Why Do Bats Fly at Night?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do bats fly at night?

The Big Idea

Night is an open shift for hunters! Many bats hunt moths and mosquitoes after the birds that hunt by sight have gone to roost. And bats have a special trick for finding food in the dark.

Dusk Launch

Step one: dusk launch. When the sun sets, the bat leaves its roost. It heads out to hunt, while many day birds are asleep. Bats can also roost in trees, barns, and special boxes that people put up.

Clicks Go Out

Step two: the clicks go out. Most bats use echolocation, which is pronounced eck-oh-low-kay-shun. They shout clicks that are too high for us to hear, and then listen for the echoes.

Echo Returns

Step three: the echo returns. A moth bounces the sound back to the bat. The bat reads the echo, turns fast, and catches its snack before heading home before dawn.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at echolocation! The bat sends out high-pitched clicks. The click is a sound wave that travels through the dark. The echo bounces back from the moth. And the moth is the snack that the bat is tracking.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Bats are mammals. They are not flying mice, and they are not birds. Never handle a bat on the ground. It may be sick. One bat can catch many night insects in an hour, which helps gardens and yards. If a bat is in the house, a grown-up should handle it, never with bare hands, and bat bites need a doctor's advice.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, watch the sky at dusk. Did anything flutter more like a bird, or more like a darting zigzag? What food is available after dark? Write down what you noticed.

Outro

Bats are the night's expert hunters. Now you know how they see with sound! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!