Challenging torrential rains countered by cooperative bats in Costa Rica
March 5, 2025
Merlin and MTBC team members spent 19 days in Costa Rica last November on a filming trip for “Bat City” with its Director and Emmy
Merlin and MTBC team members spent 19 days in Costa Rica last November on a filming trip for “Bat City” with its Director and Emmy
Fieldwork requires a lot of equipment, but photography requires even more! During our June 2024 photography workshop, we transported over 100 lbs. of equipment —
Within the dim limestone passageways of Caverna Santa Catalina, the air came alive with bats. I stood in awed silence, taking in the rush of
Mirror Mirror on the Wall, who’s the Thirstiest of Them All? Water is nature’s mirror. However, rather than reflecting back, when horizontal sound hits the
Craning my neck, I shone my headlamp at the cave ceiling above. I was nestled between two boulders with giant cockroaches for company and bats
It shouldn’t have surprised me when Daniel pointed my way in his search for volunteers. I could only make myself look so small in a
Tilting my head out from the cover of our longboat, I basked in the morning sun as we motored along the famous River Kwai. I
On March 6, 2024, the Wall Street Journal presented findings from the University of Leeds in their opinion piece, “Why Scientists Love Chasing Bats; The
“Would you like to have a go with this camera?” Daniel Hargreaves’ voice pulled my attention away from the Lyle’s flying foxes (Pteropus lylei) I
A painted bat (Kerivoula picta) roosting in the drooping tip of a banana leaf. This is Brynn’s first and favorite painted bat photo. Despite the
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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.