Tits turn vampire on bats

The tit is often considered a friendly guest in gardens throughout Britain, but it has been discovered that in Hungary the birds have a darker side as they are predators that actively hunt hibernating bats and eat them.

They turn to predators that seek flesh is thought to be caused due to a lack of the normal dietary needs that tits seek.

Tits were first found to be seeking out bats in the North Eastern sector of Hungary when it was observed that the tits waited until they heard bat calls and then flew into the caves where they lay and began to peck at the bats.

The question for scientists is whether this is an isolated group of tits developing the predatory behaviour or if other tits around Europe facing a lack of dietary options are also changing the variety of food they eat.

The research was carried out by the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany with leader Peter Estok in charge.

Estok reported in total out of the 22 days the tits were observed 16 bats were hunted and killed by the tits. He said that several of the bat carcasses were found severely mutated and added that he had never seen birds seek bats as food before.

Interestingly enough, when scraps of bacon and sunflower seeds were left near the caves nearby the tits did not pursue the bats any longer.

Bring back the silver foil topped milk bottle.