How to Survey and Study Bats in Woodlands

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

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the conservation status of bats in the UK, the threats they face and the legislation designed to protect them.
• Appreciate the importance of protecting and restoring woodland habitats for bat conservation, both in the UK and globally.
• Understand the particular challenges faced when trying to survey, study or promote conservation of bats in woodland habitats
• Describe and compare the strengths and weaknesses of acoustic methods and capture for surveying and studying bats
• Appreciate the limitations of using acoustic monitoring techniques to assess the diversity of bat communities in woodland habitats

This is not a training course in bat handling, but there may be limited opportunities to gain some handling experience. Anyone hoping to handle bats will need to have appropriate gloves and a currently valid rabies vaccination (i.e., most recent vaccination no more than four years before the course dates).

Who Should Attend? – This course is for adults 18+ (see FAQs).  The course is suited to anyone with an interest in bats and their conservation, including students, ecological consultants at all career levels, arborists and complete beginners.

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

Prior Knowledge – Some prior knowledge or experience of bats is an asset, but not a requirement.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no accommodation or meal facilities provided with this course. Refreshments (tea and coffee) will be available. 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.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

David Hill

David Hill taught ecology and conservation at the University of Sussex for 15 years before becoming a professor at the Wildlife Research Center of Kyoto University in Japan. He has been studying and surveying bats for almost 30 years and has extensive experience with a range of advanced techniques, including acoustic monitoring, capture and radio-tracking. Much of his research has involved the development and applications of the Autobat, an acoustic lure that greatly enhances bat capture. This device has enabled him to do research on the behaviour, ecology and conservation of elusive bat species in England and Japan that would not otherwise have been feasible. He has also tested the Autobat in many other countries, including Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan.

Example Timetable

This timetable is subject to change but should give an outline of what to expect.

Please arrive in time for the course to start promptly at 7:00 pm on the Friday evening. The course will end at 4:00 pm on Sunday. Please note - accommodation and meals are not included in the price of this course.

The course will involve a few kilometres of walking, some of it on rough terrain inside woodland - moderate levels of fitness and mobility are required.

Friday

• 7:00 pm - Introductions and classroom session covering: Methods for identifying bats in the hand
• 8:00 pm to 1 am - Field demonstration: Setting harp traps with acoustic lures and recording bat activity with bat detectors

Saturday

• 11:00 am - Classroom session covering: Bat conservation in the UK and beyond: the need for systematic surveys and Introduction to acoustic monitoring and species identification: potential and limitations
• 1:00 pm - Lunch – not included, please bring your own or use on-site cafe
• 2:00 pm - Classroom session covering: Capture as a method for surveying bats, Acoustic lures: development and applications
• 4:00 pm - Rest period (in preparation for night work) – refreshments and evening meal not included, please ensure you have organised your own meals.
• 7:00 pm - 1 am - Evening session - Field demonstration: Setting harp traps, mist net and acoustic lures and recording bat activity with bat detectors, Getting data from bats in the hand: Recording species, sex, age-class and release calls

Sunday

• 11:00 am - Classroom session covering: Applications of radio-tracking for studying and surveying bats, A regional survey of woodland bat diversity in the South West of England
• 1:00 pm - Lunch – not included, please bring your own or use on-site cafe
• 2:00 pm - Group discussion - Advantages and limitations of acoustic analysis vs capture
• 3:00 pm - Recap and final questions
• 4:00 pm - End of course

• 
  Expert Tuition

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 species
• Field excursions to apply new knowledge
• Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
• Clear objectives and progression
• Refreshments (tea and coffee)

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.

We would recommend when purchasing accommodation and/or travel you should take out your own insurance.

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.

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.

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.

What to bring:

• Notebook and pencil
• Lunch and refreshments
• Sensible footwear and warm and waterproof clothing for being outdoors
• Small bag to carry personal items
• Wellington boots
• Headtorch (preferably one with a red light setting)

Moderate levels of fitness and mobility are required to complete the two night-time field sessions, which will take place in woodland on the estate. Each night we will walk from the classroom to the site, spend about three hours there and then walk back. This will involve a few kilometres of walking each night, some on board-walks and some on rough terrain inside woodland.

If you have them:

• Bat detector
• Lightweight folding chair ( if you are happy to carry it)
• Flask for a warm drink