Bats in my porch: 16. An uneventful evening

on 30th September 2014

On 21st August 2014 there were about 12 Common Fruit Bats (Cynopterus brachyotis) roosting in the porch between 2000-2130h. The dominant male was busy moving from one female to the other, courting them without success (above).

He had his wings stretched out most of the time, often vigorously flapping them to get his scent across to the female. At times he was grooming his wings and body.

The females responded with wing movements and grooming sessions as well but the two females he approached were uninterested.

The juveniles were all hanging quietly, resting. All were spaced around the periphery, except for three that were hanging close together.

The two spotlights were on all the time, providing light for the filming. Apparently they had no effect on the colony. I stopped filming at around 2130h and switched off the spotlights. This had an immediately effect on the bats – all suddenly dispersed.

YC Wee
Singapore
September 2014

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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