Beginning Professional Bat Work
Wednesday 14 – Thursday 15 May 2008
Location: Burnley, Lancashire
Participant Standard: Beginner
Tutor(s): Roger Martindale CEnv MIEEM and Pat Waring CEnv MIEEM
A workshop for aspiring professionals and people new to professional bat work. This workshop will help you to build a strong foundation and to gain experience and confidence in bat surveys, bat identification and site assessments. The workshop venue, Gawthorpe Hall, is a site of county importance for bats, with a number of roosts and important foraging areas.
NB: Accommodation is not included.
Further details
This workshop will cover:
- introduction to bats
- bat biology and ecology
- bat identification
- bat detectors and echolocation
- bat conservation
- legislation and licensing
- survey techniques
- mitigation for bats
- practical fieldwork sessions (day and evening)
The enthusiastic course tutors will provide guidance, support and experience for people wishing to become involved in, or improve their knowledge of, professional bat work.
The two days will be based at Gawthorpe Hall estate and will provide excellent opportunities to look at bat roosts, bat foraging areas and to listen to bat sounds. Trainees will also help to ensure that bats are being conserved effectively at Gawthorpe.
Trainees will have close encounters with bats, get involved in a mitigation scheme and thoroughly immerse themselves in bat conservation.
Who should attend this workshop?
Anyone wishing to find out more about bats and professional bat work. People wishing to work towards a bat licence will find the whole course very relevant.
Bring with you:
- Waterproof clothing
- Waterproof footwear
- Bat detector and headphones (if you have them)
- Hand lens (if you have one)
- Notebook and pencils/pens
What will participants learn from the workshop (learning outcomes)?
- How to use knowledge of bat biology and ecology to make decisions about bat conservatio
- How to survey for and identify bats
- How to ensure that bat work is carried out legally and with all reasonable safeguards
- How to use a bat detector
Programme:
Day One
| Time | Session | Activity |
| 10.00-10.30 | Introduction to the workshop, topic and tutors | Theory |
| 10.30-11.30 | Introduction to bats | Theory |
| 11.30-11.45 | Break | |
| 11.45-12.45 | Bat biology & ecology | Theory |
| 12.45-13.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30-14.30 | Field session – roosts in Gawthorpe Hall and tree | Practical |
| 14.30-14.45 | Break | |
| 14.45-15.45 | Bat identification | Theory |
| 15.45-16.15 | Bats in the hand | Practical |
| 16.15-17.15 | Bat detectors & echolocation | Theory |
| 17.15-20.00 | Rest & relaxation | |
| 20.00-23.00 | Field session – emergence from roost and walkabout Sunset at 2104 | Practical |
Day Two
| Time | Session | Activity |
| Dawn | Re-entry to roost | Practical |
| Breakfast | ||
| 09.30-10.30 | Bat conservation | Theory |
| 10.30-10.45 | Break | |
| 10.45-11.45 | Legislation & licensing | Theory |
| 11.45-12.45 | Case studies exercise | Practical |
| 12.45-13.30 | Lunch | |
| 13.30-14.30 | Bat surveys | Theory |
| 14.30-15.30 | Field session – planning a survey of Gawthorpe Estate | Practical |
| 15.30-15.45 | Break | |
| 15.45-16.45 | Mitigation | Theory |
| 16.45-17.15 | Course evaluation and questions | Theory |
| 20.00-23.00 | Optional field session – emergence from roost and walkabout | Practical |
Cost: £120 IEEM members, £240 non-members.