Overview

• Scientists tracked 71 noctule bats across Europe using lightweight sensors to study their spring migration behavior over three years.
• The bats were found to use warm storm fronts, taking advantage of tailwinds to conserve energy during their long flights.
• Unlike birds, bats do not follow fixed migration corridors and must stop frequently to feed, resulting in sporadic travel patterns.
• The study revealed that bats leave en masse on nights with dropping air pressure and rising temperatures, signaling incoming storms.
• Findings could inform conservation efforts, such as adjusting wind turbine operations to reduce bat fatalities during migration.