Tricolored bats are tiny -- but the transmitters they are wearing so conservationists can track them, are even smaller.
Ashley Meyer from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is tracking the bats because of the appearance of an invasive fungal disease known as White Nose Syndrome. White Nose Syndrome has caused the bats' population to decline by 98 percent, making them candidates for the endangered species listing.
That's why some hams in the Adirondack Mountains are going to bat - for the bats. The state sent out a request to ham clubs asking for help in tracking the bats' signals being transmitted in 1 kHz steps between 150 and 151 MHz. Ashley said the Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club responded. Club president Mark KD2RJP said that a dozen or so hams will be participating. Their job, according to Ashley, is to track where the bats spend the summer and record the distance they migrate.
Ashley said the bat tracking squad will also include agency staffers and bat specialists using ground telemetry. Ashley herself will be tracking bats from a plane during the night of the bats' release.
Everyone is motivated and excited but remember - since the bats aren't transmitting on the amateur frequencies, don't expect any QSL cards.