July 1999
El Tamarindo, Jalisco, México

Top: We caught this Mottled Owl, Strix virgata, while we were mist-netting for bats.  It probably saw the bats as an easy meal.  This bird had a
really strong grip and Nacho had to were leather gloves just to safely protect his hands from this raptor's talons.
We also caught a Vampire Bat, Desmodus rotundus, here and in removing it from the mist-net extra caution was necessary.  The shearing action
of their canines that allows them to penetrate the tough hides of mammals will also penetrate leather gloves!
Some of the bats were processed and collected for the University of Guedalajara.  Bats taxidermy is messy.  They have thin delicate skins and spoil
quickly after death so the taxidermy had to be almost immediately after they were killed.

Bottom: A view of the beach on a wooden bridge to a pier.  Reef fish could be seen in the water under the pier.