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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris
@nzbatman.bsky.social
1K followers 620 following 430 posts
#Conservation #scicomm, passionate about #nzbats. Opinions my own. Repost/follows not endorsements. ❤️ #batspotting 🦇 #teampekapeka 🌳 #nzdotterel 🐥 #pestfreeAKL 🐀
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · Jan 5
🦇 It's not clear how many long-tailed bats are left, but when dusk falls, rural properties near Waiuku, on Auckland's southern border, become a pekapeka-tou-roa hotspot.

Read more at 1News: www.1news.co.nz/2025/01/05/s...

#nzbats #bats #aklbiodiversity #pestfreeakl 🦇
Study underway to learn if bats can be used as 'agricultural tool'
Researchers are studying whether the critically threatened pekapeka-tou-roa / long-tailed bat can be used as pest control on rural properties.
www.1news.co.nz
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Reposted by Ben Paris
yesthattallulah.bsky.social
Tallulah Cunningham @yesthattallulah.bsky.social · 3d
Running a little late but here I am back with #FatBatWeek extended.
This little lad is one of my favourite species – the NZ short-tailed bat, pollinator of the flower of Hades with frybread and a offbrand L&P.
@nzbatman.bsky.social @forestandbird.bsky.social @batcon.org
A little brown bat with pointy ears and a cheerful smile is perched on top of golden brown cubes of frybread. The plate the food is stacked on is based on Crown Lynn ware, a kiwi pottery. Behind the place is a parody of L &P, a local lemonade, but with the label change to read FBW in large yellow letters beneath which is fact that week and "batty good stuff 2025 quote on a red banner.
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Reposted by Ben Paris
drsabinemetzger.bsky.social
Dr. Sabine Metzger 🦇 @drsabinemetzger.bsky.social · 8d
🦇 Celebrate #BatAppreciationMonth with #WillEskridge @donutbat.bsky.social
youtube.com/shorts/bBaqM...
Day 3: the little long fingered bat #art #weirdart #bats #drawing
YouTube video by Will Eskridge
youtube.com
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 14d
Huge thanks to everyone who’s joined a walk, shared a bat story, or just gotten excited about these tiny nocturnal legends. Here’s to many more years of bat chats, bat detector demos, and late-night bat spotting 🦇

#NZbats #TeamPekapeka #ProjectEcho #FindingFranklinBats #batspotting #conservation
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 14d
Since then, I’ve been proudly waving the bat banner wherever I go—sometimes literally—and enabling others do the same. From late-night walks to community talks, it’s been a wild (or batty) ride... 🦇
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 14d
Today a social media memory popped up, reminding me that fifteen years ago, I started my bat journey in Hamilton, co-founding Project Echo to help people discover the amazing world of our native bats. We ran some bat walks at the Waikato Museum that surprisingly completely sold out... 🦇
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 24d
Colouring wharenui for #māorlanguageweek at Bunnings New Lynn
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 25d
It was great to meet Clare Cudmore-Neame and Catherine Budai in real life for the launch of Matt the Bat and the Bird of the Year at Remuera Library this morning to celebrate their book inspired by the true story of Forest & Bird’s #BirdOfTheYear 🦇
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Reposted by Ben Paris
besclimate.bsky.social
BES Climate Change @besclimate.bsky.social · Jul 6
Read our latest blog post by @laura-paltrinieri.bsky.social‬, whose research reveals how temperature and rainfall affect the body size of European bats. 🦇

Laura offers insights into their resilience, vulnerability, and what it means for conservation in a warming world. 🌍

bit.ly/3GsQunp
How is bat size affected by climate?
Author: Laura Paltrinieri, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid Global environmental change is one of the greatest challenges facing biodiversity. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patt…
besclimatechange.wordpress.com
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 25d
PS: make sure you check out the Matt the Bat and the Bat of the Year book inspired by a true story. The book launch is tomorrow 🦇 www.facebook.com/share/p/1A25...
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Reposted by Ben Paris
historyaotearoa.bsky.social
Thomas - HANZ @historyaotearoa.bsky.social · 26d
It’s not quite national telly but Ben also came onto HANZ to speak about pekapeka, probably my personal favoured BOTY episode! Give it a listen if you haven’t already! historyaotearoa.com/2021/10/23/7...
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
Even in 2025, our precious pekapeka still gets a mention for winning the Bird of the Year competition. Was it all worth it? You bet!

All the best to this year’s campaigners—may the best (actual) bird win!

