Data on seasonal dynamics of bat activity in central Europe are scarce, mostly restricted to either summer period or autumn swarming. Few studies provide extensive interspecific comparisons of temporal activity patterns. Through broadband ultrasound detection, temporal variation of flight activity was studied in seven insectivorous bat species in N Poland for the first time. Seasonal activity pattern ofMyotis daubentonii (Kuhl, 1817) was clearly bimodal with the higher peak of activity in April and the second, smaller peak in August–September. The first peak is possibly associated with post-hibernal restoration of fat reserves, while the second one might result either from pre-hibernal fat accumulation, increase in energy demands of males during spermatogenesis or from dispersal of newly weaned juveniles. The highest flight activity ofNyctalus, Eptesicus andPipistrellus bats was noted in summer months, reflecting mainly an increase in energy demands between pregnancy and lactation. However, a distinct, second peak in activity ofN. noctula appeared at the end of September, probably matching the late migration wave of individuals from E Europe. The cluster analysis of species’ activity patterns reflected division on different hunting tactics, but not migratory behaviour.
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