Observations on the migration, ecology and behaviour of bats at Delta Marsh, Manitoba.

Abstract

Lasiurus cinereus and Lasionycteris noctivagans were permanent summer residents while Lasiurus borealis moved through the area in the spring and fall and Myotis lucifugus was generally uncommon. The first bats arrived in mid-May and the last left in mid to late September. In late summer, male L. borealis moved through the area later than females. All species fed primarily along a narrow forested ridge rather than over the marsh or Lake Manitoba. Individual L. cinereus established feeding territories from which they chased other bats. Lactating female L. cinereus and their young roosted in trees in the ridge and although each female fed independently of her young, each family group roosted together for >2 wk after the young were volant. -Author