Long-tongued bats emerging, Asa Wright, Trinidad
As the second largest order of mammals (after rodents) with over 1,200 species, bats represent 20% of all mammals worldwide.
They pollinate flowers, disperse fruit seeds, and consume insects–very important workhorses of our planet. More about bats here.
Last month, while lodging at Asa Wright Nature Centre in the rainforest of Trinidad, my partner and I had the thrill of watching a bat emergence every night.
At first glance they looked like brown birds at the nectar feeders. They swooped in and out so quickly, we didn’t know what they were; but soon it became apparent.
The next night Athena was photographing with the last light of the day, when she discovered where they were coming from. In a matter of minutes, dozens and dozens of bats were emerging from a narrow basement corridor underneath our lodge.
Long-tongued bats at nectar feeder
She came and got me, and we watched for 20 minutes as they stopped at the feeders, drank, and flew off. We estimated we saw over a hundred bats.
The next night we went early, in order to see them before they came out. And then like clockwork they began flying out of the basement corridor–five or six, then five more, ten more. They left the lodge structure, drank at the feeders, then disappeared into the night.
Using echolocation, or biological sonar, they emit calls (we humans cannot hear) that produce echoes. The echoes help the bat to locate and identify objects as they navigate.
Pallas’s long-tongued bat, Trinidad
We were standing about 12 inches (30 cm) apart, when one bat zoomed between us. It was so fast that I didn’t see it, but I felt the breeze on my left ear.
Athena said, “They didn’t fly like this last night. They went more directly to the feeders.”
“Maybe we’re in their way.”
So we stepped back two steps, and instantly the bats’s flight patterns changed; they headed more directly to the feeders.
Once we all had our proper place in the world, Athena and I watched while the bats continued emerging, quickly and in abundant numbers.
This species is the Pallas’s long-tongued bat. Glossophaga soricina have the fastest metabolism ever recorded in a mammal, very similar to a hummingbird. Over 80% of their energy comes directly from the simple sugars of nectar.
Pallas’s long-tongued bat. Photo: B. Wills. Courtesy Wikipedia.
Interestingly, the long tongue of this bat has a mopping ability powered by blood. Elongated hairs at the tongue-tip trigger blood vessels, immediately increasing the length of the tongue by 50%, thereby expanding the bat’s ability to consume more nectar.
How does it feel to have dozens of long-tongued bats zipping around you?
It was a little intimidating at first, but after that…it was heavenly.
Photo credit: Athena Alexander unless otherwise specified
Jet Eliot 
Oddly, I think most bats quite cute…and feeding them with a nectar feeder might be something I look into 🙂
I, too, think bats are great, Morgan. I love it that you think them cute. 🙂 This species can use the nectar with their long tongue abilities and especially fast metabolism. My guess is that most bat species don’t come near a nectar feeder. But still, they’re a delight to watch. Thanks so much for your comment today — and have a great weekend.
My favourites are, of course, fruit bats. Little flying foxes ❤
Oh how I love the flying foxes….
Wow! That first photo is fantastic. What a cool experience!
They were coming out so fast, it was amazing that she captured any clear photos. So glad you enjoyed the bats today, Ingrid — many thanks for your visit.
I bet it was exciting to have them fly closely like that. I love bats. We have some in Central Park.
Oh Sherry, it was SO exciting. As a bat lover, you can imagine the thrill of being surrounded–dominated–by them. For a second or two I felt like I was one of them. 😉
Drove you batty. Sorry, couldn’t help myself 🙂
Gave me a batty titter, Sherry. 😀
Bats are so cool — especially the little ones. I knew some ate/drank nectar, but I’ve never thought about feeders for them! Lovely post, Jet. TGIF and hugs!
Bats are, indeed, so cool. Thanks for your visit today, Teagan — always a pleasure!
Your partner took some great shots. Thank you for another interesting post on nature Jet.
Thanks Lloyd. It was total mayhem, tricky work to photograph. I’m glad you enjoyed this batty nature post, Lloyd; I always appreciate your visits and comments. And happy Oscar weekend, my friend!
Happy Oscar weekend Jet. 🙂
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What fantastic experience.
xxx Gigantic Hugs xxx
It was like a little bat tornado! Yes, a fantastic experience. Fun to share it with you, David, and I love those gigantic hugs. 🙂
That’s a unique experience. It is a wonder how each species live their own life!
