All Ascension Parish Library locations will be closed Tuesday, December 24 - Thursday, December 26, and Tuesday, December 31 - Wednesday, January 1, 2025, in observance of Christmas & New Year's.
Three Smithsonian-affiliated scientists will teach us about the remarkable world of tropical bats!
For decades, scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute have studied the remarkable biodiversity of bats on Barro Colorado Island in Panama, where an astonishing 76 species coexist. Now, for the first time, Smithsonian scientists’ expertise pairs with the stunning photography of National Geographic contributor Christian Ziegler for a captivating visual journey into the fascinating world of these elusive night creatures to bring you the book Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats.
This virtual presentation will cover topics from the book, such as bats' diverse sensory abilities, foraging strategies, roosting ecologies, and social systems. Decades of intensive study by Drs. Rachel Page, Dina Dechmann, Teague O’Mara, and Marco Tschapka provide authoritative insight alongside 150 photographs that showcase bats’ extraordinary environmental adaptation and rich natural history.
About the Authors:
Dr. Rachel A. Page is a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Institute in Panama, where she leads the Smithsonian Bat Lab (www.noseleaf.org). She is broadly interested in animal behavior, but her focus is understanding the sensory and cognitive tools bats use to navigate their worlds and interact with each other.
Dr. Dina K. N. Dechmann is a group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (www.ab.mpg.de/dechmann) and a research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. An evolutionary ecologist by training, her main research interest is how animals adapt to fluctuations in the resources upon which they depend.
Dr. M. Teague O’Mara is the Director of Conservation Evidence at Bat Conservation International, where he works on data-driven strategies for the conservation of global bat populations. O’Mara has studied animal behavior, movement, and physiology across the globe, with an emphasis on bats in Panama.
Registration is required for live streaming. While registering, submit your questions so the author can answer them during the live event. Find all our upcoming Author Talks and past recordings by clicking here.
Our Virtual location showcases our virtual programs on our events calendar. It is not a physical library location. To find one of our library locations, click the Locations & Hours link at the top of this page.
