Expanded animal habitats: introduction of two bat caves in Munich
Unleashing the Night: Munich's Stealthy Bats Find a New Home
Catch a glimpse of Munich's stealthy inhabitants – eight species of bats, to be exact! These enigmatic creatures are making their home in the city, particularly in Bogenhausen and the Au. But you'll likely never see them during your daytime strolls because they're most active in the cover of darkness. Plus, their ultrasonic calls are inaudible to the human ear. Fairy tale-like, huh?
Not so secret bat parks
The word's out about the upcoming bat parks in the city. While the exact location for the one in the Au remains hush-hush, the project is spearheaded by the Landesbund für Vogelschutz (LBV). This project is funded by the municipal environmental protection department and the Rosner&Seidl foundation. The LBV's laboratory in Bogenhausen is getting a facelift, creating a small bat park within their grounds. The project kicked off at the start of 2024.
Partnering with the garden department, two existing green spaces are being transformed to cater to bat-friendly habitats. For example, a flower meadow featuring bat-friendly seeds has already been planted in a park that previously lacked flower-visiting insects – a favorite snack for Munich's bats. In Bogenhausen, the garden department is busy creating a wet depression and assembling deadwood piles in the green area. They've also put up boxes in August, both large all-year-round boxes for the animals to overwinter and around 50 smaller sleeping, staying, and raising offspring boxes. Even normal bird nest boxes are included to minimize competition for living quarters – bats and birds sometimes share the same box types.
Bats on the radar
Regular surveys are conducted alongside the project. Volunteer helpers armed with bat detectors patrol the parks at dusk and dawn, recording countless calls. This vast dataset is currently being analyzed. Already, it appears that both parks are home to the pipistrelle and the white-throated or big brown bat, whose calls are hard to distinguish. The water bat has also been confirmed in the Au. The LBV predicts that call analysis could uncover more species.
Sharing the Love for Munich's Bats
The project aims to spread knowledge about Munich's bat species and increase appreciation for these elusive nighttime hunters. Information signs and guided tours for park visitors are planned. The parks are expected to open to the public in the summer of 2025.
On the Fringes:
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Stay tuned for more updates about Munich's bat parks as they become available! In the meantime, for the latest information on projects and initiatives related to bat conservation, consider reaching out to local environmental organizations or conservation groups focusing on bats.
- By the start of 2025, locals and visitors in Munich will have access to bat parks, transforming home-and-garden spaces into environmental-science projects aimed at providing habitats for bats, as part of the city's commitment to the protection and preservation of urban wildlife, such as the pipistrelle, white-throated or big brown bat, and water bat.
- In the spirit of science and lifestyle, interested individuals can participate in guided tours and volunteer activities in the parks, learning about the city's eight bat species and their role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem while enhancing their appreciation for these fascinating nocturnal creatures that call Munich their home.
