An Afternoon at the Frio Bat Cave

8 April 2024

After the eclipse, we hung out at the Bat Cave, rather than leave and return later to see the bats.

One of two main openings to the cave. The other opening is usually off-limits to visitors.

The cave is still mined for bat guano during the winter, when the bats have gone to Mexico. (10 million bats produce a lot of guano!) In the past, the guano was roasted in this kiln to make nitrates for fertilizer and gunpowder.

An end view of the kiln.

Lon, with a view back to the road, parking area, and the news crew’s vehicles.

Texas Hill Country.

Our vans in the parking area, along with ready-to-ship guano. This is where we had our picnic lunch and dinner.

Since we were the only group at the cave in the afternoon, the ranch manager let us see the other large entrance. Guano operations had been suspended for the summer, but it was thick on the floor.

In addition to being a home for bats and cave swallows, there was a large bee colony in the cave.

One of several holes in the ceiling near the main entrances. These holes are too small and too steep for the bats to use.

Sage could be found throughout the viewing site.

Prickly pear cactus was also ubiquitous.

A green lynx spider eating a bee on a prickly pear.

We finally got to see a pyrrhuloxia - southern cousin to the northern cardinal.

We were entertained by a rock wren who had a nest deep in the large rocks that served as “bleachers” for the bat cave. She was constantly bringing back insects to feed her nestlings.

Rock wren with cricket or grasshopper.