Observations on the Flight Patterns and Foraging Behaviour of Tasmanian Bats

Abstract

Observations were made on the flight patterns and foraging behaviour of Tasmanian bat species, by the use of light tags and the release of individuals at dusk while it was still light enough to see clearly. Four distinct foraging patterns were observed, each being characteristic of a pair of species. These pairs were: Nyctophrlusgeoffroyi and N. timoriensis (slowest flight, undulating, closest to vegetation); Eptesicus vulturnus and E. regulus (highly manoeuvrable, faster than Nyctophilus, further from vegetation); E. sagittula and Chalinolobus morio (fast, direct flight, less manoeuvrable than smaller Eptesicus and fly higher); and Pipistrellus tasmaniensis and C. gouldii (faster, most direct flight, limited manoeuvrability, prefer open areas). There is a broad agreement between the flight patterns observed and the relative shape of the wing of each species.