Aziz SA, Clements GR, McConkey KR, Sritongchuay T, Pathil S, Yazid MNHA, Campos-Arceiz A, Forget P-M, Bumrungsri, S. 2017.  Pollination by the locally endangered island flying fox (Pteropus hypomelanus) enhances fruit production of the economically important durian (Durio zibethinus). Ecol Evol. 2017;00:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3213

From Tigga: You can read the press release from RIMBA (which has some great photos) here.

Pteropus alecto in its natural habitat — photo Susan Tsang

North Sulawesi province, Indonesia, is a center for the bushmeat trade, especially of flying foxes of the species Pteropus alecto and Acerodon jubatus. This level of intense consumption is unsustainable in the long-term and will lead to increasing hunting pressure in other provinces, potentially leading to extirpation. A grassroots conservation initiative is direly needed, but there were no data about local cultures that could inform targeted conservation campaigns. In this study, we surveyed vendors and consumers at all eight major markets in North Sulawesi to determine local cultural factors that could be used in future awareness campaigns. We were also able to determine that sources of the flying foxes were colonies from other provinces, with South Sulawesi as the primary provider. With our findings, we highlight the need to engage churches and local students as local ambassadors, provide other sustainable options, and regulate interprovincial trade.

The paper can be found in Global Ecology and Conservation and is open-access here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415000049

Sheherazade and S.M. Tsang (2015) Quantifying the bat bushmeat trade in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, with suggestions for conservation action. Global Ecology and Conservation. http://dx.doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2015.01.003

Translation of the abstract in Bahasa Indonesian below (from Sheherazade):
Upaya konservasi kelelawar perlu dilakukan dengan terlebih dahulu memahami aspek sosial dan budaya konsumsi kelelawar di Sulawesi Utara. Dalam perancangan upaya konservasi, kami perlu mengetahui persepsi masyarakat lokal terhadap kelelawar melalui survei, yang dilakukan pada tahun 2013 di delapan pasar besar di Sulawesi Utara. Masyarakat mengonsumsi kelelawar setidaknya satu kali per bulan, dan akan meningkat pada hari besar agama Kristen. Diperkirakan sejumlah 500 ton kelelawar dikirim dari provinsi lainnya, dengan Sulawesi Selatan menjadi penyuplai utama sebanyak 38%. Belum ada langkah yang dilakukan untuk konservasi kelelawar, karena berlimpahnya kelelawar di pasar menutupi pengaruh perdagangan terhadap populasi kelelawar liar. Kami menyarankan: 1) melibatkan gereja sebagai penghantar untuk pendidikan lingkungan dan penetapan kuota konsumsi. Tingginya konsumsi kelelawar berkaitan erat dengan perayaan hari besar keagamaan Kristen, yang merupakan mayoritas di Sulawesi Utara. Keterlibatan gereja dalam mengatur daging satwa liar yang dapat dikonsumsi saat perayaan akan sangat membantu dalam upaya konservasi. 2) aturan hukum untuk perdagangan antar provinsi. Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam (LIPI) Indonesia sebenarnya telah menetapkan kuota kelelawar yang dapat diperjualbelikan antar provinsi. Namun Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam sebagai eksekutor di lapangan belum melaksanakan hal ini. Oleh karena itu, penegakan hukum mengenai aturan kuota ini harus segera dilaksanakan. 3) penggantian kelelawar dengan daging hasil domestikasi seperti anjing dan kucing; 4) melibatkan pemuda lokal terutama mahasiswa sebagai pelaksana kampanye agar lebih diterima oleh komunitas lokal. Kombinasi inisiatif konservasi berbasis lokal dengan penegakan hukum bertujuan untuk menciptakan perubahan di tingkatan lokal, yang telah terbukti berhasil di program konservasi lain. Tidak hanya pada konservasi kelelawar, upaya ini juga akan berdampak pada konservasi mamalia langka dan endemik lainnya yang masih diperjualbelikan.

The workshop was hosted by the University of Mandalay, Myanmar (Professor Mie Mie Sein, Head of Zoology and Sai Sein Oo Lin, Lecturer University of Bhamo), and was conducted in collaboration with the Harrison Institute (Dr Paul Bates).  The workshop was a great success, with 40 participants drawn from 18 universities and colleges across Myanmar. The SEABCRU sponsored 30 participants, with the University of Mandalay finding support for an additional 10 young MSc students.

