Bat Surveying?

[ledders666]

Hi,

 

I'm wanting to add bat surveying as a service I can offer.

 

Does anyone have experience in this?

 

Are there recognised organisations that provide training?

 

Any help at all really would be great to point me in the right direction.

 

Thanks

 

[Khriss]

Go to Bat Conservation Trust website in UK,  plenty of info there.  K

[Ian C]

Hi,
 
I'm wanting to add bat surveying as a service I can offer.
 
Does anyone have experience in this?
 
Are there recognised organisations that provide training?
 
Any help at all really would be great to point me in the right direction.
 
Thanks
 

Probably contact the Chinese, there good with Bats!

[topchippyles]

Ring the main man direct and he will sort you out ?

 

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2020 by topchippyles

[ledders666]

Go to Bat Conservation Trust website in UK,  plenty of info there.  K

OK thank you

[ledders666]

Ring the main man direct and he will sort you out [emoji106]
 
 
 
 

He was out, robin took the call but I've not much interest in birds

[DuncanH]

I used to work for an ecology company and ended up bat surveying when there wasn't enough land management work to do. Training took 3 sessions of going out with them on evening or dawn surveys and sitting with members of their staff until they were happy that I was confident in using the detectors and recorders, could fill out the forms, could ID a few different bat species and new what features to look at on buildings or trees. The initial surveys were unpaid until I was signed off but once they were happy I was added to their list of surveyors and I still do contract work 1 or 2 nights per week. This is mainly vantage point/stationary surveys with the occasional walking survey. I think most ecology companies round the country take on contractors to do such work and most will be willing to take on beginners.
After 4 years I'm reasonably competent but there's still a lot to learn. As a contractor to an ecology company you would just carry out the survey and hand data to them. This year I've started analysing data at home just to try to further my knowledge which adds a whole new level of complexity.

I've never done any training with other groups or organisations, but for some activities you need to be licensed (investigating roosts, handling bats).

My first port of call would be local ecology companies and bat groups. If you have climbing tickets the ecology companies may well want to work with you as it's something they often don't have themselves and close up tree surveys for bats are often required.