YACWAG BAT GROUP

2008 BAT REPORT

This year proved to be another busy year for us with a variety of bat events.

Local walks were held throughout the year which, as in previous years, not only took in the serious work of detecting bats but also enabled us to enjoy a pleasant walk during the evening at various locations around the area. Tony visited St Andrews School and led a group of pupils around their playing field much to the delight of the children and their parents especially since the bats gave a good display! Bob visited Yatton Youth Club on two occasions and chatted to them about bats. Some of the members enjoyed doing the quizzes and looking at the various exhibits especially the bat droppings! He also talked to the YCOSC (Yatton Community out of School Club) children some of whom were surprisingly knowledgeable about bats.

As in previous years the group took part in two national surveys for the Bat Conservation Trust. The first one was around Claverham following a triangular shaped route within a randomly allocated 1km square. The aim was to record noctules and serotines whilst walking twelve predetermined distances and pipistrelles (common and soprano) at the twelve stopping points. This route had to be followed on two separate occasions in July. The second survey was in August along the river at Congresbury detecting and recording Daubenton bats at each stop. Again two trips were made and on one of these the count was very high.

In addition to these Tony and Bob took part in the Mendip Hills Big Bat Survey which is organised by Somerset Wildlife Trust. Information from this survey, covering forty 1km squares, will be used with land owners to suggest enhancements to flight routes such as hedgerows and stone walls.

As if all that wasn't enough Tony and Bob have, throughout the year, continued with their training on our reserves with James Field from North Somerset Levels and Moors Project. Hopefully we will be successful and obtain licences which will allow us to measure and record bats in our bat boxes. The highlight was to find six bats in one box! We also noted that in the October survey there were several boxes with a pair of bats (male/female). Another pleasing find was to discover our first bats in one of the Stowey reserve boxes.

At the beginning of August a bat was found in a poor state at Yatton Fire Station. Using our bat recue manual for advice we cared for the patient which did not appear to have any physical injury but was very undernourished.

It certainly took food from us but seemed unable to feed itself or even try and fly after a few day of care so we decided to take it to Secret World. They confirmed that there were no physical injuries but could not get it to feed itself or fly in their bat tent so regrettably had to euthanase it.

At the end of October we held an alternative Halloween event with a bat evening in St Mary's Chapter House. This proved to be very successful and much interest was shown in the methods, equipment and techniques used to monitor and identify bats.

Overall the year has not been kind to bats with some very wet and cold conditions even during the Summer. Hopefully 2009, YACWAG's 10th anniversary will produce some better weather not only for the bats but for us as well! If you would like to help with any of our bat work then contact Tony (01934 834282) or Bob (01934 833596).

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