Researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries about the migration patterns of common noctule bats across Europe, using ultra-lightweight sensors connected to a network similar to cell phones. The study, published in Science, revealed that these bats “surf” warm storm fronts to travel thousands of kilometers with less energy.
Using advanced sensor technology, scientists tracked part of the noctule bats’ migration, estimated to span 1,600 kilometers. The findings showed that bats alternate their long-distance flights with frequent stops to feed, and that they migrate almost 400 kilometers in a single night. The study also detected a striking pattern: bats left on nights when air pressure dropped and temperature spiked, using the support of warm tailwinds.
The implications of these discoveries go beyond biological insight into this understudied behavior. Migratory bats are threatened by human activity, particularly wind turbines that cause frequent collisions. Knowing where bats will be migrating and when could help prevent deaths.
The study’s innovative sensor technology allows for real-time monitoring from anywhere in Europe, providing insights into the crucial decisions made by bats during their costly and dangerous journeys. The findings offer a new perspective on bat migration and may pave the way for a system to forecast bat migration, helping wind farms to turn off their turbines on nights when bats are streaming through.
The research team tracked 71 common noctule bats over three years, focusing exclusively on females that migrate longer distances than males. The data revealed trajectories far more variable than previously thought, and showed that there is no single migration corridor for the species.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/storm-surfers-how-bats-harness-weather-to-travel-thousands-of-miles