A recently published research project has revealed the stunning hunting strategies of Greater Noctule Bats from southern Spain. These unique animals are able to capture, kill, and eat flying birds in mid-air. To track their movements, researchers attached specially-designed “backpacks” to the bats. Each of these backpacks was equipped with accelerometers, altimeters, and audio recorders to learn more about their predatory tactics.
Their investigation started after researchers recently removed a number of Greater Noctule Bats from artificial nesting boxes across southern Spain. These bats are among Europe’s biggest bat species. They were seen soaring to heights of 1.2 kilometers before plummeting at up to 100 kilometers per hour to snatch their unsuspecting prey. Among their targets, a robin— a bird that weighs about half the mass of the little brown bats themselves.
Throughout the experiment, the bats exhibited an astonishing ability for a game of feline-fugitive. They traversed over one kilometer in under three minutes while in constant motion from right to left! The bats’ precision predation strikes were delivered with deadly bites. It was captured on audio equipment, which exposed their brutal gnawing. The researchers noted that the bats could consume their prey continuously during flight for up to 23 minutes without losing altitude.
Elena Tena, a researcher who participated in the study, said these findings pose interesting implications.
“While it evokes empathy for the prey, it is part of nature.” – Elena Tena
Greater Noctule Bats have developed specialized hunting techniques, including biting off and discarding their prey’s wings. This behavior is thought to primarily help minimize weight and drag while in flight. Bats are able to emit up to 21 identification calls per second in-flight while hunting for their meals. This unusual behavior makes them even more difficult to study.
For the first time, this study sheds more light on Greater Noctule Bats’ challenges in southern Europe. With droughts and wildfires exacerbated by climate change, these pressures have resulted in declines to prairie dog populations. These converging factors threaten their existence. This is even more so as they prepare for their pre-hibernation retreat in fall and their breeding season in spring.
“It’s fascinating that bats are not only able to catch them, but also to kill and eat them while flying.” – Dr. Laura Stidsholt
Over 25 years ago, Dr. Carlos Ibáñez stumbled onto something pretty interesting. He discovered bird feathers in bat droppings, indicating that birds played an important part in the diet of Greater Noctule Bats. A century later, the science has finally caught up with Richard’s hindsight. This study serves to underscore the important ecological role that these bats serve in their environment.
While predatory tactics can appear daunting, researchers see value in understanding them. These purposeful acts are fundamental to reciprocal interplay of restoration found in natural ecosystems. Stidsholt expressed her personal disappointment about the results.
Despite the grim aspect of their predatory tactics, researchers acknowledge the importance of understanding such behaviors in the context of natural ecosystems. Stidsholt shared her personal feelings regarding the findings.
“From a human perspective, I didn’t feel good about it.” – Stidsholt