Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: CliffordK on 24/07/2013 19:22:04

Title: Why can bats find their way out of a house, and birds can't?
Post by: CliffordK on 24/07/2013 19:22:04

I don't have screens on all of my windows.  Last night I heard a fluttering in the house and noticed a bat flying in circles.  I started thinking that I didn't want to try to catch it or chase it out of the house, but a few minutes later it disappeared.

Birds, on the other hand seem to become trapped in a house, and have to be caught or chased out.

What is the difference?

Are the bats just smarter than the birds?

Or is a closed window opaque to a bat, and transparent to a bird, whereas an open window is so much different when viewed by echolocation?

Title: Re: Why can bats find their way out of a house, and birds can't?
Post by: JP on 24/07/2013 22:36:33

Closed windows should be fairly visible to a bat's sonar, since they're designed to be transparent to light, not to sound.  (The fact that you can close a window to muffle outdoor sounds demonstrates this, whereas closing a window doesn't really block much light. 

Title: Re: Why can bats find their way out of a house, and birds can't?
Post by: alancalverd on 25/07/2013 01:15:44

Depends on the bird, and how it got into the house. I have swallows nesting in my workshop, and they come and go through quite a small vent, but sparrows that enter by chance through the door or window don't know where to look for the exit if their entrance gets closed.