Written by Today is National Bat Appreciation Day, and so I’m celebrating with this doodlewash of a bat known as a Flying Fox. I thought it looked rather cute for a bat, but then realized this is the largest bat species and some have been found with a wingspan of up to 5.25 feet (1.6 m) and it sort of freaked me out. But then I was pleasantly reminded that flying foxes only feed on nectar, blossoms, pollen, and fruit, so they went back to seeming harmless enough. Unlike some other bats, they do not use echolocation to find food, but instead have a highly developed eyesight and sense of smell. I also discovered that if you turn this doodlewash upside down, he looks like he’s smiling and cheering for his special day!
Flying foxes travel from camp to camp in search of food and therefore don’t build any permanent nests. Since newborns can’t fly on their own for a few months, flying fox mommies will spend weeks flying around with a little baby clinging for dear life to their bellies. Eventually, the little ones are more self-sufficient and she’ll leave them while she hunts for food. In about six months, they’re ready to leave home for good, so in the end, they’re pretty low maintenance as children go.
When it’s hot, they’ll try to cool themselves by using their wings as a fan. If that fails to cool them down, they will start licking themselves all over their bodies as a Plan B. And they love hanging upside down. So much so, it’s also their preferred mating position. When they’re ready for a little love, the female will hold onto the males ankles to avoid falling. Nature graced the male with a personal appendage that’s a quarter of his total body length to ensure nothing can well… fall out during love making. File this under too much information, but that’s apparently how flying foxes are made.
Join me any and all days you like during April by celebrating a National or International Day with a doodlewash! Tag your image #doodlewashaday and I’ll feature everyone who played along on doodlewash.com at the end of the month!
About the Doodlewash
M. Graham watercolors: Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna and Quinacridone Gold. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon black ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal
He is too cute to be harmful so glad to read they aren’t. I have a good appreciation for bats so pleased they have a day all their own. Charlie this guys wings are particularly well done. 🙂
Awww thanks Susan! 💕😃 So glad you like the wings…wasn’t quite sure how to do those. 😊Hehe
Hahaha! You learn something new everyday! Lovely looking bat you painted. It’s unbelievable how big they are.
I know!! It’s crazy something that big can fly so far! Glad ya liked the doodlewash😃…and the Uhmm…education! Lol 😊
LOL! A quarter of his size!! Yowza!
Your Flying fox is just as charming as you!
I must ask, did you paint him upside down or right side up? What a challenge it seems 🙂 I flipped my screen several times LOL!
Hehe…thanks Jodi!! 😃💕 I actually did paint him as shown, but when I was walking across the room I look back and he was cheering at me. Like he just need little pom poms! Lol 😊
Was hoping you would paint a Flying Fox…superbly done! I can see the bit of golden fur, like a fuzzy halo just behind the ears, and the leathery wings are wonderful, can easily imagine them moving. And as always, you spin a great tale of information and entertainment. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much, Haunani! 💕😃 I hadn’t really know much about this kind of bat. I was just trying to find some references that were cute and not terrifying. Lol Glad you liked this!!
Oh how funny! I love your description. What interesting creatures.
Truly interesting!! I learned something new today for sure! Lol
Ha ha – he looks charming enough upside down, but the upside down upside down cheerleader bat is just too adorable! Wonderful doodlewash – those eyes, wow! Fun facts too – I’m loving the idea of one fanning itself. I do like bats and always look out for them when wandering in the darkness, but, cheerleader or not, I’m not sure how I’d fare if one of these guys made an unannounced appearance… a bit on the large side!
Definitely on the large side! 😉Lol Thanks Jacob. Yeah…I was determined to find a cute bat and this kind seemed to fit the bill. I have to admit upon discovering cheerleader bat I almost wanted to post it upside down! Hehe
OMG! That would be scary to see a five inch bat flying at dusk. I am not a bat fan due to their unusual appearance but they do clean the air of nasty bugs….so good for bats
They are definitely a wonderful benefit to the planet, but I agree…a giant one would freak me out a bit flying toward me. Hehe
Charlie, your bat is wonderful. When I lived in San Diego, I visited the San Diego often and there was a Flying Fox exhibit. They are beautiful animals and of course, at the zoo, visitors get to see everything ( all appendages), haha! Thanks for the bat info, very interesting.
