Transcript All about bats.

All about bats.
What types of bats do we have in the UK?
In the UK, we are lucky enough to have 17
different types of bats. They range from
the tiny pipistrelle bat which is just a few
centremetres long, to the larger noctule
bat, which is still smaller than an adult's
hand!
What do bats eat?
All bats native to the UK eat insects.
Each species has its favourite insects,
hunting them in its own special way.
Most are caught and eaten in mid-air,
though it is sometimes easier to hang up
to eat larger prey.
All bats have very big appetites because
flying uses up lots of energy. The
tiny pipistrelle can eat over 3000
insects in a night! In winter, when
there are fewer insects around for
them to feed on, bats go into a deep
sleep called hibernation to save energy.
Some bats in other parts of the world
eat fruit, flowers, fish, frogs, blood and
even other bats!
Where do bats live?
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Where bats live is called their 'roost.'
They roost in different places at different
times of the year. Some places bats like to
roost are:
Trees
Caves
Bridges
Barns
Or even houses!
In the winter, when bats go into
hibernation, they usually move into
caves or disused mines or tunnels, where
the temperature is cooler and they
won't be disturbed. For several weeks in
summer, female bats live together in a
'maternity roost', choosing somewhere
warm to have their babies. They stay
here until their babies are able to fly
and feed themselves.
How do they find their way around in the dark?
Many people think bats are blind, but in fact they can see
almost as well as you or I.
However, at night, their ears are more important than their
eyes - they use a special sonar system called 'echolocation,'
meaning they find things using echoes.
As bats fly they make shouting sounds, which are too high
for most humans to hear (although sometimes children are
able to hear them). The echoes they get back from their
shouts give them information about anything that is ahead
of them, including the size and shape of an insect and which
way it is going.
We can hear the sounds bats make using a special
instrument called a 'bat detector.'
Why do bats hang upside down?
If bats hung by their thumbs they
would have to let go before spreading
their wings. By hanging upside down they
are able to spread their wings ready for
take-off. They also have a good clear
view for both seeing and hearing before
flight.