SEABCRU Bat Conservation Research Workshop, Mandalay 2014

We also worked hard to raise the profile of bats in Myanmar, and received substantial media coverage, including articles by MRTV (Myanmar Radio & TV), Skynet, The Mirror (national newspaper – Burmese language), Yadanapon (local newspaper — Burmese language) and New Light of Myanmar (national newspaper – Burmese and English editions)

Aims and Objectives:

The global aim of the workshop was to integrate Myanmar researchers into the SEABCRU network. Participants were faculty of Myanmar universities focusing primarily on bats, and who had existing data to publish. In addition, with support from the University of Mandalay, we had ten young MSc students following, who we hope will continue on in bat research. The specific objectives were to:

i)        Develop capacity and curatorial skills to establish a national bat collection, hosted at Mandalay University (Taxonomy Group) – despite 15 years of active research on bats there is no national repository for material, hampering taxonomic research and biodiversity studies.

ii)      Provide training on echolocation recording and analysis techniques, and discuss studies that can use acoustic survey and monitoring, and the role of acoustics in taxonomy (Acoustics Group)

iii)    Initiate a national survey of Pteropus colonies (Flying Fox Group)

iv)    Build faculty capacity to publish their research in international journals (Publishing Group) – although there are c. 50 Myanmar bat researchers, there have been only 10 publications in accessible (international or regional) journals, none of which have Myanmar nationals as the first author.

v)      Train Myanmar researchers in the use of Darwin Core Format for biodiversity data management, such that they can contribute to the SEABCRU database and generate data compatible with other international repositories (e.g. GBIF).

The five days went incredibly quickly, but we achieved a lot! The full workshop report is soon to follow, but here is a brief summary by group.

Taxonomic & Curatorial Capacity

Lead:  Dr Pipat Soisook. Facilitators: Dr Faisal Anwarali Khan, Bounsavane Douangboubpha, Dr Paul Bates, Dr Ibnu Maryanto, Susan Tsang

Objectives:

• develop capacity for a well-curated national collection
• develop a taxonomic network between Myanmar and other SE Asian researchers
• identify potential projects for joint publications

What we did:

During the workshop, we trained 13 participants (10 professors/lecturers with PhD and 3 MSc students) from 9 universities in Myanmar in the best practice for taxonomic data collection, specifically:

• What data need to be collected in the field
• How to set up harp traps and mist-net.
• How to handle bats and take standard external measurements of the bats.
• How to prepare specimens for the collection; e.g. labelling, alcohol, jars.
• How to run and manage collection in long term; e.g. specimens and prepare electronic database.
• What is a loan policy?

 
We explained how collection and good data are important for taxonomic research and conservation. Group members also exchanged experience about each other’s museums with Myanmar participants e.g. about the location of the museum, when the museum was established, number of specimens in the museum, and problems or challenges during developing the museum. Each of participants shared the information of current situation about collection/specimens in their own university, in which none of them have or started to have their own collection.

The most important activity of the group during the workshop was to revisit the specimen collection of the Department of Zoology, University of Mandalay. As a group, Tax & Sys member swith the participants have initiated the establishment of the bat specimen collection with a name ‘University of Mandalay Zoological Collection (UMZC)’.  The head of the department, Professor Dr Mie Mie Sein and Professor Dr Naw Dolly Wilbur will be in charge of the collection. This collection is expected to be the main taxonomic collection in upper Myanmar. This is a promising start for Myanmar’s bat collection as it comprises at least 50 specimens from 18 bat species, including unreported species of Hipposideros lankadiva and H. pratti.

Another major activity of the group members were by pairing up with the participants to work on their unpublished taxonomic/survey data.  We expect that from this activity at least 4 papers with great potential to contribute to the Myanmar’s bat taxonomy will be published soon.

Acoustic Surveys

Lead: Dr Tigga Kingston. Facilitators: Joe Chun-Chia Huang, Dr Neil Furey, Dr Vu Dinh Thong. 

