An Evening with the Bats
Friday, July 17, 2026
8:15 – 10:15 p.m.
$8 Adults; $6 Nature Center members
$6 Children 6 – 15
Reservations appreciated, walk-ins welcome.
Did you know New York is home to nine bat species? From the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) to the endangered Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), these “hand-winged” heroes are some of nature’s most enigmatic mammals—and the ultimate pest control.
Join Audubon for An Evening With The Bats to learn about bats in this region and at ACNC, threats to bats in New York and around the world, and how you can contribute to bat conservation in your backyard. After the sun sets, the event will move outside for a bat walk along Audubon’s trails to look for bats and identify them using a mobile acoustic monitor. The lecture portion will feature presentations by Dr. Jonathan Townsend, ACNC Executive Director Aaron Sidder, and SUNY Fredonia bat researcher Allison Tilburg.
Dr. Jonathan Townsend is a bat biologist from the Fredonia area. He works full-time with Environmental Design and Research, a consulting firm, and co-owns Royal Fern Nursery with his wife, Jessica. Jonathan is also a volunteer Executive Director for Buffalo Bat Habitat, a nonprofit dedicated to bat habitat conservation and restoration in Western New York.
Aaron Sidder is the Executive Director of Audubon Community Nature Center. Before joining ACNC, Aaron served as Ecology & Compliance Coordinator at Bat Conservation International, where he coordinated multi-agency bat habitat restoration projects around the western U.S.
Alison Tilburg is a Jamestown native currently working on her master’s degree in biology at SUNY Fredonia. Her research is focused on bat behavior and communication.
Special Information: Come prepared to be outside after dark. Flashlights are recommended.
Executive Director Aaron Sidder holds a California myotis during White-nose Syndrome sampling in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah. Aaron, along with two other bat researchers, will discuss bat conservation during An Evening With The Bats at Audubon Community Nature Center on July 17.
Photo Credit: Jackson Bain, Bat Conservation International