Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic data 2013-2015

We examined habitat use and foraging activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), as well as nocturnal aerial insect abundance at Kaloko-Honōkohau National Historical Park located in the coastal region of Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island. The study area covers approximately 486 ha of marine waters and terrestrial coastal plains. Hawaiian hoary bat echolocation vocalizations were recorded at seven acoustic stations between 1 and 10 m above sea level, that operated nightly from November 2013 through February 2015. This data set includes data derived from these acoustic recording stations. Each acoustic recording station was comprised of an acoustic recording unit (SM2Bat+ Song Meter Digital Field Recorder, Wildlife Acoustics, Concord, MA) programmed to record between 10 and 100 kHz. Each recording unit was deployed in a waterproof housing and powered by a 6 V external battery with solar panel for recharging. An ultrasonic microphone (SMX-US, Wildlife Acoustics, Concord, MA) was mounted on a pole 2 to 3 m above the ground and connected by cable to the recording unit. Upon detection of a vocalizing bat, recording was triggered, and a call file was stored with the corresponding date and time on a secure digital (SD) memory card. SD memory cards were replaced every 2-3 months during which times quality checks on microphones were also made. Each recording unit was configured to operate from one hour before local sunset until one hour after local sunrise.