Objectives:

• to introduce the biology and application of echolocation in studies on bat ecology and taxonomy.
• to make participants familiar with different recording techniques, the use of different detectors in different environments and contexts, and the analysis of recordings for call measurements.
• to provide guidelines in equipment selection, experimental designs for acoustic surveys and monitoring.
• to explain the procedure of reference call library development and the importance for regional research and conservation in bats.

What we did:

The participants comprised eleven Myanmar bat researchers, including ten university lecturers and one masters student.

1. three face-to-face lectures on “Echolocation call designs: the role of ecology and taxonomy”, “Bat echolocation calls: description and measurement”, and “Field equipment and recording methods” were given by Dr. Kingston, Dr. Thong, and Huang.
2. two in-class trainings on using BatSound Pro software (http://www.batsound.com/) for call description and  measurements by Dr. Furey and Huang
3. two field training sessions on the use of Pettersson D240X bat detector (http://www.batsound.com/?p=9) for call recording, reference call collection in Yankin Hill, Patheingyi Township, Mandalay and University Mandalay campus.
4. Three additional lectures on “echolocation call variations”, “Designs of acoustic survey and monitory”, and “echolocation call library” were designed by Dr. Kingston, Dr. Furey, and Huang were distributed. Additional reference on bat echolocation studies and standard data sheets for call measurements were provided

Data Management

Leads: Danny Squire, Marina Fisher-Phelps

Objectives:

Data Management Objectives:

1. Participants understand the importance of data management
2. Participants convert existing research data into SEABCRU Darwin Core format
3. Participants able to use SEABCRU Darwin Core data collection format in their future research initiatives
4. Participants able to instruct others in the use of SEABCRU Darwin Core format

Geographically Information Systems (GIS) Objectives:

1. Participants understand the uses of digitally maps in publications and presentations
2. Participants understand what a geographic datum is and how it applies to digital mapping and spatial data collection
3. Participants format spatial data so that it can be easily loaded into the GIS software DIVA-GIS
4. Participants use spatial data to build maps of point data that can be used in publications and presentations

 What we did:

The 2014 Data Management and GIS Workshop at Mandalay consisted of instructional presentations by the instructors and hands-on activities for the participants. The participants were instructed in the benefits of having a data management plan and using GIS in their own research and at their universities. Participants learned about the development of the Darwin Core format and how it is used by SEABCRU in data collection and sharing. Participants learned the difference between geographic datums and how to efficiently store spatial coordinates so that they can imported into GIS software. Participants were given the open-source GIS software DIVA-GIS for use during and after the workshop. The participants also created maps using the data collected by the workshop as a whole. Throughout the workshop participants were given hands-on activities so they could practice and demonstrate mastery of the training.

Flying Fox Survey and Monitoring 

Lead: Dr Tammy Mildenstein, Facilitators: Prof. Paul Racey, Susan Tsang

Objectives:

 The flying fox group focused on the SEABCRU flying fox priority of collating information on current populations and distributions of flying fox species. In conducting the workshop activities, we were able to

a) identify information gaps,
b) identify conservation priorities,
c) collate existing population data of confirmed flying fox roosts,
d) train participants in standardized monitoring protocols and personal protective measures regarding pathogen transmission.

What we did:

Participants comprised 8 post-doctoral professors and 4 M.Sc. students representing 5 universities across Myanmar. We reiterated the importance of monitoring flying fox colonies for conservation, along with why protection of flying foxes should be a priority because of the ecosystem services they provide. We taught the participants the standardized methods for monitoring and assessment common for flying fox colonies. We followed up with hands-on training by visiting a Pteropus giganteus colony  two hours drive from Mandalay (Shwe Saydi Pagoda) and gave the participants the opportunity to practice both direct and emergence counts. While at the site, an overview of personal protective equipment was given and each participant was familiarized with why this is important to prevent pathogen transmission. After reassembling in the classroom the following day, we analyzed the data as a group for a finalized population estimate. Using the data collected from the participants, we demonstrated common sources of variance and discussed how that may affect trend detection. We were able to determine that the Shwe Saydi population has declined in the past decade by comparing the count data we took to data available from the dissertation of one of the participants (Moe Moe Aung, 2006), either due to increased human activity or displacement of bats by birds at the pagoda. The participants were thus able to have a real example of how historical information about the site can add value to the study and provide keener insight on flying fox population trends. We had the participants recap what they had learned at the end of the workshop.

