Скачать или смотреть Bats Catch Migratory Birds and Eat Them in Midair

Bats Catch Migratory Birds and Eat Them in Midair
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Turning now to a surprising development in the natural world. For decades, scientists have suspected that some bats might occasionally prey on birds, a notion previously supported only by circumstantial evidence like feathers found in droppings. However, new research published in the journal Science has provided definitive, and frankly, remarkable, proof of these mid-air encounters.

Using specialized miniature recording devices attached to bats, researchers have captured the first direct audio evidence of a bat successfully hunting and killing a migratory bird. The star of this unprecedented observation is the greater noctule bat, Europe's largest bat species. During the critical spring and fall migration periods, when billions of birds take to the night sky, often as a defense against diurnal predators, these bats are proving to be a formidable, albeit unexpected, threat.

The study details a specific instance where a greater noctule bat, weighing approximately 50 grams, the size of a medium chicken egg, managed to capture a European robin. This feat is particularly astounding considering the robin was nearly half the bat's weight. The recordings reveal not only the successful hunt but also the bat consuming its prey *in flight*, a behavior that dramatically shifts our understanding of bat diets, which are predominantly insectivorous. This breakthrough research directly addresses longstanding questions about the mechanics and frequency of such inter-species predation, offering a rare glimpse into the complex nocturnal food web. If you like our content, don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel, NEWS TODAY.
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