Readying for the migration ahead, she tongues oily secretions over every bit of her flight equipment. A bat's wings are essentially enormous webbed hands. Elongated finger bones providing the struts to unfold and manipulate the flight membranes. 

 

As dusk settles, the migration begins. For little bats, wings spreading three feet tip to tip,blacken the skies with their departure.

 

Tonight, they have to travel many miles with their newly winged young. And inexperience on the wing will prove deadly.  

 

Parenting is risky business. Migrants around the world will risk everything for the next generation. But before you can breed, you must earn the right. And in Africa, one species readies for battle