Befitting our “Happy New Year” edition, Buena Vista Audubon is featuring San Diego County’s premier (mammalian) flyer, hosted by its champion, Don Endicott. Bats! Those strange, mysterious creatures of the night. Sporting skills of flight and acoustic navigation, bats contribute to our environment in many ways—devouring insects, pollinating wild fruits, and helping reforest disturbed lands. Of the 47 species in the United States, nearly half reside in San Diego County and make up 20% of local mammals. We have the largest (western mastiff) with its two-foot wingspan and the fastest (Mexican free-tailed) at up to 100 mph in level flight! Many are urban adapters and most are insatiable insectivores.

Poorly understood and frequently feared, bats are under threat worldwide. As a result, bats need our protection as much as we need them. Fortunately, Don Endicott is with us to make clear the wonders of, perils to, and possibilities for our non-feathered friends. A retired research engineer and executive in Navy Communications and Network Technologies, Don discovered a second career as a volunteer naturalist. He is an interpretive guide at Mission Trails Regional Park, a public educator for the San Diego Natural History Museum, and a member of the San Diego Humane Society’s “Bat Team.” As a co-author of 50 Best Short Hikes San Diego with the late Jerry Schad, he is no stranger to our backyards. Join him, and us, and the bats…after dark.

See January Newsletter for me information