Newsletter
Sign up to receive updates on important developments in nature conservation, the industry and ESS Ecology
Unsubscribe »Client Login
ESS staff on Bat Course
Two ESS Ecology staff recently attended a four day course "Bat Ecology and Survey Techniques" in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, organised by bat specialists from Echoes Ecology. ESS Ecology has a programme of continuing professional development for its staff and aims to continuously improve the quality and scope of its services and is committed to continual professional development of its staff.
Set in the rich landscape of southern Dumfries and Galloway, the course's location is perfect for its purpose - the Threave Estate and its surroundings harbour most of the bat species occurring in Scotland - providing staff with the opportunity to expand their knowledge on otherwise scarce species such as Noctule and Leisler's bat.
This course is aimed at individuals and organisations who wish to gain a more in depth understanding of bats, their habitat requirements and the various survey methods that can be used. A good deal of effort was put into bat survey design, roost surveys, bats and the law, the safe operation of trapping equipment (e.g. Harp traps) and catching and handling. Ample time was scheduled in for nightly surveys of Noctules and Brown long-eared bats using bat detectors and recording equipment. These recordings were then used the following day during lectures providing instant feedback.
Other topics that were covered included bat echolocation and social calls as these apply to the species residing in the UK, the recording of sound files (frequency division and time expansion) and the interpretation of recordings using sound analysis software (e.g. Batsound, Anabat). Anabat is a system designed to help users identify and survey bats by detecting and analysing their echolocation calls. It carries a strong emphasis on passive detection, in which the detector is used as a logging device to monitor bat activity in the absence of human intervention. ESS Ecology owns several Anabat systems which are deployed in conjunction with more traditional bat survey methods such as the use of bat detectors along line transects - thus providing clients with an extensive, robust assessment of bat activity on development sites.