Clean-out
The volunteer Fire Brigade was on deck collecting guano from the attic in preparation of bats returning from hibernation. Four black garbage bags of guano accumulated during the 2016 season. We tip our wings to the Fire Brigade for a job well done!
More About Guano
Guano samples will be collected and sent for testing to determine if Peachland bats were affected by the White Nose-syndrome fungus this winter. The fungus is not visible during the summer months, therefore, early springtime detection is important.
When is a Bat House Too Hot!?
Peachland Bats will be part of an Okanagan Bat House Study to determine just that. Many bat carcasses were located at the base of bat houses in the South Okanagan this past summer. The study is seeking a correlation between rising temperatures within bat houses and the number of dehydrated carcasses. Biologist Tanya Luszcz installed two new HOBO Loggers in our attic. These temperature loggers will provide Peachland data to the study and assist in understanding the movement of our colony BEEPS Peachland
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BEEPS Peachland Newsletter
March 2017
within the attic based on what is hot, and what is too hot.
Two HOBO Loggers were purchased through funds raised at the 2016 Rubber Ducky Race, Ducks Helping Bats! Thanks ducky friends.
Equipment Upgrades
An alkaline battery in the Roost Logger exploded sometime during winter frigid temperatures. Fire Chief Dennis Craig and Director of Tourism Services, Joey Byatt, clean out the RL and replace it with lithium batteries. The Roost Logger records bat sounds identifying species and determining arrival and departure dates of hibernating bats.
Bat Sounds
The sounds bats make are often described as chirps, squeaks for squeals but bats are mammals and not birds or rodents! Join a Bat Count this summer and let us know what sound you think the bats make just before they exit the attic to feed. Bat Counts: June 2 and 16, July 22 and August 12
Neighbourhood Bat Watch Last year the first bat was spotted in downtown Peachland on March 4th but schoolhouse bats didn’t arrive until April. The schoolhouse bats started leaving the building at the end of the summer but neighbourhood bats were flying around in the hills as late as October.
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BEEPS Peachland Newsletter
March 2017
Keep watch in your neighbourhood and report in when you see your first bat and last bat. BEEPS will compare the dates of your bats, roosting in the wild, to those roosting in the attic. Phone 250-767-2455 or visitpeachland@gmail.com
Do the kids drive you Batty during spring break?
Bring them to the Peachland Historic School for a Scavenger Hunt Find 150 historic items hidden in and around the school in celebration of Canada 150. When: March 21st – 24th Time:
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Except on March 24th when the Scavenger Hunt ends at 12:00 pm. Pick up Scavenger Hunt programs at the Visitor Centre, Boys & Girls Club, or Art Gallery.
Enjoy all the fun, historic displays and fill out your program; then leave it in the Drop Box for a chance to win prizes! Prizes will be drawn at 2:00 pm on March 24th.
Kick-off to Canada 150 Join us on Friday March 24th!
9:00 – 12:00 Scavenger Hunt – final chance! 1:00 – 3:00
Opening Ceremony by the Town Crier Westbank First Nations Dancers & Drummers WFN Bannock fresh off the fire Canada 150 Maple Cookie Contest by Peachland Bakers Scavenger Hunt Prizes Draw Papa Thom sing-a-long and Kids Activities
Bat Trivia
Bats sleep approximately 19 hours per day conserving fat and body energy for a busy night of echolocating while hunting, feeding and avoiding things in the dark.
Search for Ogopogo
A Big Thanks to Kim Bailey and Maurice McNabb for the donation of a telescope. BEEPS will use this at Bat Counts but until our friends return stop by the Visitor Centre and search for Ogopogo.
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BEEPS Peachland Newsletter
March 2017
2017 Calendar of Events March 21-24
Historic Scavenger Hunt, Visitor Centre & grounds
March 24
Canada 150 Celebration 1:30 – 3:00 pm, Visitor Centre
April 15
Rubber Ducky Race Fundraiser 2:00 – 4:00 pm
May 1
Raffle Tickets launched (draw Aug. 29)
May 18
Go Batty in Peachland, 6:30 pm Meadowlark Festival: Bat House Interpretive Trail, facilitated Walk by Biologist Tanya Luszcz; Viewing of Interpretive Centre; Bat Count
June 2 and 16
BC Bat Watch, Bat Count, at dusk
July 1
Canada Day Parade BEEPS float & evening Bat Count
July 22
BC Bat Watch, Bat Count, at dusk
August 12
BC Bat Watch Bat Count, at dusk
August 29
Tentative Date: BEEPS Membership Meeting & Raffle prize draw
October 28
Kids Halloween Haunted Trail
Rubber Ducky Race Sponsors
A big thank you to the proud sponsors of the Rubber Ducky Race supporting our bats. Please join us on April 15 at Beach Ave & Todd Rd - kids ducks on sale at 1:30 pm, races start at 2:00 pm.
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BEEPS Peachland Newsletter
March 2017
Hang-Out With Us Join our stewardship program as a volunteer for BEEPS events this year. We need volunteers in many areas of our ever expanding program. Raise your wing and be a Bat Volunteer at the following events: ___ Historic Scavenger Hunt
March 21 - 24
___ Canada Day Kick-off
March 24th
___ Meadowlark Festival
May 18
___ World of Wheels Booth
May 21
___ BC Bat Watch, Bat Counts
June 2, 16, July 22, Aug 12
___ Canada Day Event
July 1
___ Bat Chats
TBA
Bat helpers needed for planning, Set-up/Take-down, Bat Chat Crafts & Readings, Interpretive Trail Guides & Trail Assistants.
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