Course convenor(s):
Nick Downs (BSc, MSc, PhD, CEnv, MIEEM)
Paola Reason (BSc, MSc, CEnv, MIEEM) and
David Wells (BSc, CEnv, MIEEM)


Date: 06/05/2009

Course length: 1 day

Venue:
Cresswell Associates, The Mill, Brimscombe Port, Stroud,
GL5 2QG

Course fee: £150
5% or 10% discount available if 2+ / 4+ courses are booked respectively

Outline:
This course provides an introduction to bat biology and survey techniques in the context of development projects, covering basic bat biology and legislation, simple (non-licensable) roost survey techniques and an introduction to bat detectors. An evening field trip will visit a nearby site to carry out a bat detector survey.

Further information:
Cresswell Associates
The Mill, Brimscombe Port
Stroud, GL5 2QG

T: +44 (0) 1453 731 231
F: +44 (0) 1453 888 797

 

Download a printable (pdf) copy of this page [here]

Download a booking form:
Word Format | PDF format

Target audience:
This course is aimed at those who wish to learn about basic bat biology, and receive an introduction to survey techniques and legislation relating to bats.

Aims:

To provide:

• an introduction to bat biology and distribution in the UK, so as to understand when, where and how surveys should be carried out
• information on the legal protection afforded to bats and their roosts

To describe:

• bat echolocation and how bat detectors work
• how bats can be identified in flight

To demonstrate:

• how to carry out bat detector surveys
• how to identify bats from morphology and droppings

Objectives:

At the end of the course you should be able to:

• name the bat species found in the UK and describe their distribution
• describe the major features of bat biology relevant to planning and carrying out bat surveys
• understand the principles of bat echolocation and how bat detectors work
• use a bat detector to identify common bat species
• describe the features of bat flight and eco-morphology that can help identify bat species in flight

• identify bat species from morphology and droppings
• describe the legal protection afforded to bats and their roosts
  

Course content:

Lectures

• Bat biology
• Legal status and distribution of bats
• Bat echolocation and an introduction to bat detectors
• Identifying bats in flight

Workshop

• Identifying bats from morphology and droppings

Fieldwork

Evening field trip to demonstrate the use of bat detectors

Additional information/requirements:

3 additional courses on bats are available for those with existing experience of bat survey techniques and legislation:

• Bats (II): Investigating and Evaluating Bat Activity
• Bats (III): Investigating and Evaluating Bat Roost Sites
• Bats (IV): Bat Impact Assessment and Mitigation

The courses Bats (I) and Bats (II) are stand alone, but run on consecutive days.
The courses Bats (II) and Bats (IV) are stand alone, but run on consecutive days.

A list of local accommodation is available on request.