bat resources

["calyptorhynchus ." <>]

I was a bit cryptic about my request for bat resources this morning. And thanks for all the responses. 

The reason I wanted silhouettes is that this morning I saw a bat down on Hughes Oval that had a very distinctive shape. Roughly like this sketch.

I realise that apart from a few insectivorous spp which have different colours (like the Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat) or have long ears or whatever, they are difficult to identify in flight. But the fact that this bat had its hands pushed so far forward made a very distinctive shape and I thought 'Ha, Common Bent-wing Bat', but on consulting the Oxford guide to Australian Mammals one of the few flight silhouettes was this sp and it doesn't have prominent forward-pushed hands (so I don't know why it's called Bent-wing). Any suggestions from my silhouette?

cheers

John Leonard

On 19 February 2018 at 11:47, Philip Veerman <> wrote:

What an interesting suggestion. Would be very hard to do. Are you requesting photos or drawings? I have a book Australian bats by Sue Churchill. It has many photos and diagrams but few of flying animals. Apart from the - obvious by their size fruit bats (“flying foxes”), I would think identifying bats in flight would be really difficult. I have heard that some species of small bats do differ a bit in flight actions. But opportunities for observing this are limited.

 

In 1979 I had a memorable in field in hand encounter with a Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat. I reckon that would be one of the few of the carnivorous species that would be easy to identify in the field.

 

Not Australia, but an opportunity to mention. In September 2009, I had a nice evening stroll along the Yangtze river at Wuhan in China. Many insectivorous bats hunting the twilight skies. Not just that but it was clear that there were maybe 3 or 4 different species, by virtue of the range of size and flight styles. Of course no way of assigning names to them. And when I left Wuhan airport for the transfer at Hong Kong, there was even a small bat inside the airport terminal, flying around our heads presumably feeding on mosquitoes or similar. I did not even notice any of the waiting passengers take any notice of it.

 

Philip

 

From: calyptorhynchus . [mailto:m("gmail.com","calyptorhynchus");" target="_blank">com]
Sent: Monday, 19 February, 2018 7:31 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] bat resources

 

Does anyone know of source of information on Australian bats? What I am really looking for is a series of flight silhouettes, most books and websites just have roosting individuals illustrated.

 

--

John Leonard

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John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

I want to be with the 9,999 other things.

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