Bats are breeding

If you keep your eyes on the sky, you might just see one. Asmall dark shape flitting like a swallow as it catches insects in the dusk.

Long-tailed bats emerge from their daytime roost trees right on that time whenthere is just a little bit of daylight left. They spend the night travelling along their favoured foraging routes, catching mosquitoes, beetles and small moths, drinking on the fly from flat stretches of water, resting for periods and socialising.

These fascinating creatures are in serious decline across the country as they are very vulnerable to pests.

Last summer the first project to find exactly where someof these bats are roosting and breeding in Central Hawke’s Bay was initiated. Two colonies and over 40roosts were found centred around Puahanui Bush and Gwavas Garden, Tikokino. In the Ashley Clinton / Makaretu area another two colonies and over 30 roosts were also discovered.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council have teamed upwith The Conservation Company to try and find out where else in Hawke’s Bay long-tailed bats are breeding. Surveys using automatic detectors will be carried out over this coming summer.

Wewould love to hear from you if youhave discovered bats roosting around your property. Get incontact with Kay Griffith son 021 629 584 or email info@ the conservation company.co.nz.

This project is funded byHBRC with support fromDoCand BiodiversityHB

■ In last week’sCHBMail the Conservation Company was referred to incorrectly as theConservation Project. Weregret themistake.