Bats: Ecology, Conservation and Surveying- HAU

Britain hosts a diverse array of 18 bat species united by common threats: diminishing food supplies, loss of natural habitats, and scarcity of safe roosting sites. Despite their crucial roles in pest control, seed dispersal, and maintaining ecological balance, bats are increasingly under threat. Protected under UK legislation, these nocturnal mammals embody a critical yet vulnerable component of biodiversity, underscoring the need for informed conservation strategies. This course is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of bat ecology, the techniques for their identification and surveying, and the frameworks in place for their protection. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, learners appreciate the complex interactions between bats and their environments and the significance of bats in broader ecological and conservation contexts.

By the end of the course, you will be able to: 

• Demonstrate skills in the identification of UK bat species using visual and auditory diagnostic features and apply surveying techniques to monitor populations.
• Critically evaluate the ecological roles of bats within UK ecosystems and analyse the complex conservation challenges they face.
• Assess habitat requirements and threats to bat species in various environments, proposing evidence-based management and conservation strategies to enhance bat populations while also acknowledging the legal framework protecting bats.

Who Should Attend? – Nature enthusiasts, students, rangers, early career consultants and ecologists. This intermediate level course is open to anyone with some existing knowledge of the subject. This course is for those aged 18 and over only.
(You do not need to be a Harper Adams University student to attend this course).

Knowledge Level – Intermediate. Level descriptors can be found on the following web-page: Framework and Course Level Descriptors .

Accommodation and meals

There are three booking options which all include course tuition, evening meals and refreshments:

• Non-Resident (breakfast and lunch not included)
• Resident (Sole Occupancy)
• Resident (Shared room- please email [email protected] to inquire about this option)

If you choose a resident booking, this includes accommodation on Friday night and Saturday night, and meals throughout the course: an evening meal on the Friday and Saturday, and breakfast and packed lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

If you choose a non-resident booking, this includes an evening meal on the Friday and Saturday before the evening session. Please bring your own packed lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Please note that bathrooms may be shared for accommodation bookings.

If we are unable to reach viable numbers for this course, we will inform you of the course cancellation 4-5 weeks prior to the course run. We would recommend when purchasing accommodation and/or travel you should take out your own insurance.

Bookings will close if course capacity is reached. 

Paul Howden-Leach

Paul has been a professional bat ecologist for over 20 years. His work takes him all over the world running training courses and workshops for academics, wildlife consultants and volunteers specialising in animal bioacoustics.

Interested in becoming a HAU student?

You can find out more about the Biological Recording and Analysis programme here.

Existing HAU Biological Recording and Analysis Students

This 2.5 day course is one of your optional modules. You will be asked to choose your modules through HAU, and then you will book your accommodation and meal options through the Field Studies Council via an online form we will share with HAU.

If are a student and need more information about this course or the booking process, please email [email protected].

The summative assessment for this module will be set by HAU and will be completed and marked after the course.

Example Timetable

Please note that this course is currently being developed for 2025 as part of the Harper Adams University ‘Biological Recording and Analysis’ course, so there may be small changes to the example timetable outlined below. If there are any changes, we will inform participants.

Friday

• 1pm - Course begins. Meet and greet, basic bat biology, introduction to bat detectors
• 6pm - Dinner
• 7pm - Evening session- Using bat detectors, basic bat walk or survey of the building

Saturday

• 10am - 5pm Morning: Bat echolocation biology, legislation, survey methods and techniques, planning a survey. Afternoon: Daytime bat survey, night vision equipment, survey planning and design, data analysis
• 6pm - Dinner
• 7pm - Evening session - Bat transect.

Sunday

• 10am - 5pm Morning: Bat data analysis, mitigation, licencing. Afternoon: Discussion and scenarios

Lunch will likely be in the field, so please make sure you make yourself a packed lunch at the centre if you choose a residential booking, or bring a packed lunch with you if you choose a non-residential booking.

• 
  Expert Tuition
• 
  Free Wi-Fi

The course has been carefully created by expert tutors and educators to help you build your knowledge and apply it within the field surrounded by like-minded individuals.

The course includes:

• Classroom learning covering the theory of the topic
• Field excursions to apply new knowledge
• Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
• Clear objectives and progression
• Refreshments (tea/coffee)

If you choose a resident booking, this includes accommodation on Friday night and Saturday night, and meals throughout the course: an evening meal on the Friday and Saturday, and breakfast and packed lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

If you choose a non-resident booking, this includes an evening meal on the Friday and Saturday before the evening session. Please bring your own packed lunch on Saturday and Sunday.

You can rest assured that the absolute best content from an expert in environmental education will be provided. In choosing a Field Studies Council course, you will be joining thousands of people who learn with us each year.

Natural History Bursaries

There are a number of natural history bursaries available to help with the cost of your course. To find out if you and your chosen course are eligible, read more here.

Student Discount

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off all Biodiversity courses.

What to Bring

• Notebook and pencil
• Walking shoes/boots
• Waterproofs
• A good torch and batteries
• Camera and binoculars if you have them
• Any field guide book you may have
• Notebook and pencils
• Good torch/head torch
• Bat detector (if you have one)
• Headphones
• Hand lens (if you have one)
• Laptop (if you have one)
• Small bag to carry personal items
• A vacuum flask/drink bottle and a bag or a box for carrying a packed lunch.

Recommended Literature

Please note that the recommended or mandatory literature has not yet been set for this course. We will update this web-page and email anyone already booked if there are any changes.

• Field Studies Council guide  Bats Guide
• Bats – Waters, D & Warren, R – The Mammal Society
• The Bat Detective. A Field Guide for Bat Detection (with CD) – Briggs, B & King, D – Batbox Ltd.
• A Guide to British Bats – Jones, K & Walsh, A – FSC (fold-out guide)
• Bats. From Evolution to Conservation – Altringham, J.D – Oxford University Press
• Bats of Britain and Europe – Dietz, C & Kiefer, A – Bloomsbury

There will be a member of staff with first aid training and access to a first aid kit on site. If you have special medical or access requirements, please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan the course.