A Review of the Occurrence of Bats (Chiroptera) on Islands in the North East Atlantic and on North Sea Installations

Abstract

The bats recorded from Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, and North Sea installations are reviewed to the end of 2012. In total 12 species have been positively identified, while a considerable proportion of all records are sightings of unidentified bats. The largest number of species (8) has been recorded in Iceland, but the greatest number of individuals (180) has been found in Orkney. The most numerous species was Pipistrellus pipistrellus, which was only found in Orkney where summer roosts were recorded from 1994-2010. All other species have been recorded only as vagrants or stowaways. The next most common bats of European origin were Pipistrellus nathusii and Vespertilio murinus, while other European species included Eptesicus nilssonii, E. serotinus, Nyctalus leisleri, N. noctula, and Plecotus auritus. Four species of North American bats, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cinereus, Myotis lucifugus and M. septentrionalis, are of rare occurrence. The bat invasion on the Faroe Islands in 2010 is without precedence, when 70 observations of a minimum of 45 individuals were noted. Most bat observations in the study area occurred in the autumn, with fewer in the spring. Most observations were of single animals, but there were also multiple sightings of up to 12 individuals. There has been a marked increase in bat records in the past three decades. We discuss whether this is a real increase, or due to improved communications, increased public awareness, increased shipping, and / or the effects of climate change. All factors appear to be involved.

Spatial and temporal occurrence of bats in the southern North Sea area

“…There were no records in July until mid-August. The observed pattern of occurrence matches previous offshore monitoring studies in the German and Dutch North Sea (Hüppop & Hill 2016, Jonge Poerink et al 2013, Lagerveld et al 2014a, 2014b& 2015 and also corresponds to the findings of Boshamer & Bekker (2008), Petersen et al (2014) and Walter et al (2007).…”

“…Bats have also been observed during ship-based bird surveys in the North Sea and have been found on oil and gas platforms, ships and remote islands (Skiba et al 2007, Walter et al 2007, Boshamer and Bekker 2008, Petersen et al 2014. Recently a few ringing recoveries of Nathusius' pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) have shown that bats are able to cross the North Sea successfully 1 .…”

Bats at the southern North Sea in 2017 & 2018

“…Bats have also been observed during ship-based bird surveys in the North Sea and have been found on oil and gas platforms, ships and remote islands (Skiba et al 2007, Walter et al 2007, Boshamer & Bekker 2008, Petersen et al 2014. So far there have been eight recoveries of Nathusius' pipistrelles (Pipistrellus nathusii) which have shown that bats are able to cross the North Sea successfully.…”

Empty in summer, crowded during migration? Structure of assemblage, distribution pattern and habitat use by bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in a narrow, marine peninsula

“…Bats even visit islands that are completely devoid of local bats, such as when the hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus, visits small, treeless islands near the coast of California (Cryan and Brown 2007). There are also records of individual bats on islands far from their migratory pathways, probably as a result of strong winds pushing them off course (Petersen et al 2014). Some of these examples, however, might be the result of passive transport by humans, especially via ship cargoes (Constantine 2003;Petersen et al 2014).…”

“…There are also records of individual bats on islands far from their migratory pathways, probably as a result of strong winds pushing them off course (Petersen et al 2014). Some of these examples, however, might be the result of passive transport by humans, especially via ship cargoes (Constantine 2003;Petersen et al 2014).…”