Session one : Bat surveying and development

Counting the number of bats emerging from a roost gives a good indication of how many individuals are using the structure at the time of survey. These emergence counts are a valuable survey technique and are used by ecological consultants to aid in the design and post-monitoring of mitigation. Therefore the survey methods used must be accurate if correct conservation measures are to be applied. This study compared four common methods used by surveyors to determine how effective advanced technologies are for providing precise counts of roost numbers, in comparison to traditional visual observational surveys. Recommendations are made as to which survey type should be applied under various conditions. Methods used were: a. A visual count using the naked eye