Bat Conservation Ireland
Nathusius’ and Improvers Bat Detector Workshop
Nathusius’ Pipistrelle
and Improvers
Bat Detector Workshop
The Clinton Centre and Bridges Hostel, Enniskillen
Dr. Jon Russ, Dr. Helena Jahelkova, Jules Agate
09
A broadband bat detector workshop for those experienced in bat detector use seeking to improve
identification of bat species including the rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle.
Note: Bat handling of captured wild bats by trainees will not be part of the course.
Location of workshop
Clinton Centre and Bridges Hostel, Enniskillen BT18 OEU
http://www.hini.org.uk/hostels/enniskillen.cfm
Accommodation, Meals, Presentations:
Accommodation for residential delegates, meals and presentations will be at the Bridges Hostel and
Clinton Centre, Enniskillen, approximately 20 miles from Crom study site.
Meal alternatives may also be obtained at outlets close to the hostel in Enniskillen.
Location of fieldwork: Grid Ref: H455655 361245 or 54.1451 12.N 730 41.72W
Fieldwork will occur at Crom Estate, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, BT92 8AP
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-cromestate/
Directions to Crom Estate from Ennsikillen
Follow the road signs to Belfast A4 follow the sign for Newtownbutler(A34) and Crom Estate
http://www.multimap.com
Fees and Cancellations
No deposits will be taken only full fee. In the event that the course has to be cancelled, a full refund will be
given. For delegates paying the residential rate dinner/bed/breakfast is included within our fee. Due to it
being a block booking, no refund is available if you choose not to take any of the meals or refreshments or
not to participate in the course.
In the event that Crom Estate is not available an alternative site will be offered.
Essential Kit:
Head torch
Broadband Bat detector and headphones
Sound recording device, MP3, minidisc, tape etc
Spare batteries
Sleeping bag
Towel
Pillow case
Stout outdoor footwear
Indoor shoes – for use in the hostel and Clinton Centre
Waterproof jacket
Warm outdoor clothing
Notebook/pen/pencil
Optional but recommended:
Water boots (Wellingtons) or gaiters to prevent ticks
Insect repellent
Warm hat
Laptop with sound analysis software
Page 2 of 5
Nathusius’ Pipistrelle and Improvers Bat Detector Workshop
Fri 7th – Sun 9th August 2009
The Clinton Centre and Bridges Hostel, Enniskillen
Provisional Programme (subject to change)
FRIDAY 7th
4.00 – 5.00pm Arrival at Bridges Hostel-Clinton Centre & Registration
5.15 – 6.00pm Light refreshments
6.00 – 6.15pm Course introduction and site safety (Austin Hopkirk)
6.15 – 6.45pm Broadband bat detectors, TE detectors and habitat (Jon Russ)
6.45 – 7.45pm FD detectors, use in the field (Tina Aughney)
7.45 – 8.20pm Tea break and Site Selection for teams
8.20pm………...Travel to Crom for fieldwork to be in place 30 minutes before sunset
Saturday 8th
00.20am…………Return to accommodation for soup, tea, snacks and sleep
04.30am…………Set out to field again for pre-dawn activity
06.15am…………Dawn return to accommodation and sleep
SATURDAY 8th
12.00–1.00pm Breakfast/Lunch at Base
1.30 – 3.00pm Analysis of previous night activity and call recordings
3.00 – 3.30pm Tea & coffee break
3.30 – 4.15pm Call analysis
4.15 – 4.45pm Nathusius’ Pipistrelle in Ireland and Great Britain, Jon Russ
4.45 – 5.15pm Nathusius’ pipistrelle, Helena Jahelkova
5.15 – 6.30pm Evening meal at Clinton Centre
6.30 – 7.00pm Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Helena Jahelkova)
7.00 – 7.30pm Guest speaker?
7.30 – 8.00pm Tea/coffee break
8.00 – 8.20pm Site Selection for six teams
8.20pm……….Travel to site to be in place 30minutes before sunset and fieldwork until return to base
Sunday 9th
00.20am………Return to base for tea, snacks and sleep
05.00am………Set out to field again for pre-dawn activity
06.15am………Dawn return to accommodation and sleep
SUNDAY 9th
11.30–12.30pm Breakfast/lunch at base
12.30 – 3.00pm Call analysis, feedback, and how to take your bat detecting further
3.00pm – Finish and leave for home.
