July 2021 – Currently the advice below still stands, we are awaiting undated guidance to Bat Groups from the BCT.
The SBG committee met in Feb21, and decided to pencil in some dates for latter in 2021, but not to publish these until we were confident these could go ahead.
On 1st July 2020, the Bat Group made the following update on future events:
- We will be carrying out some acoustic surveys on an individual or small group basis this summer. This includes the NBMP Field and Waterways Surveys and possibly Landscape surveys. These will be done according to the guidance issued by the BCT.
- As none of the bat groups work can be considered “essential”, we will not be carrying out any events that involve possible contact with bats. This includes, bat box checks, trapping, internal roost or cave visits. This is in line with DEFRA’s guidance to the BCT, which is guided by the IUCN advice, that there is a “credible risk” of human to bat Covid-19 transmission. This is likely to be the situation for the foreseeable future.
(Note: Bat Care has separate guidance, and continues.) - We will not be holding any public events in 2020. This includes bat walks, talks, advice or training events. This is due to the uncertainty of what restrictions will be in place over the coming months, and also because many of the groups key organisers have reasons to remain shielded.
National Bat Monitoring Programs
29/5/20 – BCT have issued updated advice regarding which NBMP surveys can be undertaken, more details here.
For many years, lots of group members have collected and contributed data to these national monitoring programs run by the BCT. Each survey site is allocated to a experienced bat worker, and in many cases they need lots of help. Hence there any many opportunities learn more while doing you bit to help bat conservation.
The surveys happen at the same time every year, so watch out for the emails and facebook messages nearer the time for details of when, where and who the lead contact is:
July – NBMP Field Surveys
- Monitoring noctule, serotine, common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle.
- Two 1km recording walks, starting 20mins after sunset. – more details
August – NBMP Waterways Surveys
- Monitoring activity of Daubenton’s bats along Somersets waterways.
- Two waterside recording walks, starting 40mins after sunset – more details
12th Aug – 25th Sept+ – Mendips Swarming project
Group member Lewis Hillier is organising a 2021 survey using recording devices at the entrances of Mendip caves, with the hope of tracking swarming behavior of myotis species.
In except from his post on the SBG facebook page Lewis said:
I’m looking for volunteers to help with the deployment/collection, and as much of the data analysis as you’d like to. I’m hoping that this data will inform a future trapping project where we can gather further data on species assemblage at the sites of interest.
On the 12th August 2021 at 6pm I will be doing a Zoom session to give a more detailed introduction about the project, talk about how to use the audiomoths and discuss how it will all work. This doesn’t mean you have to help, you can just listen in and see what its all about.
– On the 21st August we will deploy the Audiomoths for the first session.
– Then the 25th September we will deploy them again for the second session.Collection of audiomoths can happen any time after 5 days of them being in the field.
If you’re interested, please email me – lewishillierecologist@gmail.com
Tues 24th August 2021 – Wells BAT WALK
Dave’s hugely popular Bat walk round the Bishops Palace moat for the local SWT group. Members welcome to help, email Dave for details. 8PM start.
Sat 4TH Sept 2021 – Brent Knoll BAT WALK
Public event for St. Michaels Church. Members welcome to help – email Dave for details, and to offer to assist.
Fri 17TH Sept 2021 – GLASTONBURY BAT WALK
Public event for the Rural Life Museum. Members welcome to help – email Adel to assist.
- 7PM to 8:30PM
- Glastonbury Rural Life Museum.
SAt 18TH Sept 2021 – Frome BAT WALK
Public event for Frome FROGS group during Big Green Week. Members welcome to help – email Adel to assist.
- 7PM to 8:30PM
- Frome Market Yard.