Bat Talk and Walk
Summer Programs
We are excited to announce our
2022 Educational Bat Program Events
- Bat Talk – live by Zoom and pre-recorded – available late June-late September
- Bat Walks – In-person event late June-late September
- Bats and Crafts – An outdoor, in-person event Saturday, July 9 & Saturday, August 13
- Bat House Building Workshop- Saturday, August 27
- Private Bat Tours – Full for 2022 season
- Bat T-Shirt Sales
Did you know that a colony of migratory bats live under the Yolo Causeway during the summer? Join Yolo Basin Foundation for a summertime Bat Talk and Walk and learn all about these amazing and beneficial mammals.
Bat Talks
Bat Talk – Live by Zoom
Corky Quirk, Yolo Basin Foundation’s Program Coordinator and founder of NorCal Bats, will host several educational and entertaining talks throughout the summer via Zoom. After registering for a Bat Walk, guests will have the opportunity to register for one of the 45-minute live-virtual presentation. The Talk provides information about bats, their natural history and their role in the environment. The Talk includes guest appearances from a few education ambassadors of our local bat species. To fully appreciate the evening flyout of the bats, we strongly encourage you to watch the Bat Talk before joining us for the Bat Walk.
Live by Zoom Bat Talks are available on the following dates.
Tuesday, June 28 at 6:00 p.m.
Friday, July 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 18 at 4:30 p.m.
Bat Talk – Pre-recorded
For those of you who can not make a live Zoom, a pre-recorded version will soon be available on our YouTube channel.
Bat Walks
Bat Walks begin at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters. Click here for directions to our Headquarters. Registered guests will check-in while remaining in their cars. After check-in, the group will caravan (see video below) to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to watch the “flyout” of the largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats in California. To get to the viewing site, the group will caravan through wetlands and rice fields.
The whole experience takes about 2 hours. This is a family friendly event! There is a small amount of walking. Those with mobility issues may remain in or near their cars to view the bats. Please let us know if you have special needs upon arrival for your Bat Walk.
Bat Walk Registration
Click on a date below to purchase tickets. Once you register for your Bat Walk date, you will receive an email with a link to register for your Bat Talk. The Bat Talk is included as part of your ticket purchase. You may purchase up to 6 tickets per transaction.
Adults- $15
Youths – $5 (6-17 yrs old)
Children – Free (5 yrs. and under)
By registering for a Bat Walk, you are agreeing to follow the county health and safety requirements at the time of the event.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations prior to two weeks before your event date will be fully refunded minus a $10 administration fee. No refunds will be issued within two weeks of the event date. If an event is cancelled by Yolo Basin Foundation due to illness, air quality, or other concerns, registrants will be offered an opportunity to reschedule their date or receive a full refund for the cancelled event.
To purchase tickets, click on your preferred date. Dates that are not hyperlinked are sold out.
June
Sat., June 25 at 7:45 p.m.
Sun., June 26 at 7:45 p.m.
Wed., June 29 at 7:45 p.m.
July
Sat., July 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Fri., July 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Sat., July 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Sun., July 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Tues., July 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Wed., July 20 at 7:15 p.m.
Thur., July 21 at 7:15 p.m.
Fri., July 22 at 7:15 p.m.
Sat., July 23 at 7:15 p.m.
Sun., July 24 at 7:15 p.m.
Wed., July 27 at 7:15 p.m.
Tues., July 28 at 7:15 p.m.
August
Wed., Aug. 3 at 7:15 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 5 at 7:15 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 7 at 7:15 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 8 at 7:15 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 12 at 7:15 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug.19 at 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 29 at 6:45 p.m.
Tues., Aug. 30 at 6:45 p.m.
September
Tues., Sept. 6 at 6:45 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 7 at 6:45 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 9 at 6:45 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 10 at 6:45 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 18 at 6:15 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 21 at 6:15 p.m.
Thur., Sept. 22 at 6:15 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 23 at 6:15 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 24 at 6:15 p.m.
Special Events
Bats and Crafts
Saturday, July 9, 10:00 a.m. to noon
$10/child (accompanying adults are free)
REGISTER
Saturday, August 13, 10:00 a.m. to noon
$10/child (accompanying adults are free)
REGISTER
Join us as we host a special bat event aimed at young children, especially those that are too young to stay up late to watch the bats fly. This fun filled day will include meeting live bats, arts and crafts, games and other bat related activities.
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Bat House Building Workshop
Saturday, August 27 – 10:00 a.m. – noon
$75/house
REGISTER
In conjunction with International Bat Night, this will be a day to learn about inviting bats to your yard or farm.
A fun activity for small groups or families!
This will include an opportunity to build a bat house and a live viewing of several of our native species of bats. We provide the supplies and instruction and you supply the people power. Event is held at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area’s headquarters and demonstration wetlands. Registration is by bat house. This workshop is limited to 20 groups. Each group can have up to four people building a bat house together.
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Private Events – Full for 2022
Want your group (e.g. scouts, employees, PTA school trip, church group, clients, or a bunch of your friends) to experience a private bat event? Maximum number of attendees is 60. Please contact Corky Quirk, CQuirk@yolobasin.org, to arrange a private tour. Private bat walks start at $400.
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T-shirts are available for purchase at all Bat Talk & Walk events and at the YBF office.
T-shirt art provided by:
Jillian Wilkowski, Bat and Moon
Ching Chang, Explore the Dark Side
Colette Kitlas, Enjoy the Nightlife
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“Bats swarm in Yolo County overpass”
KCRA, Tom Miller
“360° Video: Flight of the Bats”
(Best viewed on smart phone)
“These bats don’t need a cave, they have a bridge”
KCRA, Tom Miller, July 13, 2016
KQED Quest: “Bats Beneath Us”
featuring Corky Quirk, Yolo Basin Foundation’s bat expert
“The Invisible Mammal: The Bat Rescuer”
by Kristin Tieche
Additional Bat Links
Articles about the Bat Talk & Walks
- “5 places in California to go a little batty,” SF Chronicle, 4/13/14 View
- “A highway, a wetland and 250,000 bats,” Bay Nature, 7/26/13 View
- “Going Batty,” Davis Enterprise, 8/12/12 View
- Yolo Flyway Newsletter, Summer 2011 Download pdf
Bat Organizations
