Activity Patterns and Roost Selection by Noctilio albiventris (Chiroptera: Noctilionidae) in Costa Rica

Using radiotracking and direct observation we documented activity patterns and roost selection of Noctilio albiventris at the Estación Experimental Enrique Jiménez Nuñez near Cañas, Costa Rica. Bats with radiotransmitters showed little consistency in their use of foraging areas. Observations of captive and free-flying animals suggested that time away from the roosts represented foraging time. Individual bats showed considerable variation in both foraging time and numbers of foraging bouts per night, but total time away from the roost usually averaged 120 min/night. Bats with radiotransmitters roosted in hollow trees and, although most used the same roosts repeatedly, some changed roosts during the study period.