texascavers Digest 27 Oct 2010 01:51:32 -0000 Issue 1177
Topics (messages 16408 through 16414):
Re: Texas Cavers Reunion "Dust Bowl" 2010
16408 by: Ron Miller
Rare Sighting of Mexican Long-tongued Bat
16409 by: Joe Ranzau
Looking for Leslie Bell
16410 by: Aimee Beveridge
Slideshow of the Day
16411 by: David
Send Kevin McGowan over the edge this Saturday....
16412 by: germanyj.aol.com
Re: GPS+compass-enabled camera from Ricoh
16413 by: Brian Vauter
Chupacabras Explained!
16414 by: Mark Minton
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Someone still had to get the porta johns so we did not have 300+ folks
defecating the land. Not entirely free.
Folks could have got in by just paying the parks per night camping fee of $15
per car.
http://www.hiddenfallsadventurepark.com/camping.html
Ron
________________________________
From: J. LaRue Thomas <jlrbi...@sonoratx.net>
To: texascavers@texascavers.com
Sent: Wed, October 20, 2010 8:31:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Texascavers] Texas Cavers Reunion "Dust Bowl" 2010
Rather than assume nefarious cheapskate-ism, remember that when we held TCRs on
private land (no "use fee") the main/only thing the registration fee paid for
was the food. People who were not there for the Saturday dinner or did not want
to eat the dinner didn't need to pay. (If this was not the policy this
certainly
was the misperception).
Reminding folks that "That was then and this is now and things are different"
may very well take care of most of this issue. Jacqui
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http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20101022b
AUSTIN–Something batty is going on in Dripping Springs, and just in
time for Halloween.
When Jim Yantis stepped out on his porch October 17, he noticed a bat
roosting on the house. Yantis, a nature lover, said he quickly
noticed something different about this bat.
“His head reminded me of a dog’s head,” Yantis said. “I knew it was a
special bat so I took pictures of it. When it got dark that Sunday, I
caught it flying off behind me.”
Yantis’ speculation about the creature’s unique nature was correct. It
turned out to be a male Mexican long-tongued bat, a species that has
only been documented four times in Texas.
“I’m sure this is a new species record for Hays County,” said Diana
Foss, an Urban Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department.
Foss, also a member of the Houston Bat Team, said it is unusual to
spot this type of bat in Texas.
“The long nose marks it as a nectivore and not an insect eater like
most of the other 31 bat species found in Texas,” Foss said.
She said this particular species is thought to follow agave blooms north.
“This one may have found some convenient agave blooms near Mr. Yantis’
home,” Foss said.
The only record of the Mexican long-tongued bat in the state prior to
2000 was in Hidalgo County. These bats have been found in Cameron
County and Midland since that time, and were spotted in El Paso three
years ago.
Bats are noted for their insect-eating habits. These tendencies are
significant because they keep the moths that impact grain supplies
under control. A good number of bat species are nectivores in the
tropics, and important plant pollinators.
Bob Locke of Bat Conservation International said the Mexican
long-tongued bat is not only a significant pollinator of agave, but of
some cacti from Arizona and New Mexico south into Venezuela.
They tend to be small colony roosting species, usually found in small
groups along crevices, Locke said.
“Their name comes from their tongue, which can be 1/3 the length of
their body,” Locke said.
The bat was found dead late the morning of October 18. The specimen
will be kept at the Texas Department of State Health Services lab in
Austin.
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Sorry to bother ya'll. I'm looking for Leslie Bell. Drop me a line chica,
Aimee
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Here is a new slideshow uploaded to YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1IEc1704oE&feature=related
Note the guy with the 5 headlamps on his helmet. Or is one a video-camera?
Also note all the cavers using the Petzl Ultra.
The video is probably better if you mute the sound.
David Locklear
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Just a couple of more days left to donate to Special Olympics Texas and send
Greater Houston Grotto member Kevin McGowan over the edge of the
InterContinental Hotel - a 22 story rappel - on Saturday, October 30th.
And, if you donate at least $50, you will automatically be entered for the
grand prize - a 2011 Subaru Outback - which would make a great car for a caver!
The drawing is on November 2nd.
FYI - Kevin had to raise a minimum of $1,000 to get to rappel. To date, he has
raised $2,415. Let's help him reach $2,500.
Click here to donate: http://www.firstgiving.com/kevinmcgowan1
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>From Ricoh:
Not only does it record where you took the picture, it also records what
direction you were facing.
Positional accuracy +/- 10 ft (compass accuracy +/- 3 degrees). The website
reads that you can connect the thing via bluetooth to an external GPS or
laser range finder for greater accuracy, but I couldn't find how much
greater.
http://www.alta4.com/eng/geoimaging/camera/index.php
Brian
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Chupacabras are just mangy coyotes according to this
research: <http://ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=8051>.
Mark Minton
Please reply to mmin...@caver.net
Permanent email address is mmin...@illinoisalumni.org
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