In a session that involved participants from all working groups, we asked for information to help create a list of reported flying fox roost sites around Myanmar, which were primarily clustered around either the Mandalay-Sagaing Region or in areas near Yangon (Fig. 8). Very little information is available about the status of flying fox roosts in more remote areas such as Kachin.  Many of the roost sites indicated had not been confirmed, and provide opportunities for projects for M.Sc. students.

Publishing In Regional and International Journals 

Lead Dr. Neil Furey. Facilitators Dr Dave Lane, Dr Zubaid Akbar, all attendant steering committee. 

Objectives:

The majority of participants have already written research theses at Myanmar universities, and obtained their M.Sc. or Ph.D. degrees, but none have published their work in major international Journals. Acceptance of publications will raise the profile of Myanmar bat research and conservation activities both locally and internationally. An additional benefit/outcome anticipated from this internationalization exercise is the development of collaborative relationships and possible linking in to grant-giving bodies for future research proposals. The objectives of this section were thus:

• To explain the scientific publishing process
• To demonstrate how a scientific paper is written by actually preparing articles using real data collected by each participant

What we did:

Participants were first asked to describe the bat research data sets they had generated through prior work (available as dissertations and theses, but not published). They were then matched to members of the steering committee with similar interests and experience. These steering committee members then acted as mentors, working one-on-one or in pairs or small groups, through practical exercises. In these exercises, basic outlines of each part of a publication were introduced, and then the pairs/groups prepared bullet point summaries of each section based on their own data.

At the end of the day and a half, the participants each presented a summary of the draft paper outline. Participants will work with their mentors to prepare full drafts within three months, with the deadline for submission to an international journal set at 6 months.
 

And here is an album of participants and facilitators. Thank you to everyone for working so hard together to make the workshop a success!! It is so exciting to have bat researchers from Myanmar joining the SEABCRU.

Flying fox on Koh Trong Island on the Mekong River (copyright Gordon Congdon)

Flying fox conservation is one of the four SEABCRU priorities, and our first global action is to collate information on the current populations and distributions of flying fox species. Researchers from Cambodia  from the Institut Pastuer du Cambodge and Fauna and Flora International – Cambodia Programme (including SEABCRU steering committee member Neil Furey) recently completed a rapid assessment of flying fox colonies in the country (Pteropus vampyrus, P. lylei, P. hypomelanus), making an invaluable contribution to this global action. 12 colonies were reported, with colony size ranging from 200 individuals to c. 6000. Bats had been extirpated from one of the 12 sites, and worryingly, hunting of bats for bushmeat, trade and/or medicinal use was reported or observed at at six sites. The authors conclude that Cambodian flying foxes are heavily threatened and numbers are likely declining, and of course this has serious implications for the ecosystem services they provide. The project put together a great facebook page to facilitate information gathering and outreach https://www.facebook.com/CFFCPH/timeline.  

It would be great to see reports like this summarizing the distribution of flying fox colonies from other countries.

Ravon, S., Furey, N.M., Vibol, H. & Cappelle, J. 2014. A rapid assessment of flying fox (Pteropus spp.) colonies in Cambodia. Cambodian Journal of Natural History, 2014, 14-18.

For Download: Ravon et al. 2014. Cambodian Pteropus

The Clarin Group of Islands Wilderness Area is a protected area composed of five islands shared between the Municipalities of Tubigon and Clarin in Bohol Island, central Philippines. One of the two islands belonging to Tubigon is Cabgan Island featuring extensive mangroves, roosting colonies of endemic and threatened Philippine Duck Anas luzonica and the colony of flying foxes.

Like many rural communities in the country, opportunities to improve the local economy in Tubigon are limited. After the earthquake that struck the island in 15 October 2013, people had difficulties recovering from the massive destruction and daily quest to meet basic needs is always a struggle.

The Local Government of Tubigon in partnership with Grassroots Travel, recognized the ecological and social values of bats and their habitats but also the economic opportunities and “ecotourism” importance that flying foxes or bats can bring to the region. It may not be the ideal way but it is good enough reason for habitats to be protected locally. This would be an opportunity for Tubigon to get a share of the recovering tourism industry of Bohol, and offer another unique ecotourism tour option for the island. The Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PBCFI) in turn provided simple bat identification training workshops, basic bat ecology and simple bat monitoring activities.

