Anja Murray: 'Hang out' with bats — they're fascinating creatures

There are lots of bat walks and talks taking place this month... links below

Common Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) hunting at twilight: In Ireland, we have nine species of bats, all of which eat only insect prey

Bats are one of my favourite animals. At least part of their appeal is the extraordinary ways in which bats have evolved to fill unique ecological niches, by way of traits that have fascinated evolutionary biologists for centuries.

Bats are the only group of mammals that have developed the ability to fly. As mammals, they have hands that are not dissimilar to a human hand, though four of the fingers are elongated with a wing membrane stretched between them. Watching bats at dusk it becomes quickly apparent how agile they are in flight, manoeuvring with precision as they navigate through the gaps between tree canopies and swerving to snatch up insect prey.