Homemade Harp Trap

Hi all,

The bat group have decided to build there own harp trap this winter.

Aidan, Bob and I are just coming up with idea's at the moment but I will bring you more news as and when we have started the project.

I am hoping to document the process so can bring you the design and stages to completion.

Martin

Second Hibernation Survey

Over the weekend the group undertook the second hibernation survey across Bedfordshire. In total 146 bats of five speceis were found across the sites. The largest site had 101 bats found, including two pipistrelles Pipistrellus spp.

The photo above shows two different speceis in a bat brick in one of the purpose built hibernation sites across the county. Can you identifiy them?

There is one final survey in January, I will be leading on the Saturday and am hoping to see the six barbastelles Barbastella barbastellus that were found in the largest site. One barbastelle was found in a little site on the Sunday, which in the past has had them in.

I bring another update once these are complete.

Martin

The First Hibernation Survey

Well,

Last weekend members of the group headed out to the hibernation sites across the county. There was doubt that numbers would be very good, due to the fairly good weather that we have had so far this winter.

But over the weekend numbers were up on last year and in the largest site that is monitored, a new recod number of bats were found, 101 in total. Of these Barbastelle Barbastellus barbastellus numbers were still good, with six found in total. Not quite the 25 found last year, however still good for the weather that has been good so far.

The species found most was natterers Myotis nattereri with a daubentons a close second M. daubentonii, a smaller number of brown long eared  Plecotus Auritus were also found.

The next surveys are taking place in Jan, I am leading the Sunday checks and will bring the results shortly after.

Martin

That's a rap

Well,

The bat season is just about finished for the year. Three hibernation surveys are due to take place in December, Jan and Feb, I'll bring the results as and when they have taken place.

There will also be a final box check in the Luton area. If these have been damaged we will probably take them down.

Martin

Kings Wood Bat Box Project

Hi,

A little update on the box project.

A check was made last Sunday and 9 pipistrelles were found in one box and brown long eared in another.

There will also be a check of teh Luton boxes this month and I will bring an update when these are complete.

Martin

Isn't it about time Bat Surveys were given a break

Are Bat Surveys getting a bad deal??

You’ve only got to Google bat surveys to find a whole host of
articles and blog posts about the costs and delays associated with bat surveys
in the context of planning and development. This is something I come across
everyday in my working life and the bat group are getting increasing queries regarding
this.

Take
this article for example.

Or
this one.

The latter ‘journalist’ describes bat surveys as a fleece
and questions the integrity of the bat surveyors, suggesting that they are
planting evidence to secure more work.

Why do people get asked for bat surveys?

People often feel very aggrieved about the need for a bat
survey in the first place. Oftentimes, it comes out of the blue. The local
planning authority will frequently come to you at the eleventh hour of your
planning application’s determination period, only to say they have insufficient
information and need a bat survey.

What does this request for a bat survey mean to you?

If you’re like most people: frustration, disappointment and
resentment. You lose faith in the efficiency and the fairness of planning
process.

It’s the same feeling I get when I take may car to the
garage for an MOT, to be told by the mechanic I need new brakes, a new clutch,
new tyres, and the list goes on to about a gazillion parts which almost never
seem to total less than £500 (excluding labour and VAT of course.)

Give the bats and the surveyors a break!

In a bad week, I can have the same conversation with tens of
people. I try to explain: that the surveyors perform surveys, that they don’t
make the law, nor planning policies, and that persuading us you don’t need bat
surveys—or trying to—is not helping advance your planning application.

I go (what feels like) around in circles, explaining that:

“I can’t write a letter to the planners for you saying you
don’t have bats.

“There is not a ‘lesser’ type of survey that is applicable
to your small house extension.

“It’s your choice to get a bat survey done or not, no one is
forcing you to do anything.”

Sometimes it only takes a minute, other times this can go on
for weeks, but eventually the penny drops, and we start to discuss what can be
done to get the project moving forward again as well as protecting the bats.

So what can be done about bat surveys?

The first step to progressing a planning application where
bat survey reports are required, is to accept that this national planning
policy exists to satisfy your local authority that legally protected species are
not at risk—either directly, in consequence of your development, or through
habitat being permanently lost to development. Further, that the onus of proof rests
upon you, the applicant.

The next step is to engage a reputable bat surveyor. This
must be someone who is trained, educated and licensed. If you instruct someone
without such authority, you risk his or her inexperience being questioned by
the local planning authority.

What does a bat survey typically cost?

That depends on what
is found, however you can a find a list of suitably qualified people
through the Institute of Ecology and
Environmental Management Web site.

With a bit of luck, you’ll get change from £400. In the rare
instance that bats, evidence, or features with habitat value are found, expect to pay
more than this for a second stage of survey.

So I have paid for a bat survey, what now?

The purpose of the survey is to inform the design of
mitigation and license requirements, or exclude them altogether.

Nothing beats reading it for yourself

You can find out more about bat surveys by visiting the Bat
Conservation Trust Web site and reading their best practice guidance for bat
surveys.

Bat Box update

A while back I had posted that Danny had found a bat in one of my designs of bat box, on Monday at the committee meeting Danny told me that another one of the boxes was occupied by three common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus bats.

Not only that but the box had two other designs on the same tree and these were unoccupied.

Martin

Luton Hoo Swarming Survey

Well,

Another disappointing night at the large estate, no bats caught in either a triple high mist net or two harp traps.

Several myotis bats heard and the odd pipistrelle Pipistrellus spp. but other than that not alot happening.

Martin

End of the Season

Well,

It is getting to the point were the bat season is finishing up, I have arranged a final survey of Luton Hoo, in October, and there are a couplle of other sites being looked at over the next couple of weeks.

I'll bring updates as and when these have occurred.

I also had an e-mail from the chairman of the Somerset bat group yesterday boosting that he had found a male Bechsteins bat Myotis bechsteinii in woodland not prevouisly known for this species, typical Somerset boosting followed, never-mind us lot in Bedfrodshire can only keep looking!!

Martin

National Bat Conference

The weekend saw several of the BBG go to the natioanl conference.

It was my first time going and really enjoyed the experience, there was a hell of a lot to take in, with several talks about habitat modelling, detectors and generally what BCT had been up to.

Much merryment was had in the evenings, with certain people getting very little sleep.

Over all a good weekend and I will be going again.

Martin