Leader: Rick Adams
Date: 6 p.m-9:30 p.m., Friday, July 16, 2027
Fees: $75.00 per person
Limited to 12 guests
Location: In Boulder, exact location to be determined.
Registration: Please see How to Register for an Interludes Trip to register.
Small-footed Myotis, photo by Rick Adams.
Spend an enchanting evening with bat researcher and author Rick Adams. Rick has been researching bats since 1984, and is very engaging and entertaining! For this special event, Rick will discuss bat biology and introduce guests to Boulder County’s ten bat species, followed by a field excursion to observe bats feeding and drinking along Boulder Creek. The small group size means you’ll get to interact with Rick and each other and ask lots of questions!
6-7 pm Talk and discussion – The Biology and Importance of Bats: Bats are one of the most unique animals on Earth. Not only are they the only mammals capable of true, sustained flight, but they also use a highly sophisticated echolocation system for hunting prey and nocturnal navigation. Bats are the second most diverse Order of mammals, with more than 1,500 species dispersed among all continents, except Antarctica. They provide critical ecosystem functions that support healthy and vibrant food webs around the globe. In this seminar, we will delve into the hidden and fascinating biology of bats that, for most, remains cloaked by the darkness of night.
7-7:15pm Break
7:15-8:00 pm Talk and Discussion - The Ecology and Natural History of Boulder County Bats: Ten species of bats inhabit Boulder County, each having unique behaviors, morphology, and contributions to the complex food webs of the eastern plains and foothills. In this seminar, we will delve into more than 40 years of bat research in Boulder County uncovering broad patterns of roosting ecology, foraging dynamics, water use and dietary preferences as well as the current state of bat populations in relation to climate warming.
8:00-9:30 pm – Field Excursion to observe Boulder County Bats in Nature: We will go to a local water source to watch bats feed and drink. Our red light will allow us to observe bats after dark and sonar detectors will allow us to determine which species are present.
Rick Adams is Professor Emeritus at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Since 1984 his research has encompassed the study of bat ecology and evolution with projects in Colorado, Wyoming, Caribbean Islands, Belize, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia as well as in Sichuan Province, China. He is President and Founder of the Colorado Bat Society that works to educate the public on the importance of bats and has given more than a hundred public lectures. Dr. Adams has published five books and more than 75 scientific papers on bats. He was the recipient of the UNC’s highest honor as a Winchester Distinguished Academic Scholar. He also was recognized as a UNC Graduate Faculty Mentor of the Year, received the College of Natural and Health Sciences Excellence in Scholarship Award, and been honored by student organizations for his teaching excellence throughout his career. His book, Bats of the Rocky Mountain West was widely acclaimed and received the 2003 Colorado Book Award as well as the Southwest Books of the Year Honor. A 2nd edition of Bats of the Rocky Mountain West was published in 2025.
This trip is part of the Interludes with Nature field trip series. These trips are led by the area’s most knowledgeable birders and naturalists who take participants to places they wouldn’t often get to see. Monies raised by this important fundraising tool send our Teen Naturalists to birding camps.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations incur a $20.00 fee. If you cancel within 3 weeks of the event, your payment, less the fee, will only be refunded if the spot can be filled. Please consider it a donation for the fine work that Boulder County Audubon does and how much work it is to arrange these trips and keep track of the attendees.