Yes, Alok, this is a wonder; and what a joy to witness all these many wonders on our planet. Many thanks for your visit~~
How amazing to be so up close and personal to these intriguing creatures – love it on dusk when the bats begin to fill the sky!
The bats make for a very special dusk, don’t they Joanne? Thanks for dropping by.
OMG! You two were brave souls! I am aware that bats are an important animal for our eco system but it’s very difficult for me to consider them cute; I prefer to stay clear of them. We see them here at dusk cleaning up the bugs that remain in the evening air. Right now there is a nest under the eave at the peak of the roof. I don’t mind them being there but their droppings land on our window a few feet below the nest. Thanks for sharing your interesting story
Anyone who lets the bats nest on their roof has good vibes for the bats…you just don’t like them in your face, SWI. Wonderful to hear of your bats, my friend!
That was an interesting post and Athena took some awesome photos.
Always a joy to hear from you Tom, thanks so much for sharing in on the batty post. 🙂
I don’t think I’d like having those long-tongued bats swarming around me looking for nectar!
Okay Jan, you got me laughing here, thanks. I was a little tentative at first, but they were so fascinating that there was nothing left to do but stand in awe. Many thanks~~
That is so neat that you found where they spent the day! We only saw them when they came to the feeders in the evenings.
Enjoy your weekend! Regina and John
Oh we were VERY excited to find them, so much so that we just kept going back. It’s really fun to share them with you Regina, and if we could rewind a few weeks, we would have loved to have shared them with you and John. But since life doesn’t do rewinds, this is the next best thing. I am so glad you stopped by today, thank you. 🙂
All right you two have taught me a great deal, however elongating bat tongues is the icing on the cake. Or possibly the next great horror movie In the making! 20% of mammals are bats? What an astounding fact in the animal world. I am sure to win a trivia game with that one!
Bravo to Athena for spotting these wee winged sugar lovers. The photo of them emerging is jaw dropping.
Your comment makes me smile, as always, Sue. What a pleasure to share the world of bats with you. Thanks for your kind words and visit. I hope you are out enjoying the winter snows of Canada this weekend. 🙂
That is some incredible photography. I’m guessing flash was needed to get them so clear. We used to see a lot more bats out west. They’ve become a rarity these days.
Even seeing the bats is tricky, but photographing them is an art. So glad you enjoyed the bat photos, Craig.
What a wonderful post…bat-tastic! They don’t have a great reputation, but anyone reading this would have to think again. Another splendid piece with words and images combining to show an amazing species (and experience!) I love how you went from not too sure to loving the time you had with the bats. Unforgettable!
Thanks, and have a great weekend!
You wouldn’t have believed all the bats swarming around us, pc, it definitely gave me pause to walk further into the swirl. But that’s when it became so fun. I appreciate your astute reading and enjoyment of the post, pc. Always a joy, my friend.
This post is absolutely awesome. I love bats. Just wonderful.
My warmest thanks, spanishwoods.
I was a little skeptical when I read your title that I would be enjoying the bats, but that photo of them at the nectar feeder was enjoyable. I’m not sure I’m ready to be out photographing them in droves flying by my head, but the thought of that photo at least may stop me from running in the house if I’m outside at night with Gabby and I see them circling the house. Wonderful photos and thanks again for sharing your travels!
I very much enjoyed your words here, ACI. We all have our processes, don’t we. My first steps into the bat swirl were ginger too. I am delighted you enjoyed the bats and overcame your skepticism. 😀
What a coincidence! Tyler went to the movies on Thursday to see “LEGO Batman”. He loved it because he likes bats and he’s been talking about these mammals because he had lessons in School all about them. He mentioned to the teacher that we sometimes see them buzzing around early in the morning in winter (dark as night) while waiting for the school bus! We used to have bats in our attic in New Jersey. They are very interesting animals that need to be studied more! Great post my friend, you rock! 🙂
I love this story, HJ, and the coincidence of Tyler’s school lessons with the bat post. And what a wonderful school to teach him the importance of bats. Thank you, HJ, so very much.
in creditable–what a wonderful mysterious world we live in
I agree Bill, it is a wonderful, mysterious world. Thanks so much for your visit. I hope your travels are going well.
so beautifully captured, Jet
their motion in flight
knowing where to go
without need of sight!
nice you allowed them space
and not end up like in
that vampire movie 🙂
Your vampire comment made me laugh, David. I am delighted you enjoyed the bats, and yes, isn’t echolocation an incredible thing? Many thanks for your visit and fun comment.
