FORT WORTH, Texas — By day, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) is a peaceful escape: a lush haven of paths, vibrant blooms, and gentle breezes. But when the sun dips below the horizon, the Garden transforms into something else entirely – a living laboratory for one of nature’s most underappreciated creatures.
As the sun falls, and again when the sun rises, volunteer researchers from the Cross Timbers Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, alongside teams from the North American Bat Monitoring Program and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), gather data from FWBG. Armed with specialized acoustic detectors, PVC-mounted microphones, and a passion for the night creatures, they set to work.
“We find a spot where it’s safe for bats to fly. It’s next to trees, but not too close…” said the Texas Master Naturalists Volunteers…