Oh my!! You saw everything?! 😊 lol That’s awesome…I think I’ve seen these guys once in a zoo, but they were sort of hiding so not too spectacular. Hehe Thanks, Sharon! 💕😃
Opps I forgot to add “Zoo” after San Diego. 😄
beautifully illustrated Charlie!!! this was a really gorgeous painting with color and tones and shadows melding……. in perfection! great info on the bat, and thank you for sharing 🙂
Thanks so much Debi!! 💕😃 I had a tiny bit of extra time to actually let some layers dry today. 😊 hehe… normally I have to cheat that bit. Glad you liked it!!
yes! definitely really noticed how much this just came to life with magic and sparkle. beautiful.
This is the cutest bat I have seen! I love the colors and the eyes! Very well done! 😉
Aww thanks Carolina!! 😃💕 appreciate it! With bats, there’s a fine line between cute and creepy so I’m glad you think he’s on the cute side of the spectrum! Hehe
Ahah you right borderline cute or creepy yours for sure is on the cute side! You did an awesome job with him! 😉
I am not sure where you find all this information but I see a book of beautiful illustrations!
Awww thanks Carmel! 💕😃 I just google and speed read a bunch of posts. 😊 Not sure I’d qualify as a qualified researcher! I just pluck out the fun bits that interest me.
Very well painted, Charlie, and thanks for the info. Bats in general have gotten a bad reputation but are great for the environment. They eat fruit and flowers or they eat insects and keep the annoying pest population down. Still, when one gets caught in a room and it’s a room where you happen to be, it’s a bit freaky. They want to get out and you, the other inhabitant, want them to get out as well!
Anyway, this guy is very handsome and looks foxy to boot. I tried turning my desk top computer upside down but the thing is big and bulky so no can do. 😀
Thanks Sharon! 💕😃 glad you like him!! Yeah bats are wonderful creatures!! I really love seeing pics and watching them in flight, but if one gets close it does freak me out. Actually having a bird flying around inside a house freaks me out as well, so it’s nothing against the bat really. And what?! You didn’t try standing on your head to see cheerleader bat? I’m so disappointed!! 😉lol
Got as far as putting my hands in the air at the same time as my feet on the ground. Beyond that, nothing moved.
Haha!! Well that’s awesome you tried then! 😉💕
Your bat is much cuter than mine! And thanks for all the information. (K)
Not too much information? Lol Hehe…thanks Kerfe! 😃💕My bat may have cute, but yours is all cool style!! 😉
He does look like he’s smiling! 😜 And thanks for the laugh! 😄💕 I really like how you paint eyes, Charlie! Such depth! Awesome doodlewash!! 👌🎨🌟
Awww thanks Jill! 😃💕 hehe… Glad I could make you giggle. And thanks so much on the eyes. I spend a little extra time on those. I always figure if I get those right people will ignore all the other things I messed up. 😊lol
What a cutie pie! I love all bats (well, maybe the ones that drink goat blood might be a bit freaky) and we’re always overjoyed when we see them swooping over us at dusk. <3
Thanks Teresa! 😃💕 I think bats are cool too! We get smaller ones here, and it’s fun to watch them. They fly sort of erratic, like a group of birds who’ve been flying into closed windows too much…hehe.
It is adorable! I’m afraid as cute as they are, I’m not going to be able to tell which ones are fruit-loving ones and those that want to bite you.. Lol, so I’ll just have to stay away.. Interesting mating info, Charlie.., hehe.. ❤️
Thanks Kari!! 😃💕Most bats are safe, fortunately! But…the sheer size of this one would freak me out in the wild. Hehe… And you’re welcome for the facts you thought you’d never learn! Lol 😉
This has to be the cutest bat ever. I must admit I did not know how large the largest could be.
Thanks Rebecca!! 😃💕 Yeah…the size thing was news to me as well! All of it! Hehe
You know Charlie, you’ve done a spectacular job of capturing the leatheriness and suppleness of the wings! I like bats, and I love this picture. 🙂
Awww thanks Rebecca!! 😃💕Thrilled you liked this one. Those wings kind of intimidated me at first so I’m happy you like the outcome! Yay!
Once more a stunning picture… the wings, the face, the whole cute thing. I love it!
Awww thanks so much Birgit! This big little guy was fun to doodlewash. Glad you liked how it turned out! 💕😃
Aww, sweetie, Charlie…occasionally they fly around here…
That’s awesome! I would love to see one of these!