Researchers detect a variety of bats and other wildlife at Old Riverside Park

A screen grab from the Atlanta Coyote Project's trail camera video from Old Riverside Park showing a beaver.

Chris Mowry, Professor of Biology at Berry College, has detected a number of bat species utilizing habitat at Old Riverside Park in Sandy Springs.

The flying mammals were detected using ultrasonic bat detectors that pick up on the echolocation signals that bats use to find insect prey on the wing. These signals are not detectable by the human ear, but the sophisticated listening devices can record the high frequency sounds.  Scientists can use these recorded signals to determine which species of bat are present, as echolocation patterns vary by species, just as bird song varies by species.

Professor Mowry has been eavesdropping on bats at this site for several years.  In September 2022, six bat species were detected.  In September 2023, seven bat species were detected.  During one survey in 2024, seven species were detected in one night.  Preliminary results indicate that the species detected include the silver haired bat, eastern red bat, northern yellow bat, and tri-colored bat.  The northern yellow and tri-colored bats are Georgia Species of Concern which means that their populations are declining due to habitat loss and/or a fungal disease known as white nose syndrome.

The bat detection was part of a larger project looking at vertebrate diversity at Old Riverside Park using trail cameras. A video of wildlife recorded at the park was posted on Youtube by the Atlanta Coyote Project, in which, Professor Mowry is also involved.

Analysis of echolocation data collected at Old Riverside Park is ongoing by a consortium called the Georgia Bat Working Group.  The group is looking at potentially installing a permanent bat detector at the site.

According to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, “bats play an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds”. Many bats are insectivores, while others feed on nectar and are important pollinators for crops like peaches, cloves, and bananas.

As humans destroy and alter more and more greenspace, functional habitat for important species like bats and other creatures is in decline.

For more information on Georgia’s bat species check out the Georgia DNR, Wildlife Division’s Bats of Georgia page.  This website provides helpful information on bat house installation and native plants that are beneficial for bats.