Council supports Bat Conservation Ireland as part of Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey

9th July 2019

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Bat

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is supporting Bat Conservation Ireland by hosting two bat nights during July in preparation for the All Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey.

This year is the 14th year of the All Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey and Bat Conservation Ireland are seeking volunteers right across the island.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is extending an invitation to anyone interested in learning more about bats and who would like to volunteer to assist with the survey to come along to the bat nights at Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen on Thursday 25th July 8pm or Hospital Road Community Centre on Tuesday 30th July 8pm to avail of free training.   

The survey will take place over two nights in August and training will involve an indoor lecture followed by a practical session using bat detectors on a local river, weather dependant.

This survey is part of a monitoring scheme recording the activity of the Daubenton’s bat. These yearly surveys allow Bat Conservation Ireland to determine whether the population of this bat species is increasing or decreasing. The greater the number of volunteer teams, the more waterways can be covered and consequently the more accurate the information will be. In 2018, 231 waterways were surveyed across the island. Your help is needed to keep this coverage for the island.

The Daubenton’s bat is known as the water bat because of its preference to roost and feed close to water such as rivers and lakes. It is easy to identify because of all our 10 species of bat, it is the only species that will be seen continuously skimming the water surface as it is feeding on insects. Surveyors will operate in teams of 2 and Bat Conservation Ireland will provide the use of a bat detector for the survey.  No prior experience is needed.

The All Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterway Survey is funded by the NPWS, RoI and NIEA, Northern Ireland.  If you would like more information on training venues or if you would like to register to take part in the Bat Survey, please visit the Bat Conservation Ireland website.

For more information on biodiversity in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area, please contact the Council’s biodiversity officer, Julie Corry, by telephone on 0300 303 1777, textphone on 028 82256216 or by email  at julie.corry@fermanaghomagh.com.