Date: 10/21/24 8:35 pm From: PAUL ROBERTS <phawk254...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Driving Me Batty
While looking for eagles around sunset at the Mystic Lakes, I was pleasantly surprised to see several bats on the incredibly warm evening. They were "good-sized" so I assume they were big brown bats. However, while looking for the eagle, a large "leaf" fluttered to the ground in the expanding darkness, but there was no tree around, and no wind. A closer look showed the "leaf" to be two reasonably large bats that in the dark had apparently, using an eagle metaphor, "locked talons." The two bats looked like they had confronted each other and refused to let go. They were for all apparent matters and purposes, fused facing each other. As I said, it was getting dark and I did not have my reading glasses on to see detail well. A nearby high school student photographed them with her cell phone, but it didn't enhance my understanding. Suddenly, the two bats let go and I saw a large moth flutter up and away from the mammals, who then took wing themselves, but I can't guarantee you that the moth had benign the possession of one more bats, but I did not see it until they let go of each other. (But I can't say what was holding to what where.) Is anyone on this list familiar with bat behavior, and how they might "lock on" to each other in pursuit of prey? They were flat on the ground like two bat-winged aircraft joined facing one another, not "sitting up" on the end of their tails. I could not see how they were connected. Thanks in advance for any insights. Best, Paul Paul M. Roberts Medford, MA <phawk254...>
