We are always on the move! Stay tuned for opportunities to join us and remember, members receive priority notice.
Please join our mailing list or become a member to be notified of upcoming virtual Q&A events with Merlin and MTBC staff. Members will have the opportunity to submit their questions prior to each event, and member questions will be prioritized during each Q&A.
We are delighted to offer our members annual sunset bat-watching cruises. Whether you’ve seen them a hundred times or never before, the Congress Avenue Bridge bats are spectacular! Please join our mailing list or become a member to be notified of upcoming events with Merlin and MTBC staff.
In 2021, then Austin Mayor, Steve Adler, proclaimed Merlin’s birthday, August 26th, as Merlin Tuttle Day in honor of Merlin’s success saving the city’s now world-famous bats. To celebrate, we spend an evening aboard the Capital Cruises double-decker boat for food, drinks, story-telling, and of course, bat-watching!
Experience the amazing world of bats in this hands-on workshop with leading experts Merlin Tuttle, Janet Tyburec, and Troy Swift. Learn bat house building, bat capture methods, echolocation recording, sustainable agriculture, and more. Stay for our acoustic training event, perfect for biologists and industry professionals.
The Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles will host “Adventures of a Real Batman” featuring Dr. Merlin Tuttle. Merlin’s presentation will delve into his extensive experiences with bats, highlighting their ecological importance and the conservation efforts he has championed throughout his career. The event is part of the club’s Open Night series, which welcomes members and guests to engage with experts on various adventurous topics.
Experience the amazing world of bats in this hands-on workshop with leading experts Merlin Tuttle, Janet Tyburec, and Troy Swift. Learn bat house building, bat capture methods, echolocation recording, sustainable agriculture, and more. Stay for our acoustic training event, perfect for biologists and industry professionals.
In 2021, then Austin Mayor, Steve Adler, proclaimed Merlin’s birthday, August 26th, as Merlin Tuttle Day in honor of Merlin’s success saving the city’s now world-famous bats. To celebrate, we spend an evening aboard the Capital Cruises double-decker boat for food, drinks, story-telling, and of course, bat-watching!
Join MTBC’s own Science Specialist Melissa Donnelly at the upcoming release event for Bats Beneath the Bridge, a new children’s book by author Janet Nolan! Hosted by BookPeople, this free event will include a discussion with the author followed by a book signing.
We are delighted to offer our members annual sunset bat-watching cruises. Whether you’ve seen them a hundred times or never before, the Congress Avenue Bridge bats are spectacular! Please join our mailing list or become a member to be notified of upcoming events with Merlin and MTBC staff.
Join MTBC and artists Jiabao Li, Botao Hu, and Matt McCorkle for a multisensory journey into the night, where the secret life of bats is revealed through art and technology.
BookPeople welcomes Ernest Cline with a special appearance by Felicia Day to celebrate the release of Bridge to Bat City.
TEDxUTAustin aims to share new ideas and connect communities eager to grow their impact on the world. As a world-class research university, TEDxUTAustin hosts diverse, rich, and enlightening experiences. Come listen as Merlin shares the brilliant world of bats and his part in saving the iconic bats of Austin.
Join us for an upcoming field trip where we’ll visit Khao Chong Phran Cave — site of Merlin’s proudest conservation successes. We’ll help support local conservation efforts, capture and photograph painted bats, and visit bumblebee bats and flying foxes. Each species more spectacular and fascinating than the last.
January 31 – February 11, 2024
Join us on our upcoming field trip where we’ll visit Khao Chong Phran Cave, the site of one of Merlin’s proudest conservation successes. We’ll help support local conservation efforts, capture and photograph painted bats, and visit bumblebee bats and flying foxes. Each species more spectacular and fascinating than the last.
March 6 – 7, 2024
Austin has proved that bats can be safe, invaluable neighbors, but much of the rest of the world hasn’t gotten the message. Together we’ve built a wonderful pocket of support for these misunderstood and maligned animals. Support our mission on this day of community giving. Early giving is open now for this digital event!
Witness millions of straw-colored fruit bats in the largest most spectacular aggregation of flying foxes in the world at Kasanka National Park. We will help document and highlight this spectacle whilst helping with crucial research on the other 38 bat species known to reside within the park.
Recently the park has been threatened with agricultural encroachment which will damage the sensitive habitats the bats require. We will help to document their plight and use the funds to help rebuild the dilapidated education and research camp. Even if you cannot join the trip, you can still support rebuilding of the camp.
Working with the parks conservation team we will be carrying out systematic surveys to document, photograph, and learn about the many fascinating bat species.
We will be staying in comfortable chalets in Kasanka National Park on the shores of Lake Wasa, home to hippos, elephants, and many antelope species. And yes, of course, bats and more bats!!
2024 © Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation. All rights reserved.
Madelline Mathis has a degree in environmental studies from Rollins College and a passion for wildlife conservation. She is an outstanding nature photographer who has worked extensively with Merlin and other MTBC staff studying and photographing bats in Mozambique, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Texas. Following college graduation, she was employed as an environmental specialist for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She subsequently founded the Florida chapter of the International DarkSky Association and currently serves on the board of DarkSky Texas. She also serves on the board of Houston Wilderness and was appointed to the Austin Water Resource Community Planning Task Force.
Michael Lazari Karapetian has over twenty years of investment management experience. He has a degree in business management, is a certified NBA agent, and gained early experience as a money manager for the Bank of America where he established model portfolios for high-net-worth clients. In 2003 he founded Lazari Capital Management, Inc. and Lazari Asset Management, Inc. He is President and CIO of both and manages over a half a billion in assets. In his personal time he champions philanthropic causes. He serves on the board of Moravian College and has a strong affinity for wildlife, both funding and volunteering on behalf of endangered species.