We believe that for a conservation endeavor to succeed, local stakeholders should be the lead group in putting forward the local conservation agenda and in generating benefits from protecting natural resources. A strong partnership with municipal government coupled with activities that enhances the local capacity of communities would be more effective in addressing conservation issues. By providing a background on conservation, importance of natural habitats, endemic wildlife as well as potential activities that promote the welfare of the forest and wildlife as well as provide long-term economic benefits to the people would be a step closer in influencing perceptions of local inhabitants in developing eco-tourism activities e.g. batwatching. The proposed training was designed to train local communities to identify bats in their municipality and to act as local bat guides in the area.

Training Fishermen as Batmen

A group of 39 fishermen and women from the fishing village of Macaas, Tubigon town in Bohol Island, Philippines were trained in basic bat ecology, bat identification and monitoring last 23-26 March 2014. Of the 39 participants five were Barangay Health Workers (BHW), five were members of Macaas barangay council including the barangay captain and the rest were fishermen and members of the Peoples Organization. The training was funded by the Local Government of Tubigon in partnership with Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. and Grassroots Travel.

The roost site in Cabgan Island is already functionally protected, where Large Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus and Island Flying Fox Pteropus hypomelanus colonies are tolerant of human presence and can be seen at a close distance. This can be developed as “showcase” sites with a locally – driven education and awareness program to draw visitors and tourists to the sites and learn about these bats.

The ecotourism project incorporates local support for roost-site protection and the Local government units are taking the lead develop in identifying select sites as protected sanctuaries that will double as high-value educational and tourism venues. Local tour guides, typically already employed to show visitors unique wildlife and forest areas near the community, were trained specifically to answer questions about the fruit bats and the need for bat conservation in the Philippines.

Batwatching Lecture-Workshop

The training started with lectures of bat diversity in the Philippines, importance of bats, basic bat ecology and use of equipment. Participants were given the chance to practice and handle equipment e.g. binoculars and spotting scopes. Effort was made to make sure that each participant was given a chance to familiarize themselves to the basic parts of the equipment after which they were then taken to the field to try using the equipment and see the roosting colonies of bats.

Learning the basics of bats and bat ecology and importance in the Philippines

Participants in the field learning how to spot their bats

Bat Guiding Practicum

Participants engaged in one of the exercises given by Sherry Paul Ramayla where they have to match the image (head and tail) of different families of bats.

At the end of three days of lectures and field activities, the participants will conduct their first-ever guided tour taking volunteer tourists from the municipality and their village. Invited guests will rate their conduct and performance and will be the basis for their final evaluation.

We will be closely monitoring the progress and development of this batwatching tour on its impact on the lives of the people of Macaas and Tubigon, the economy on the locality as well as on the welfare of the wildlife in the area including that of the bats, the threatened and endemic Philippine Duck, shellfishes and mangroves.

Lisa ready for action!

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Paguntalan
Director for Field Operations
Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc.
Email: lmjpaguntalan@pbcfi.org.ph; lisamariep10@yahoo.com
www.pbcfi.org.ph

Pteropus pelagicus. Credit: ZooKeys

Kris Helgen shared with us a new paper evaluating the taxonomic relationships between flying foxes of the Mortlock Islands, a chain of 100 atoll islands, in Micronesia. The authors, led by Don Buden, resurrect the name Pteropus pelagicus to replace P. phaeocephalus and unite P. pelagicus with P. insularis.  From field observations, they estimate that the population size in 2004 was only somewhere between 925-1200 bats, and that most individuals roost alone or in small groups. Interestingly, the authors suggest that the main threat to the species may be rising sea levels associated with climate change. Although its unclear whether entire atolls will be lost, salinity changes may reduce the availability of the bats’ major food source – breadfruit.   The paper includes a wealth of information on the recent history of P.  pelagicus on the Mortlock Islands, including a wonderful folktale explaining the limited consumption of bats on the islands. 

