Somerset Bat Group Newsletter early June 19 – Surveys, surveys, surveys …

Hi fellow nocturnal people!

It is the batty time of year, with lots of bats out, and activities going on.

The group has successfully checked the Bat Boxes in Taunton and on the Avalon Marshes, with young Natterers pups again been found in a Box on Catcott. Photos here: – https://somersetbat.group/2019/05/26/cattcot-may19/. Adel also led another great Bat walk at Darshill, Shepton, with many locals and Lesser Horseshoe and Serotines putting on a good show.

We are now firmly in the Roost survey season, so do keep an eye on our facebook group, for requests for help.

In this newsletter we have lots of information (copied below) from the BCT:

A exciting opportunity for us in the SW to take part in the second pilot of the brand new British Bat Survey. With only 40 places available throughout the SW, let’s get our requests in early and make sure Somerset is well represented!
The latest Bat Group Bulletin, with lots of survey information
A update on the National Bat Monitoring Program

If interested in the technology behind the British Bat Survey, you might like to know that the Audiomoth recorder which is being used is now available to buy (for another 25 days) in another round of collective buying. The device has limitations currently, but shows promise, and best of all is only $65 USD delivered

Our next newsletter will have more details of the Field Surveys that start in July, until then good batting!

Andy
Membership Sec. Somerset Bat Group
https://somersetbat.group

Web link = https://somersetbat.group/bats/nbmp/bbs/

From: British Bat Survey <BritishBatSurvey@bats.org.uk>
Subject: British Bat Survey – We need you!

Dear Bat Group,

BCT are excited to announce the launch of a new citizen science survey, the British Bat Survey!

The British Bat Survey utilises the latest developments in bat detector design, automated call recognition and interactive volunteer feedback to provide an unparalleled level of detail about our resident bat species. This is already revolutionising our ability to monitor and conserve bats.

This year we will be trialling the survey in SW Britain and to make this survey a success we need your help. The method is simple, we would like you to use an AudioMoth detector to survey a single location for as many non-consecutive nights as possible between the 1st July and 11th August 2019. All you will need is a computer. BCT will provide you with an AudioMoth, will process your recordings, and at the end of the survey we will send you a list of all the bat passes and species that you have detected.

This is a great opportunity to borrow an AudioMoth for the summer, find out more about the bat species using a location near you, and help shape the development of a world leading citizen science survey.

As only 40 AudioMoths are available we would like to like to invite bat group members to take part before we open up participation to the wider public next week, so please act quickly to secure an AudioMoth.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Any questions? Please contact us at britishbatsurvey@bats.org.uk.

Regards, Sonia
Sonia Reveley, Project Officer

Click here for the May Bat Group Bulletin – https://somersetbat.group/about/bct-info/

NBMP News

The NBMP summer survey season is getting into gear with the Roost Count already starting. One way you could assist would be to get in touch with your members to see if they are looking for any help with their counts, such as assistance counting different exit points or help with identifying species at roosts. This could give you an opportunity to match them with other members of the group who do not have their own roost to survey. It would also be great if you could once more encourage members to take part in various NBMP surveys, perhaps by emailing the group something along the lines of:”The National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) survey season is up and running with the Roost Count starting earlier this week. The Roost Count is an emergence survey which requires no previous experience to take part in. If you know of a new roost which you would like to monitor you can do this by signing up to the NBMP at https://nbmp.bats.org.uk/Surveys.aspx, volunteering for the Roost Count and adding a new roost. Volunteers who have already signed up for the Roost Count should have either received an email instructing them to download their survey materials online, or have received their survey packs in the post. You should contact BCT at nbmp@bats.org.uk if this is not the case. If you would like assistance counting bats at a roost or identifying the species then let me know and I can try to arrange this.Over the last couple of days BCT have also been sending out survey materials to volunteers signed up for the Field Survey. There is still time to sign up to this transect survey which helps monitor pipistrelle, noctule and serotine populations. You can either select a site near you to survey or have one randomly allocated to you. More information can be found at www.bats.org.uk/our-work/national-bat-monitoring-programme/surveys/field-survey. “I hope this is useful – I was hoping to get this email out before the survey period started, but as I’m sure is the case with many of you, May and the start of June have been quite busy!If you have any queries please do let me know.

Best Wishes,

David Williamson

NBMP Survey Co-ordinator

Bat Conservation Trust
Quadrant House, 250 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5RD
Direct Line: 020 7820 7166

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