MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES FOR 1995

FIELD STUDY WORKSHOPS

BCI’s SUCCESSFUL field study workshop program, now in its sixth year, has provided training to more than 150 wildlife biologists, educators, and other serious students of bat conservation, who are using their skills to make a difference. These intensive 5-day workshops are designed to teach participants the skills required to study bats and to achieve greater conservation effectiveness.

The workshop was so useful, and so exceeded my expectations, that I have little to offer but praise.
-Marc Weinberger

ARIZONA
Our field study course in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains provides an excellent venue for learning bat conservation and research techniques, including netting, trapping, radiotracking, night-vision observations, and habitat assessment. Amid extraordinary wildlife and habitat diversity at our American Museum of Natural History Southwest Research Station base, we can expect to capture and release as many as 16 species of bats in a single evening, with additional closeup observations of endangered long-nosed and Mexican long-tongued bats at hummingbird feeders. This is the best location in America to learn bat identification.

Pre-exposure rabies vaccinations are required. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available for federal and state agency biologists, land managers, and others with special needs.

Limited to 12 people per session.

Choose one of three 5-day sessions starting:
June 12, June 17, or June 22, 1995 (application deadline February 28,1995) COST.- $995 (all-inclusive from Tucson, AZ)

NATURAL HISTORY TOURS

FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, BCI has been offering natural history tours like no others: Special trips to tropical locations with an emphasis on creatures of the night— bats! Past participants have found the tours to be among the most exciting and rewarding vacations they have ever taken. Join us for our fifth exciting year of travel.
You will enjoy the rare opportunity to become acquainted with bats in their natural habitats, while learning firsthand the vital roles bats play in tropical ecosystems. All travel arrangements are made through International Expeditions, Inc., a leader in responsible ecotravel. Prices are all-inclusive from the departure city and include a $250 tax-deductible donation to BCI’s Latin American Conservation and Education Initiatives Program.

Limited to 18 participants each.

BELIZE
Spectacular wildlife diversity and the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization make Belize an irresistible destination for travelers. Along with parrots, toucans, monkeys, jungle cats, crocodiles, and much more, we’ll see some of the world’s most unusual bats, maybe including the bizarre wrinkle-faced bat and dainty proboscis bats, with their amazing camouflage ability. Others will include fruit- and nectar eating bats, and possibly vampires.

Our trip will take us bat-netting in the dense tropical forest surrounding the remote Chan Chich Lodge, on a day trip to Xunantunich-the site of the largest and oldest Mayan ruin in Belize-to the famed Jaguar Preserve for an exotic evening netting for bats amid the night sounds of the surrounding jungle, and for a full-day boat excursion with snorkeling along the impressive Belize Barrier Reef, the world’s second largest.
February 13-23, 1995 (11 days)
COST. $2,698 (from Houston or Miami)

COSTA RICA
Experience the broad diversity of tropical ecosystems-including the bats-all within the borders of Costa Rica. Nightly trips into the jungle to net and observe bats will acquaint participants with some of the 100 or more local species, including vampires, fruit- and nectar-eating bats, fishing bats, and even tiny tent-making bats. We will visit biological reserves and national parks, from wet and dry lowland forests to mountain-top cloud forests. Daytime hikes along nature trails provide ample opportunity for wildlife viewing where we hope to see exquisite quetzals, monkeys, and even day-roosting bats hidden in banana or palm leaves.

An optional extension to Corcovado, the country’s largest and most remote national park, completes this comprehensive tour of beautiful Costa Rica.
April 12-21, 1995 (10 days)
COST. $2,348 (from Miami)
Optional 3-day extension $698

For additional information and complete itineraries, or to register, contact Janet Tyburec at BCI, 512-327-9721 or fill out and return the card enclosed in this issue.