Course: How to Survey and Study Bats in Woodlands

Bats are fascinating animals, but very elusive and challenging to study. This beginner-intermediate course will explore the world of bats in woodlands and demonstrate the special techniques required to survey and study them in these key habitats.

Woodlands are the most important habitats for bat conservation, but they are also greatly diminished and under continuing pressure from development. This course will describe and demonstrate the methods used to survey and study bats at woodland sites.

This course will cover:

• The current status of British bats and the importance of woodland habitats for their conservation. 
• Introduction and practical demonstration of survey techniques including acoustic monitoring, capture with harp traps, mist nets, acoustic lures
• Identifying bats in the hand. (Capture of bats cannot be guaranteed!).

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate a broad understanding of the conservation status of bats in the UK, the threats they face and the legislation designed to protect them.
• Appreciate the importance of protecting and restoring woodland habitats for bat conservation, both in the UK and globally.
• Understand the particular challenges faced when trying to survey, study or promote conservation of bats in woodland habitats
• Describe and compare the strengths and weaknesses of acoustic methods and capture for surveying and studying bats
• Appreciate the limitations of using acoustic monitoring techniques to assess the diversity of bat communities in woodland habitats

This is not a training course in bat handling, but there may be limited opportunities to gain some handling experience. Anyone hoping to handle bats will need to have appropriate gloves and a currently valid rabies vaccination (i.e., most recent vaccination no more than four years before the course dates).

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.