{"id":4060,"date":"2013-01-26T14:54:33","date_gmt":"2013-01-26T20:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/?p=4060"},"modified":"2013-01-26T15:07:08","modified_gmt":"2013-01-26T21:07:08","slug":"kabt-spring-field-trip-bats-birds-botany-burgers-and-maybe-a-porcupine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/?p=4060","title":{"rendered":"KABT Spring Field Trip: Bats, Birds, Botany, Burgers…and maybe a porcupine"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I saw the dates for the\u00a0annual KABT Spring Field trip (June 7-9, 2013<\/strong>), I was bummed that my family wouldn’t be able to go. \u00a0It was another schedule conflict that happens too often with kids and activities and life. \u00a0Since my class reunion only comes around once every decade, I decided that it should take precedence over an annual field trip. \u00a0But then…<\/p>\n

Last weekend the KABT Executive Board met to plan the year. \u00a0I started listening to Stan Roth, longtime KABT member and Naturalist, describe what the field trip will entail. \u00a0We will be going to the Red Hills of SW Kansas. \u00a0If you aren’t familiar with the area, it is a beautiful and unexpected region of Kansas. \u00a0There are hills made of Gypsum layered with red sediment. \u00a0Because of the geology, the plant-life and animal habitat is slightly different than elsewhere in the state.<\/p>\n

We will be primitive camping (there are outhouses for our enjoyment) near Evansville, KS in Comanche County. \u00a0Those that get there in time Friday evening can go to Sun City for burgers at Busters Saloon. \u00a0Saturday morning will have the KABT group caravan to various caves in the area to look for bats. We’ll talk about the natural history of the area and check out the local flora and fauna with a picnic lunch somewhere in between. \u00a0Dinner will be at twilight while we wait for the evening bat flight. \u00a0After dark, we’ll go road cruising for herps (snakes and lizards) as they come to warm themselves on the asphalt at night. \u00a0Sunday morning will be a driving tour east through the Red Hills and along the Scenic Drive before we all head home.<\/p>\n

How can I pass up bats, birds, botany and burgers with the good folks of KABT? \u00a0Forget the class reunion (there will be another one in 10 years), I’m going to the field trip! \u00a0The camaraderie, sharing ideas and brainstorming when we get together is inspiring.<\/p>\n

If you haven’t joined KABT or if you’ve never been on a field trip with us, come check it out! \u00a0Bring your family, bring your students, bring yourself. \u00a0We are a welcoming group that would love to have you!<\/p>\n

If you still aren’t convinced, check out Eric Kessler’s video that demonstrates you never know what we might stumble upon on these trips! \u00a0…”On a winter bat survey trip in the caves of south central Kansas (February 2007), Stan Roth notices a pair of porcupines grazing next to the road. This video captures what happened next. \u00a0No harm was done to the porcupine, although upon reaching under the captured one’s body to hold it for display it was able to bite Stan on the hand.” \u00a0http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EAl_E0miFWk&list=UUg6qJFft3vWtardzpKLkPBA&index=62<\/a>\u00a0 Thank you for sharing this, Eric.<\/p>\n

Look for more field trip details about exactly where to meet, etc. as it gets closer. \u00a0But, in the meanwhile, I look forward to seeing you around the campfire!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I saw the dates for the\u00a0annual KABT Spring Field trip (June 7-9, 2013), I was bummed that my family wouldn’t be able to go. \u00a0It was another schedule conflict that happens too often with kids and activities and life. \u00a0Since my class reunion only comes around once every decade, I decided that it should
+ Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5670,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,1,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-field-trips","category-kabt-news","category-nature"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5670"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4060"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4069,"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4060\/revisions\/4069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}