Pre-Flight Checks
18 January 2002 10:02![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
denI took Bek and Coach into the spare room and placed them on top of the tent. Coach stretched her wings briefly then launched, much to Bek's surprise. I could see her ears twiching as she listened to the other bat zoom around the room. I let coach fly for 30 minutes then put them in the tent.
Last night I warmed Donk in my hands to see if she'd fly in the cage. After a while she shifted so she could look through my fingers so I opened my hand. She stretched one wing straight out and held it tight, vibrating with the effort. Then she stretched the other wing the same way, then both wings. Next she pushed down with both outstretched wings and lifted herself completely off my hand, just balancing on her wing-tips. I wish I had my camera with me.
Then she did something I've never seen before. She twisted her right wing so that the underside was facing up to her chin. She ducked her head under the membrane and rubbed the top of her nose very carefully over the upper side of the wing (Put the back of your hand on the back of your head. Like that.) I could see the bulge her nose made swishing back and forward between her fingers. It took her ages to do one wing, then she swapped wings.
I've read about this but never before saw a bat oiling its wings on the nose glands. Donk was meticulous and very careful to do all her wings.
I am amazed she felt comfortable enough with me to do that on my hand. I've only had her for 3 days.
Last night I warmed Donk in my hands to see if she'd fly in the cage. After a while she shifted so she could look through my fingers so I opened my hand. She stretched one wing straight out and held it tight, vibrating with the effort. Then she stretched the other wing the same way, then both wings. Next she pushed down with both outstretched wings and lifted herself completely off my hand, just balancing on her wing-tips. I wish I had my camera with me.
Then she did something I've never seen before. She twisted her right wing so that the underside was facing up to her chin. She ducked her head under the membrane and rubbed the top of her nose very carefully over the upper side of the wing (Put the back of your hand on the back of your head. Like that.) I could see the bulge her nose made swishing back and forward between her fingers. It took her ages to do one wing, then she swapped wings.
I've read about this but never before saw a bat oiling its wings on the nose glands. Donk was meticulous and very careful to do all her wings.
I am amazed she felt comfortable enough with me to do that on my hand. I've only had her for 3 days.
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no subject
Date: 17 Jan 2002 16:11 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Jan 2002 16:24 (UTC)One of the stories was about a baby fruit bat who had been abandoned by its mother. I fell instantly in love! He was adorable!
He was instinctively strengthening his arms to fly, he'd hold onto the tips of their fingers and lay against the palm and beat his wings furiously to excercise them. Maybe Bek will pick this up instinctively too?
no subject
Date: 17 Jan 2002 16:51 (UTC)NO
There has to be a different explanation
no subject
Date: 17 Jan 2002 16:53 (UTC)The flying-foxes I see here are migratory so I don't see the pups.
Re:
Date: 17 Jan 2002 17:46 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Jan 2002 17:54 (UTC)"Buh-buh-buh....wha? What's she *doing?* That looks so COOL.. Im my head I can *hear* her and see her and.. and.. can I *do* that? *Whoa, close up!* Quit turning, I'm getting sick..... Promise me you *won't do that with me sitting on your back, ok? Whaddaya mean , do it myself, I have all the equipment?":D
She's seen it and know she has a sonar now :), hope she figures out she can use hers for more than just food provider apporach:). GO BEK!
"You can lead the initiate to the cliff, but you can't make them jump off. That's their job."
- Anonymous occultist