On the 23rd April 2017, Nathan Duszynski volunteered with the Suffolk Bat Group to check numerous bat boxes located within Thetford Forest. The Suffolk Bat Group have been monitoring the bat boxes within forest for the past few decades, recording the species, sex and age of all the bats found on these visits, and educating those attending the sessions. The Suffolk Bat Group checks these boxes on a biannual basis, with checks conducted in April and October. For more information on the Suffolk Bat Group, their upcoming events or how to join, please click here.
After a rather cold start, and only three bats observed, a box containing 21 brown long-eared bats Plecotus auritus was opened. Arthur Rivett then explained how these bats can be identified in the hand, how to sex and age them, and why this species tend to group together. Several individuals were then passed round the group to give anyone handling experience.
On the final group of boxes a lone male Natterer’s bat Myotis nattereri was observed – a first since the monitoring program has started. The Suffolk Bat Group hopes that more individuals will be seen in future checks. Only time will tell.
The results for the day included:
- Brown long-eared bats = 84
- Pipistrelle sp. = 9
- Noctule = 4
- Leisler’s = 1
- Natterer’s = 1
Total: 99 bats
Greenlight has experience in conducting various work with bats, including Preliminary Bat Roost Assessments (“PRA”), Bat Surveys, Mitigation Licences and Watching Briefs. Please click here for more information on bat surveys or the ecology services we offer. If you require a quote, need further explanation or have any questions, please contact us by clicking here.
