“The establishment of bats in Hawaii is among the most spectacular over-water colonization events in mammalian history,” writes Frank J. Bonaccorso, Ph.D., a wildlife ecologist and author, in his “Natural History and Migration of the Endangered ‘Ope’ape’a in Hawaii.”
“The establishment of bats in Hawaii is among the most spectacular over-water colonization events in mammalian history,” writes Frank J. Bonaccorso, Ph.D., a wildlife ecologist and author, in his “Natural History and Migration of the Endangered ‘Ope‘ape‘a in Hawaii.”
Known for obvious reasons as “Bat Man,” Bonaccorso and his team will visit the North Kohala Public Library to share fascinating insights into Hawaii’s only native land mammal — the ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, or Hawaiian hoary bat.
Everyone is invited to come “hang out” and learn about ‘ope‘ape‘a at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at the library.
Learn how USGS researchers “listen” to the activity of ‘ope‘ape‘a around the Big Island and collect data using acoustic equipment. Learn about these unique creatures, how their ancestors reached Hawaii, and how their lives in the island environments differ from those of other bat species.
Also, find out what you can do to help protect the endangered ‘ope‘ape‘a in your own backyard. Ages 5 and up are welcome. This event represents the first in a series of monthly talk-story presentations about Kohala’s natural and human history, co-sponsored by Friends of the North Kohala Library and ‘Iole. For more information, visit www.iolehawaii.com or call the library at 889-6655.