National Bat Monitoring in Somerset

BCT have issued updated advice regarding NBMP which is on the BCT website.

Many members of the Somerset Bat Group take part in the National Bat Monitoring Program NBMP run by the Bat Conservation Trust. 

Over the past years SBG members have contributed much time and effort to collect data for the following national programs:

Sunset-Sunrise Survey – April to Sept

Anyone can take part in these, and everyone is encouraged to!  Taking part in the Sunset-Sunrise Survey couldn’t be simpler, you don’t need any equipment or experience and you may not even need to leave your back garden! Simply spend the hour after sunset and/or the hour before sunrise in your garden or local open space and look for any bats or other nocturnal animals you can spot.
You can carry out your survey anytime from April to September. This period is when bats are most active.
Between June and August is the best time to see them swarming as they return to the roost.

  • You will need:  Survey form, Pencil/pen, Torch, Watch

NBMP Roost Counts – June

Counting the numbers of bats emerging from roosts at sunset on two evenings during the summer survey period (mostly June).  Lots of opportunities to help survey existing roosts, or take on a new one.

Nightwatch – June to August

NightWatch is a new community science project that uses cutting-edge technology to discover the hidden world of night-time wildlife living alongside us.  Grab a NightWatch pack and detect hidden bats flying past using the ‘AudioMoth’ ultrasonic recorder included in your pack. On the same night, spend an hour over sunset watching and listening for nighttime wildlife from your garden, balcony or window. NightWatch is for everyone, no experience is needed!

The NightWatch survey runs from June until August.  Click here for more details.

The pilot for this project the British Bat Survey ran the 2019 pilot in the South West.

NBMP Field Survey – July

Monitoring a randomly allocated 1km square on two evenings in July.   There are several survey routes up for grabs.

NBMP Waterway Survey – August

Recording how Daubenton’s bat populations are doing by walking a route along a 1km stretch of water randomly allocated on two visits in August.  Lots of opportunities to get involved 

Surveys led by licenced Bat workers

NBMP Hibernation Survey

Licenced bat workers count bats in hibernation roosts in January and February each year.   Click to see results

NBMP Woodland Survey

Monitoring Barbastelles at sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

National Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Survey

This project aims to determine the resident status, breeding status and migratory origins of Nathusius’ pipistrelle in Great Britain

Past NBMP projects

Bats in Churches – July

One thousand priority churches were randomly selected for this study between 2019 and 2022. Find out more.

NBMP Annual Results and Reports

Every year a NBMP Annual Report is produced, presenting species population trends based on data from the previous summer.  The report is available here.

2021

2019

2018

2017