Peer into the Secret World of Tropical Bats in Smithsonian’s Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk

TOMS RIVER – Bats might never look cuddly, but they’ll always be an essential part of our global ecosystem. Join three Smithsonian-affiliated scientists for a close look at these amazing mammals during the next Ocean County Library Virtual Author Talk, 2 PM Wednesday, October 2.

Dr. Rachel A. Page. Dr. Dina K.N. Dechmann and Dr. M Teague O’Mara teamed with award-winning photojournalist Christian Zeigler for a captivating visual account of these elusive, biodiverse night flyers. Bat Island: A Rare Journey into the Hidden World of Tropical Bats is available at the Ocean County Library.

Stationed at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, they studied the coexistence of a remarkable 76 species on Panama’s Barro Colorado Island. Bat Island combines their decades of intensive study with datasets and 150 vivid photos that illustrate the way bats have adapted to their changing environment.

They’ll cover topics including bats’ diverse sensory abilities, foraging habits, roosting ecologies and social systems, with a somber look at the effects of habitat fragmentation and land degradation and solutions for their survival.

Please register at https://libraryc.org/theoceancountylibrary to attend this free program, to view the upcoming schedule, and to view previous talks. Registrants will receive links to the program by email and may submit questions for the author when signing up.

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