Chenango Arts Council for an educational exhibit in conjunction with Friends of Rogers, sponsored by the Chenango County Public Health Department. Photo courtesy Mat White Photos
Join the Chenango Arts Council and Friends of Rogers for “Bat Appreciation!” during the 19th annual Pumpkin Fest. Beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 27, this interactive presentation will take place in the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries, where a unique bat exhibit will be on display through Nov. 3.
New York state is home to at least nine species of bats, an unusual order of winged mammals, often nocturnal and generally insectivores. Contrary to popular belief, they are not blind. Bats have eyes and can see, just not very well.
Flying insects are more abundant at night, when light is scarce, so bats use echolocation – the ability to create high-pitched sounds, which bounce off objects and return to the mammal’s highly sensitive ears. Bats play an important role in the control of insects, especially mosquitos. A single bat can devour as many as a thousand insects in one night, and a family of bats can help control insect populations for a whole neighborhood.
In an effort to offer an immersive visual learning experience, the CAC has sourced a collection of taxidermied bats. The bats on display at the event were collected over 50 years ago by Professor Emeritus Robert Goodwin of Colgate University’s Biology Department, and are now on loan to the CAC with the assistance of Timothy McCay, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Colgate University.
“The bats chosen for this exhibit are of the insect-eating variety indigenous to the northeastern and mid-western U.S.,” said CAC marketing director, Matthew White. “A sizeable collection of other bat species, as well as birds and other mammals, are available for viewing by special arrangements with Prof. McCay.”
“We are grateful for the Chenango County Health Department’s sponsorship of this unique program,” said FOR executive director Simon Solomon. “Working with the Chenango Arts Council to advance bat appreciation, admiration, and conservation is both an exciting community collaboration and a dynamic way of fulfilling our mission.”
While this interactive presentation is offered free of charge, donations are welcome to support future programs. Rogers Center is operated by Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs for all ages. Seasonal hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (607) 674-4733 or visit www.FriendsofRogers.org.