1. Choose the right time:
Bats are nocturnal creatures and will leave their daytime roosts as dusk in search of food and water and will return at dawn. Therefore, its best to get set up around 15 minutes before sunset and stick around for a couple hours. Make sure you're going bat watching between April and September, as bats hibernate in the winter!
2. Find the ideal location
Bats aren't too fussy on where they decide to roost. In fact, anywhere you can stick your thumb, you're likely to find a bat! They like gaps in roof tiles, lifted roof tiles, missing bricks and mortar, or lifted flashing near chimneys and windows. As long as the temperature doesn't fluctuate and its dry. You are more likely to see bats near natural water sources and wooded areas.
3. Bring the correct gear
Make sure you bring a torch (preferably with a red light so you do not disturb the bats) as well as somewhere comfy to sit as you will be watching for quite a while! A bat detector is not necessary and quite expensive but makes it easier to pick up frequencies of the bats using echolocation.
4. Learn about bat species
Familiarise yourself with your local bat species. Research their habitats, behaviour and preferred roosting locations. If you have a bat detector (or a very good ear), you can familiarise yourself with the frequencies of their calls! E.g. the Common Pipistrelle has a lower frequency of around 45KHz, whereas the Soprano Pipistrelle has a lower frequency of 55KHz. Noctules make a 'chip chop' sound and have a low frequency around 18KHz. The Myotis species of bats all have long, straight calls with a range of frequencies.
5. Be respectful and mindful
Keep a safe distance from the bats to avoid causing any stress or disturbance and do not use any flash photography as it can harm their eyes.
6. Record and report
Document your bat sightings, including their behaviour - were they roosting, feeding or just passing through? Share these findings with your local wildlife organisations or citizen science projects.
Thank you for reading! Good luck bat spotting!
Comments