Sunset and sunset times for Crom, Newtownbutler.
07.08.2009 –9.15pm and 06.15am
Page 3 of 5
BCIreland Nathusius’ & Improvers workshop: Closing date for applications: 24th July 2009
Full Name
Date of Birth
Sex
Male/Female
Address
Postcode
Telephone
Home:
Mobile:
Work:
Permission to share email with other delegates? Yes/No
Email address
Details of Special Dietary
needs:
Medical Conditions that
we may need to know
about
BCIreland member
Non-BCIreland member
SELECTION OF COURSE OPTIONS
Accommodation, and workshop consisting of presentations,
fieldwork and food €221.00 (£200.00)
I’d prefer a single room if available
(limited availability and not guaranteed)
Non-residential Workshop, presentations, fieldwork,
food only €157.00 (£142.00)
Accommodation, and workshop consisting of presentations,
fieldwork and food €266.00 (£240.00)
I’d prefer a single room if available
(limited availability and not guaranteed)
To Book your Place Email
or telephone to confirm
availability to:
a.hopkirk@ntlworld.com
I enclose a cheque for €
£
Crossed cheques should be made payable to:
Bat Conservation Ireland and sent to:
38 South Parade
Ormeau Road
Belfast
Tel: 02890 292138 (UK)
BT7 2GP
or 04890 292138 (RoI)
A receipt for full fees will be issued please send SAE
Please give a brief summary of any previous detector experience
Page 4 of 5
Health & Safety – accommodation
 All residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the fire exits and procedures for
responding to fire alarms
 Do not assume that alarms are false and respond immediately to the instructions at the
accommodation
 Please follow the hostel rules found in each room
 Remember that others may be sleeping and be quiet in the accommodation area
 It is the interests of participants that any pre-existing medical or dietary needs are notified to the
organisers in advance. Any such information will be treated in strict confidence. Participants are
responsible for the safety of their medication.
 The kitchen is shared with other hostel residents but is available to all delegates and tea, coffee,
milk etc will be available and labelled ‘Bat Conservation Ireland’.
Health & Safety – Field work














All participants including field tutors must wear the supplied high visibility vest at all times in the field.
Delegates will wear yellow vests, tutors will wear orange vests and will carry a working mobile phone, a
‘walkie-talkie’ two way radio and a first aid kit
Vehicular traffic may use roads through the night – take care to avoid a collision
Only groups of two or more should undertake field work, contact should be maintained at all times –
no one should wander off by themselves
Should any participant wish to leave at any time they must notify the organisers
Please talk quietly and make little noise except in the event there is danger
Do not stray into areas that have been designated as ‘Private’
Avoid contact with animals and dung
Wear gaiters or wellingtons to help avoid ticks. Check your body periodically for ticks especially after
returning from field work and if any are found remove as soon as possible. If a tick is found and you
contract flu like symptoms - inform your doctor that you may have been exposed to Lyme’s disease.
Delegates are not permitted to handle bats at any time. If a delegate or field tutor should be bitten by
a bat or contact is made with the bodily fluids of a bat, the incident should be reported to the
workshop organisers as soon as possible
Post- exposure vaccinations are recommended by the relevant health authorities and the subject’s
General Practitioner should be notified as soon as possible
All field tutors who handle bats must have a current proof of vaccination and titre level
Travel by boat is not permitted at any time, delegates and tutors should stay within their designated
survey areas
Avoid contact with river or standing water especially if cut or grazed. If contact with river or standing
water is made, wash the affected area with soap and water as soon as possible. If you contract ‘flu like
symptoms, inform your doctor that you may have been exposed to Weil’s disease.
Adverse weather, high winds, rain or temperatures below 7° Celsius may necessitate the cancellation of
a survey night/s
All accidents, no matter how small should be reported to the organisers as soon as possible and logged.
Page 5 of 5