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We’re looking for volunteers to help gather data about the movement and habitat of bat populations across North Somerset.
If you’ve ever taken a stroll at sunset, chances are that you’ve spotted a bat.
These creatures can live up to 40 years and provide a vital service by munching on pest insects as they flitter and dart across the night sky.
We’re supporting the Great North Somerset Bat Project, a collaborative initiative co-ordinated by the University of Bath’s Bat Conservation Research Lab, made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This citizen science project depends on local volunteers to collect important data on bats, including internationally protected species like the greater and lesser horseshoe bats.
The data will feed into cutting-edge research and conservation planning to protect these incredible nocturnal mammals.
It’s vital to understand the species of bats we have locally, and how best to support them in decisions about development.
Registration will open soon. Find out more on the Bat Conservation Research lab website.
Once signed up, you can select a square-kilometre survey site from a map.
You’ll then borrow a bat acoustic detector, place it in your chosen area for six nights to record bat activity and upload your recordings to our online portal.
The detector is triggered automatically by high-frequency sounds, so that every bat that passes through during the six nights will be recorded by the detector’s microphone, time-stamped and located by grid reference.
Different bat species produce unique sounds that can be identified using a computer program.
The project is simple, fun, makes a real impact and is a fantastic way to connect with your local environment.