Researchers have discovered that common noctule bats, one of Europe’s most migratory bat species, harness warm storm fronts to conserve energy during their lengthy journeys. A study published in the journal Science tracked 71 female bats using ultra-light intelligent transmitters and found they traveled up to 1,116 kilometers in 46 days, with single-night flights reaching approximately 400 kilometers.
The bats’ migration routes were more diverse than previously thought, with many moving throughout the landscape without a single migratory corridor. A behavior pattern observed was that bats would suddenly set off on long-distance flights when meteorological changes occurred, using warm storm fronts to fly with less energy expenditure.
Unlike birds, which often fly thousands of kilometers without pause, bats alternate their migratory flights with frequent stops due to their need to feed continuously. The researchers found that bats migrate during higher temperature peaks and lower air pressure at their departure location, suggesting absolute temperature is a trigger for many bats to migrate.
The study’s findings could lead to changes in practice at wind farms, including turning off turbines at night when bats are flying or during periods when squadrons of migrating bats are likely passing through. The researchers hope that understanding when and where bats migrate can help construct bat migration forecasts, ultimately leading to a better system for predicting their migrations.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/science/science-around-the-world/article-836413