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27 October 2009
DISPELLING THE MYTHS OF BATS THIS HALLOWEEN
The Wildlife Trust is speaking up for local bats and offering you the chance to adopt the area’s rarest species- the Barbastelle- this Halloween.
These creatures of the night- of which we have 17 species here in the UK- form part of our vision of a spooky Halloween....
However, the reality is the presence of these fascinating flying mammals in our area shows us we have a healthy environment with plenty of insects providing food for the bats.
Recently more than 170 people took part in the hugely successful European Bat Night with events across the three counties. The bat walks took place simultaneously on Wildlife Trust nature reserves at Flitwick Moor in Bedfordshire, Cambourne and Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, Pitsford Water and Summer Leys in Northamptonshire and Woodston Ponds in Peterborough. Surveys were also carried out in the same week at Begwary Brook and Felmersham Gravel Pits in Bedfordshire.
Data is still being collected and analysed but six species were recorded. By far the most common was the Pipistrelle, which is one of our smallest bats, while at Summer Leys our biggest bat, the Noctule was encountered. Daubenton’s Bat – known as the water bat - was recorded flying over five of our wetland reserves. An exciting development this year was the discovery of Natterer’s Bat and a Barbastelle, being recorded for the first time at a Begwary Brook in Bedfordshire. The Wildlife Trust will be liaising with other organisers of bat events across Europe, comparing the data on bats gathered on the night and we plan to hold a series of events in 2010.
At next year’s events the Wildlife Trust will find it even easier to keep track of the nocturnal creatures thanks to a generous donation of £400 worth of ultrasound bat detectors from Magenta Electronics Ltd
Henry Stainer, Ecology Groups Officer for the Wildlife Trust, says ““Bats have lived alongside us for thousands of years in our villages, towns and cities, and yet we are often unaware of our quiet neighbours”
The Wildlife Trust is offering you the chance to adopt your very own Barbastelle bat with our ‘Adopt a Species’ programme.
It has almost completely black fur and the species is unique amongst British bats because their ears join at the top of their heads. The Barbastelle bat is very rare in our area and with your support we can ensure that we can look after local nature reserves to enhance the habitat for this scarce animal.
To adopt a Barbastelle bat or another of our counties’ precious native species and to help us to make a difference to our local wildlife habitats see http://www.wildlifebcnp.org/supportus-adopt.htm, telephone 01954 713541 or email membership@wildlifebcnp.org
If you are interested in learning more about bats, getting involved in surveying them or taking part in one of our Wildlife Training Workshops visit http://www.wildlifebcnp.org/wteg.htm
ENDS
Notes for Editor:
For more information please contact Bernadette Mooney, communications officer on 01954 713551 or email bernadette.mooney@wildlifebcnp.org
The species recorded on our reserves were:
- Common Pipistrelle/ Soprano Pipistrelle
- Brown-long-eared Bat
- Barbastelle
- Daubenton’s Bat
- Noctule
- Natterer’s Bat
About The Trust:
Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust’s mission. We manage 129 nature reserves - all of them free to visit – and 95% of the population live within five miles of one of our reserves. We are working to make these wildlife havens bigger, better and more joined-up – vital to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners the Trust also monitors and safeguards wildlife beyond the boundary of its reserves.
For more information see www.wildlifebcnp.org