Incredible pictures, well captured! I think the experience must have been great!
I am happy you enjoyed the bat post, Simone — it was fun to write and share.
over 1,200 species, bats represent 20% of all mammals worldwid, Wow! What an adventure you and Athena had. Great captures, thank you for sharing, Jet! 🙂
Always a pleasure to share the beauty of bats with you, Amy. I have never seen the bat emergence down in your part of the world, in Austin, but I intend to one day. I have heard and seen photos of its dramatic beauty.
I haven’t seen bats in Austin for a while. During the evening, the sky is covered with bats. 🙂
Sweet creatures. I am always delighted when I see them at the dusk. These are huge though 🙂
They are sweet creatures, at least to you and me, Inese. These were not the biggest bats I have ever seen, that goes to the flying foxes; but they were sizeable.
I love the fact that there are nocturnal animals. The nights are not so lonely 🙂
Wow! What an interesting post, Jet! I had never thought of bats as the workhorses of the planet I think I would have been intimidated too 🙂 Great pictures!
As nocturnal creatures, we don’t see them working all that much, but they’re out there taking care of things for us. Great comment, Helen, thanks for stopping by.
Good Sunday morning, – Another fascinating post….three things struck me. One your words “once we had our proper place in the world’ – which I thought to be so telling. Maybe this is something we have forgotten in our fast paced techno age….finding our proper places in the world, rather than trying to force issues. The other amazing piece of information is the likeness of these bats to the hummingbird – well you knew that would peak my interest. 🙂 Then, Athena’s amazing photograph of the bats at the feeder….incredible.
Thank you so much – hope you enjoy a lovely Sunday and that your weather has calmed. My daughter Christie was in Chicago last week on business and said the temps were in the high 60s all week – and when she returned to Boston, the same thing….amazing. Janet.
What a joy to read your thoughtful comments, as usual, Janet. There are so many rhythms in nature, and the more one is out in it, the more we blend into them — an element I just love so much. And I, too, enjoyed the similarities of these bats to the hummingbird — both species situated in a rainforest filled with nectar, how wonderful! I, too, have heard some of the colder U.S. climates have had unusually warm weather lately — how terrific for your daughter to be in Chicago during warm temps. Chicago can be so bitterly frigid this time of year — she lucked out! Always a joy to visit with you, Janet — and much appreciated.
You are welcome…as always I look forward to your next offering….janet. 🙂
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Phantastisch dein Bericht mit den Fotos. Es war sicher ein beeindruckendes Erlebnis. Grüße aus den Alpen.
Fantastically your report with the photos. It was certainly an impressive experience. Greetings from the Alps.
Fascinating essay, Jet. And, as usual, killer Athena photos. 🙂
What a great experience especially so “up close and personal”. I love the way their flight pattern changed just by you two taking a couple of steps. I have seen the nightly migration from a large cave from a distance (I think it was Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico)…again…from a distance…to be that much a part of it…incredible! Great photos Athena!!
Thanks for your great comment, Kirt. I, too, thought it was so cool to take a few steps back and watch the bats’ flight pattern change. I’m delighted you enjoyed the bat post, Kirt.
What an interesting post and amazing experience it must have been. Terrific photos too!
Thanks so much for your wonderful comment, Belinda.
Jet, I approached this post with a chill up my spine–an old bat reaction. But i really enjoyed it and found what you always find when you delve into something: there’s so much more there than you realized. Thank you.
How delighted I was to hear my post gave you a change of heart toward the bats, David. So very wonderful for me to hear. Thank you for visiting.
I was taught to fear bats because they would get into your hair. Really enjoyed reading this Jet. We have bats here and this year I’m going to get rid of my fear. I think they are beautiful.
