Flexibility of social foraging behaviour in an insectivorous bat

We tracked weaned, young-of-the-year Nyctalus noctula with Vesper GPS loggers (A.S.D., Israel) including ultrasonic microphones. Tracked animals stemmed from colonies with artificial roosting boxes in a forest remnant near Falkenhagen / Uckermark / Germany and a pine stand near Prieros / Germany. Bats were removed from their artificial roosting boxes in the morning, loggers were attached with Sauer Hautkleber, and bats were soon replaced into their roosting boxes. Tracking took place in Falkenhagen in May 2016 and May 2018, in Prieros in May 2017 and May 2018. Loggers recorded GPS positions every 31 seconds, and ultrasound recordings every 10 seconds for the duration of 1.5 seconds. We retrieved useful data from 27 animals. The data was analysed with respect to space use, movement behavior, foraging activity, and habitat use.