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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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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

Dr. Sabine Metzger 🦇 @drsabinemetzger.bsky.social · 3d

🦇 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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 8d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 8d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 8d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 18d

Colouring wharenui for #māorlanguageweek at Bunnings New Lynn

Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 19d

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

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

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

Thomas - HANZ @historyaotearoa.bsky.social · 20d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

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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Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 20d

📣 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

Ben Paris @nzbatman.bsky.social · 21d

Make sure you vote y’all #voteAKL

Reposted by Ben Paris

Science Media Centre NZ @smcnz.bsky.social · 23d

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

Marc Daalder @marcdaalder.bsky.social · 25d

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

🦇Little Wing Bat Haven @littlewingbathaven.bsky.social · 24d

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

Dr. Sabine Metzger 🦇 @drsabinemetzger.bsky.social · 27d

🦇

Gary Williamson @docs41.bsky.social · 29d

✨ 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

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

Dr. Sabine Metzger 🦇 @drsabinemetzger.bsky.social · 28d

🦇 "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...