I enjoyed your comment on the bats, Amy. And I have good news: even standing in the midst of a tornado of bats, not one ever touched me or my hair. Growing up I always heard that about bats too, some weird thing somebody started. So glad you regard them as beautiful now.
Can’t wait to see them now. 😙
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How exhilarating! Bats (and cockroaches and snakes) get such a bad rap, though they are HUGELY important to our lives. We occasionally see brown bats fly over our heads at dusk and would love to host them on our property. Unfortunately, we don’t have a good spot for them that wouldn’t be predator-free.
One of my favorite bat encounters was when one tried to fly through our apartment (we lived on the end unit, ‘open air’ in Malaysia) but couldn’t escape as easily; he just kept flying from wall to wall, trapped. Scott and I used a bed sheet — standing on chairs — to carefully bring him safely to the ground, then to the outside. We were ALL exhausted.
Athena’s pics are fantastic; so glad you got to witness that. You’ve already seen our bat post, I think, the one with the bat tornado. Super duper fun.
Great to hear your bat story, Shannon, and really fun to share ours with you. Thanks so much for your terrific comment.
Wow what an experience Jet. I love bats and I have had pipistrelles flying around me, though not in these numbers!
We have pipistrelles at our house, too, Andrea — very cute little tiny bats. And yes, one or two or three, but not dozens and dozens. I’m happy you enjoyed the bat post, thanks so much for your visit.
Amazing photos. It never occurred to me that bats would feast on nectar feeders – or even be able to… RH
Me either, RH. So not only did we have the surprise of the long-tongued bats drinking nectar at the feeders here, we also learned (and saw) a daytime bat on the trail. They eat the insects that occur during the day. Glad to have piqued your interest, RH, thank you for stopping by.
I’ve always been a bit leery of being close to bats, as I read that they can become tangled up in one’s hair. Horrible thought! 😯 If you say that the experience was “heavenly”, I guess I’ll take your word for it. That little face does look kinda cute. though. 🙂
The bat-tangled-in-the-hair myth terrified many of us for decades, but I am happy to say it has never happened to me and there’s been plenty of chances for it. I think it’s from the days when bats were considered evil and disgusting. Fortunately bats are revered now, I am happy to say. Thanks so much Sylvia, I appreciate your visits and comments.
I’m happy to know it’s just a myth. 🙂 I have been in a cave where there were bats nesting, and nothing happened. They were very high up though.
A brave success, Sylvia. Many thanks~~
Beautifull ❤
Thank you Little Things for commenting, and thank you for stopping by. 🙂
I love bats but they are in my bad books for pinching every single mango off my tree this year despite my efforts to deter them.
Hopefully they enjoyed the mangos….
That must have been thrilling! I love bats, but sadly our little brown bats have been decimated by white-nose fungus, an immeasurable loss. Glad to see these Trinidadian bats are in good shape!
It was, indeed, absolutely thrilling, Eliza. I’m sorry to hear your bat population has been decimated, as it has in so many places in the U.S. It’s a tragic development. Both state and federal agencies are working really hard on combatting the white-nose syndrome. Yes, it is great that Trinidad still has a healthy population; and great that we got to be right in the middle of it. If you are missing bats, now you know where to go. Wonderful to see you here, thanks for stopping by.
You know my fear of bats…so your words “bats,” “rodents”,”long-tongued bats,” and “intimidating,” outweighed “enjoying,” “very important workhorses,” “thrill,” and “heavenly.” Interesting how fear trumps perception. Thanks for trying, though! 😉
This is a great read. I love all wildlife though I must admit when I was young and found myself surrounded by a crowd/flock/GANG of bats, I didn’t like it one little bit. I am trying to love them though.
Bats are wonderful wildlife for so many reasons, I am glad you’re trying to love them, Helen. And wonderful to “see” you here, thanks so much for your visit and comment.
I like bats and feel so sorry that people in Ohio, Kentucky and this area have somehow given them germs, they call it white nosed bat syndrome. They are gentle creatures and a few times my son had to us my potholders to capture ones coming into my attic when I was a single mom. This was sweet, Jet. Smiles, Robin
Thank you, Robin. Yes, the white-nosed bat syndrome is a problem, a big one; but scientists and citizen scientists are dedicated to rectifying the situation and helping our beautiful bats to survive and reproduce. Let’s keep our fingers crossed….