WildView™

October 26, 2020

We Have Pollination!

- as seen by -

Peter Hudson

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In late August, Mexican long-tongued bats (Choeronycsteris mexicana) seek nectar and pollen from the blooming agave flowers in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona.

They smash into the flowers spraying pollen grains everywhere and use their remarkable tongues to slurp out their nectar treat.

I set up for after dark action using an infrared trigger and two flashes to capture the moment when the bat makes contact with the flowers.

The destruction of habitat containing critically important nectar-producing flowers means that bats become stressed and can shed viruses when these trees are absent. I am part of a research team looking at ways to replant trees that bats feed on so they can continue to pollinate plants and reduce the risk of people becoming infected with viruses like SARS, Ebola, and Hendra.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bat Week 2020 is October 24-31. Be at bat hero and celebrate the role of bats. The photo above was chosen as one of the top submission for Wild View’s Bat Heroes assignment. Congratulations!

Canon 1DX, 100-400mm Lens, 2 Flashes, Infrared trigger, Tripod

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