Thursday, April 24

Dick Wilkins

All About Bats--Separating Myth From Reality

Dick and Cindy Wilkins of Bat Rescue present a fascinating look into the world of bats in their family orientated multimedia program. Combining the best of both professional and personally collected slides, the show begins with an understanding of who these little mammals are, where they come from and how they live. Dispersed throughout the show are several music videos of bat antics, cute pups with pacifiers, and bats just generally hanging around, of course, upside-down. By the time the lecture is over, the audience will have learned (without knowing it) such facts as why the bat’s feet are turned around backwards, how much blood it takes to fill up a vampire’s tummy, how many bat species are in the world., and much more. Because Bat Rescue is primarily a rehabilitation facility, some of the presentation will be devoted to behind-the-scenes care of injured bats. The topic of bats as carriers of rabies will be covered, as well.

 Dick Wilkins, a graduate of San Diego State University (Geology), spent many years at sea collecting ocean sediment for the oil and environmental industry. Now on land, Dick spends much of his spare time birding, caring for bats, and educating the public about these little understood flying mammals.

Doug Nail

“China – Birds, People and Places”

In 2007, PAS member Doug Nail traveled to China to visit old friends and see new birds. Tonight Doug will present the results of his four week journey to China and give us all a look at the people, places and some of the many birds he saw on that trip.