| Leisler’s
bat (Nyctalus leisleri)
The smaller of the two Nyctalus species is
only half the size of the noctule
and occurs much more rarely. Having a similar appearance, young
individuals of the noctule can be confused with Leisler’s bat. Like the
noctule, Leisler’s bat is distributed all over Germany and as a
migratory bat travels long distances. Summer and winter populations are
probably well separated from one another, but this topic still needs a lot
of research. The recovery of banded bats reveals long-distance
relationships, for example from southern Thuringia to southern France or
Saxony-Anhalt to Spain. Up to 70 females gather in a nursery colony,
but large wintering colonies like those of noctules have not yet been
observed. |
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Sometimes single Leisler’s bats
mingle with colonies of the bigger sister species. As others do, this bat
species chooses year-round tree roosts like crevices, holes and cracks in
the trunk as far up as the tree top. During the active period of the year
it changes shelters every two to four days. Both Nyctalus species fly fast
and prey on insects, mainly in the free airspace. Hunting grounds are not
located in closed forest stands but rather above open, large bodies of
water such as lakes and reservoirs and in places with abundant potential
prey. Roosts can be 10 or more kilometers away from foraging areas. <back |
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