Bats are starting to get attention for their long journeys, just like birds. A new study from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior shows how common noctule bats travel.
Researchers used special tracking devices to watch the bats. They found that bats use storms to help them fly farther and save energy.
Edward Hurme, a researcher at the institute, said the data is amazing. It shows not just where bats go, but what they feel during their flights.
How Bats Move
The study looked at 71 bats during their spring migration. These bats did not follow set paths like birds. Instead, they took different routes but mostly went northeast.
The bats can fly up to 400 kilometers in one night. They do not gain weight before flying. They need to eat each night to keep going.
Bats and Weather
Researchers saw that bats often left when storms were coming. They use the wind from storms to help with their flights.
Vocabulary List:
- Migration /maɪˈɡreɪʃən/ (noun): The process of moving from one place to another often seasonally.
- Journey /ˈdʒɜːrni/ (noun): The act of traveling from one place to another.
- Tracking /ˈtrækɪŋ/ (verb): To follow and observe the movement of someone or something.
- Researchers /rɪˈsɜːr.tʃərs/ (noun): People who conduct systematic investigations to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
- Storms /stɔːrmz/ (noun): Severe weather characterized by strong winds rain snow or thunder.
- Energy /ˈɛnərdʒi/ (noun): The capacity to do work or the power derived from utilization of physical or chemical resources.
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