Science Friday A Halloween Monster Mashup, And A Spooky Lakes Tour
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Oct 31, 2025 Join experts in a spooky exploration of Halloween-themed creatures! Dr. Elena Tena reveals how greater noctule bats hunt migratory birds with the help of high-tech biologgers. Dr. Paula Cushing introduces camel spiders, highlighting their endurance and unique dietary habits. Dr. Sara Ruane explains the fascinating adaptations of tiger keelback snakes, which are both venomous and poisonous. Lastly, Geo Rutherford takes us on a tour of eerie lakes, sharing chilling tales from Lake Superior and the mysteries of Lake Baikal. Perfect for a frightfully fun listening experience!
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Bat That Hunts Birds In Flight
- Greater noctule bats in Europe sometimes hunt and eat migrating birds, shown by feathers and audio recordings from biologgers.
- Biologgers captured flight altitude, chase behavior, distress calls, and 23 minutes of chewing while the bat flew normally.
Biologgers Captured Nighttime Hunt Audio
- Elena Tena described tiny biologgers that recorded microphone, accelerometer, and altimeter data on bats during hunts.
- She recounted hearing distress calls then 23 minutes of chewing that confirmed successful bird predation.
High-Altitude Dives Then Normal Flight
- Greater noctules fly above one kilometer, then dive vertically for several minutes to intercept migratory birds near ground level.
- Despite carrying bird prey, bats resume normal flight, showing impressive flight and physics capabilities.
