The 2025 Indiana Master Naturalist Gathering: Bats and Whips

The Indiana Master Naturalist program has an annual Gathering. This is a time of education, skill development, wonder, and fun. Each year a different part of the state is highlighted. In 2025 the Gathering was held at Brown County State Park. One of the presenters was Ryan Slack. 
 
Ryan had an unusal presentation. He talked about Bats and Whips or bats and Whip poor wills. It is not common to have a presenter talk about two very different species, a bird and a mammal. However, his talk focused on the niche they filled in their environment and the shared challenges they face. 
 
Both species are active at night. Both species are excellent at pest control. All the bat species of Indiana are insectivores. Both the bats and the whips have bodies perfectly adapted for their environment. This fit however makes them vulnerable to changes in their environment. The loss of habitat, in the form of farmland, development, and industrialization and the use of insecticides have contributed to a decline in bat and whip poor will populations.  
 
This unusual presentation emphasized the connectivity of life on the planet. It emphasized the cascading impact of “development”. It emphasized the need for conservation efforts and strategic, green development planning. ​

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