The Fascinating World of Bats: Insights into the Greater Noctule Bat

Bats are among the most mysterious and intriguing creatures, particularly the largest bat in Europe known as the “Greater Noctule Bat.” An international research team has uncovered astonishing details about how this large bat hunts its prey in complete darkness, with their findings published in the journal Science.

Advanced Technology to Understand Bats

To analyze the behaviors of these enigmatic bats, scientists attached small biological devices called biologgers to their backs, developed at Aarhus University. These lightweight devices recorded the bats’ altitude, acceleration, movement, and sounds, including echolocation calls, providing unprecedented insights into their nocturnal hunting strategies at altitudes over a kilometer above the ground.

The data revealed that bats fly high in the night sky to find unsuspecting birds and ambush them. Unlike insects, birds cannot detect the bats’ ultrasonic calls and only become aware of the threat moments before being caught.

Daring Dives and Aerial Tactics

The information extracted from the biologgers showed that bats dive towards their prey in sharp, high-speed descents, much like fighter jets in combat. In two documented chases, the bats dove for 30 and 176 seconds respectively, flapping vigorously, doubling their acceleration, and continuing to emit attack calls.

In one pursuit, the first bat abandoned its chase, as birds are also skilled aerial maneuverers, but the second bat succeeded after a chase lasting nearly three minutes, capturing a robin near the ground.

The Role of Data and Analysis in Unveiling Secrets

Researchers collaborated in analyzing bat data with X-ray and DNA analyses of bird wings found beneath hunting areas to confirm how bats complete their hunts. These analyses reveal that the bat kills the bird with a bite, then removes its wings (possibly to reduce air resistance) and uses the membrane between its hind legs as a pouch to carry and eat the prey while flying.

Confirming an Old Hypothesis

Scientists have long suspected that some large bat species prey on small birds in flight. This idea began with Spanish researcher Carlos Ibáñez and colleagues at the Doñana Biological Station in Seville, where Ibáñez found bird feathers in the droppings of the Greater Noctule Bat about 25 years ago.

Despite accumulating evidence, the idea that bats could catch birds in mid-air faced some skepticism, given that birds can weigh nearly half as much as the bats themselves.

Conclusion

This recent study highlights the importance of modern technologies in studying the behaviors of unknown creatures. Although these bats do not pose a significant threat to songbird populations, understanding their behavior and environment is crucial for developing conservation and management strategies that can help protect one of Europe’s most remarkable nocturnal predators.