Flying mammals, avid insect eaters, ecological indicator species, science fiction icons. Recently famous for colliding with wind turbines. This new study Bat maps: The conservation crusade tells how their local populations can be accurately measured. Being nocturnal, they have always bee harder to count than birds. Maybe the technique can be used to identify better and poorer locations for wind energy.
I noticed when we had a mosquito zapper in the back yard, a population of toads gathered under them. Perhaps enjoying some 'crispy critters.' During the summer, we find similar gatherings under parking lot lights . . . again enjoying the night migrating insects the circle down. So I'm wondering: are there bat audio signals equivalent to - "danger danger" that might be installed around wind turbines perhaps insect attracting lights in the perimeter - concentrate the bats away from the wind turbines An interesting problem because the bats are so terribly useful insect control critters. bob Wilson
Bats definitely feed around lights at night, following your idea. Tall wind generators need to have lights (aircraft safety), so maybe the same there. Or, maybe the bats are just on patrol. Danger danger would be ultrasonic, and if cleverly designed, effective across species. Now that US and most countries use agricultural insecticides with a bit of care, bat populations are recovering after the 1950s 1960s dip (DDT etc.). I suppose that their positive ecosystem service (insect control) outweighs negative effects of disease transfer to humans. If you get your hands on a live bat though, there had better be a leather glove in between. They are nasty with their teeth.
