Help wanted: Bat or bird?

by **spot5050** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 18:04:37

I've just seen four winged things fly past past the back of my house but it's 3 hours after sunset here and I've never seen birds on the wing after dark. Could they have been bats?

I've seen individual bats flying around out back before but these winged things were in formation flying the way birds do ie. changing direction with each other in a synchronsied way, which is a behaviour I associate with birds.

Forgive my ignorance. Birds or bats anyone?

by **Aaron** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 18:20:32

birds...

by **BabyPeanut** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 18:44:38

t'was the nightingale and not the bat, I swear it.

by **DomusAlbion** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 19:00:45

Hark! hark! the lark at heaven's gate sings,
And Phoebus 'gins arise,
His steeds to water at those springs
On chalic'd flowers that lies;
And winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes;
With everything that pretty is,
My lady sweet, arise:
Arise, arise!

by **Liamj** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 19:22:25

Guess it depends on where you are, but here in SE Aus, night flying fruit bats are common. Their wingspans get up to nearly 3foot, have v.high freq cries to nav by, and you can smell their roosts from a lo-o-ong way. They had a big mob in the Melb. Botanic Gardens, but the smell & plant destruction apparently reqd they be moved (at huge cost & debate) up the Yarra River a bit. Now they're getting blamed for the leptospirosis in the river. Once used to them they're pretty cool, flocks of big black nearly silent bats swooping thru yards...

by **Fatherof4** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 20:45:32

Watching bats I've noticed they never stop batting their wings, only birds seem to be able to put it on cruise control. I've never seen them flying in formation.

by **BabyPeanut** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 20:59:56

Birds only stop flapping because they're wimps.

by **uNkNowN ElEmEnt** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 21:38:15

Could be either. Sunset is when bugs come out (not as true given the time of year) both bats and birds eat bugs. I've only ever once seen bats flying together though. they like high trees for nesting was this near a tree? if so what kind? otherwise I'd say its just birds.

though if you want bats, you could build a bat house they aren't too difficult and they are cool. they will even let you handle them.

by **Ludi** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 21:51:43

My guess from your description would be birds. Many birds fly after sunset, when there's still enough light to see by. Examples - doves, nighthawks. Doves often fly in small coordinated groups of two or three.

by **spot5050** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 22:52:43

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'b')irds...

by **Aaron** » Wed 02 Feb 2005, 23:04:29

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hy birds Aaron?

by **katkinkate** » Thu 03 Feb 2005, 10:17:37

There's quite a few nocturnal bird species.

by **uNkNowN ElEmEnt** » Thu 03 Feb 2005, 12:22:48

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')f they were flying formation... they were hopped up on crack.

Help wanted: Bat or bird?

Help wanted: Bat or bird?

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