Buden DW, Helgen KM, Wiles GJ (2013) Taxonomy, distribution, and natural history of flying foxes (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae) in the Mortlock Islands and Chuuk State, Caroline Islands. ZooKeys 345: 97–135. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.345.5840

Buden_et_al_2013_Mortlock_Pacific_Pteropus

For the superstitious, there may be nothing scarier than the flying foxes of the Philippines, whose 2-meter wingspans make them the largest bats in the world!

In keeping with the near-global fear and mistrust of nocturnal animals, Philippine flying foxes (fruit bats) are linked with many of the eerie spirits that haunt their nights.

Most closely resembling a flying fox is the Manananggal of the Philippines

Most closely resembling a flying fox is Manananggal (left). This aswang (Filipino for vampire-like creatures) is a woman by day, but at night her torso detaches in the middle. The upper half grows bat wings allowing her to fly through the night in search of her preferred source of nourishment: the unborn fetus. According to the myth, Manananggal lands on the roof of a home and drops her long, needle-thin tongue into the belly of a pregnant woman in her sleep.

This evil, mythological creature shares the distribution of flying foxes in Southeast Asia under the monikers Manananggal (Philippines); Pennangalan (Malay); Leyak (Balinese); Kuyang (Dayak); Palasik (Indonesia); Krasue (Thai); Kasu or Phi-Kasu (Lao), Ab (Khmer).

Evening departure of thousands of flying foxes could send the superstitious running for cover

Although not as explicit as Manananggal, most aswang in the Philippines have characteristics of flying foxes. Tik-tik and Wak-wak are similar to Manananggal, but said to be black birds and are named, respectively, for their “tik-tik” nocturnal calls and the “wak-wak” sound of airy flapping wings, both of which are recognizable sounds made by flying foxes at night. Tiyanak is in the form of a human baby, but has fangs and sharp claws and flies away as a black bird. Capre and Tikbalang take on different animal forms, yet are found in fig trees at night with red reflective eyes like fruit bats.

Pteropus vampyrus (by Masteraah via Wikimedia Commons)

However, not all myths about flying foxes are negative. Across their wide distribution, flying fox meat is believed to be distinctively clean and nutritious with medicinal properties supporting the elderly and people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

In addition, scientific research has shown these amazing creatures are vital to human survival. As pollinators and seed dispersers, flying foxes are essential for maintaining natural forests, often the only source of fresh water, air, and timber and non-timber forest products. Flying foxes are also known to pollinate hundreds of agriculturally important crops for the region.

• assess the size of flying fox colonies
• initiate dietary studies and ecosystems service evaluations
• be aware of  disease ecology research opportunities and be able to conduct bat research safely
• work with different stakeholders in fruit bat-farmer conflict management
• use Darwin Core Format for data and be able to contribute to the SEABCRU database.

The workshop made the front cover of the Cambodian Daily (attached below), and was featured in the  Phnom Penh Post — the two main English language newspapers in Cambodia, greatly promoting both bat conservation and the SEABCRU.

Taking count of cambodias Flying fox bats  (Cambodia Daily coverage)

I am still pulling together the workshop report, but in the mean time here are some photos of events

This training workshop will be conducted in an interactive manner promoting the broader conservation goals of the SEABCRU network, which are to:

• Share experiences among participants and countries in addressing the different priorities

• Refine research and training protocols that can provide for better integration and synthesis of research across the region.

• Link research processes and outputs with conservation efforts in and among SE Asian countries

• Work to collate current data on distribution and abundance of SE Asian bats; inform database development and parameterization

• Identify future directions for research within and across priorities

• Network expertise across countries

The workshop is hosted by the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, and is conducted in collaboration with FFI-Cambodia Program. The SEABCRU FF team leaders will all be there (Sara Bumrungsri, Tammy Mildenstein, Paul Racey, Kevin Olival), supported by Sheema Abdul Aziz and CE Neuvo. Neil Furey, of the SEABCRU Cave Team heads up the local host team, along with SEABCRU members Phauk Sophany and Chheang Sarak. Danny Squire, the SEABCRU IT Program Manager, will be introducing and familiarizing participants with the SEABCRU database which we are rolling out in full in the New Year.  The workshop runs 17^th-19^th and I’ll be posting photos and updates as we go along.