#birdoftheyear #teampekapeka #NZBats #campaigning #elections
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
Suddenly, I was in my infant daughter’s bedroom, broadcasting live on national television and giving interviews about why I believed bats deserved to be in the competition. It all seems surreal now, but it was a rollercoaster ride in more ways than one.
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
Campaigning for Bird of the Year gave me a sense of connection—not just to the rest of NZ, but, it turns out, to the world. What started with me hoping to raise awareness for bats quickly turned into a surge of strong interest from people from all walks of life, wanting to help the pekapeka.
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
It was a strange and challenging time for me personally—having just been plunged into a COVID lockdown shortly after the birth of our second child, juggling working from home in a brand new senior role at council, all while being isolated without the support of family networks.
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
As Bird of the Year in Aotearoa swings into full campaign mode for 2025, I found myself reflecting on my time as the pekapeka spokesperson during the one (and only) time a bat was allowed in the competition 🦇
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
📣 It was so great to be a bat cheerleader for Ana last night as she talked at the Auckland Zoological Society about the benefits of an undergraduate student attending the @ibrc2025.bsky.social conference last month, including meeting her hero Merlin Tuttle 🦇 #ibrc2025
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nzbatman.bsky.social
Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 26d
Make sure you vote y’all #voteAKL
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Reposted by Ben Paris
smcnz.bsky.social
Science Media Centre NZ @smcnz.bsky.social · 29d
Three hoiho were killed in fisheries incidents in the last quarter. An emergency set net fishing ban to protect the rare penguin—the 2024 Bird of the Year—comes into effect at 5 pm today.

Fishing net ban to protect hoiho – Expert Reaction www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2025/09/16/f...
Fishing net ban to protect hoiho - Expert Reaction
An emergency set net fishing ban to protect yellow-eyed penguins around the Otago Peninsula begins at 5 pm today. The three-month ban follows a voluntary closure by set-net fishers last week and earl...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
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Reposted by Ben Paris
marcdaalder.bsky.social
Marc Daalder @marcdaalder.bsky.social · Sep 14
Ahead of the start of #BirdOfTheYear tomorrow, I've made a Bluesky feed which should gather all #boty content. Feel free to like/pin it! @forestandbird.bsky.social

bsky.app/profile/did:...
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Reposted by Ben Paris
littlewingbathaven.bsky.social
🦇Little Wing Bat Haven @littlewingbathaven.bsky.social · Sep 14
The Guardian Australia, 15/9/2025
“Scientists fear this ‘cute’ and ‘chonky’ flying fox could be one cyclone away from extinction”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
#bats #🦇
Scientists fear this ‘cute’ and ‘chonky’ flying fox could be one cyclone away from extinction
Christmas Island flying fox numbers have declined as endangered species left without recovery plan
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Ben Paris
drsabinemetzger.bsky.social
Dr. Sabine Metzger 🦇 @drsabinemetzger.bsky.social · Sep 11
🦇
docs41.bsky.social
Gary Williamson @docs41.bsky.social · Sep 9
✨ I wish more people knew… bats are working for YOU. 🦇

From mosquito-free summer nights to tequila, bananas, and even chocolate—bats quietly make our lives way better (and cheaper).

The bottom line? Protect bats, protect your fun! 🍹🍫

👉 Swipe through for 5 selfish reasons to love bats.

(Deutsch)
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Reposted by Ben Paris
gbatnet.bsky.social
Global Union of Bat Diversity Networks @gbatnet.bsky.social · Sep 1
2027 is going to be THE YEAR OF THE BATS!

A global celebration of the world’s only flying mammals and the vital roles they play in our ecosystems.

ENTER NOW!
www.yearofthebats.org
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Reposted by Ben Paris
drsabinemetzger.bsky.social
Dr. Sabine Metzger 🦇 @drsabinemetzger.bsky.social · Sep 10
🦇 "New study reveals link between complex migration patterns and risk of collision for North America's most vulnerable tree-roosting bats."
www.batcon.org/press/wander...
Wandering Migrations Increase Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Sites - Bat Conservation International
New study reveals link between complex migration patterns and risk of collision for North America's most vulnerable tree-roosting bats.
www.batcon.org
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Reposted by Ben Paris
batconservation.bsky.social
Bat Conservation Trust @batconservation.bsky.social · Sep 10
🦇 More than echolocation: Bats use both sight and sound to hunt more efficiently in light: www.izw-berlin.de/en/press-rel...
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Reposted by Ben Paris
athena42.bsky.social
Rose-Ann @athena42.bsky.social · Sep 6
Islands as museums of biodiversity and drivers of evolutionary change - keynote talk by Riccardo Rocha at #NatBatConf
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