Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and technical expertise from the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), the Northern Ireland Bat Group hosted an entertaining and highly informative session of bat training in Belfast, comprising a series of talks and workshops for members of the Northern Ireland Bat Group.

The bat training in Belfast, started on a Friday evening when Lisa Worledge, Partnership Officer with BCT gave an overview of the Trust’s work, detailing the range of surveys that BCT are engaged, including scientific research projects and public participation projects of various complexity; projects for both the novice and the more accomplished.

The approximately 40 participants returned to the event on the Saturday morning for in depth sessions on firstly how to listen to the tone and frequency of different bat calls and then how to interpret the calls on industry standard software.

Eric Bann, a member of the Bat Group said,

Although I have many years’ experience of analysing bat calls both professionally and for fun, I enjoyed the sessions immensely. I learnt a lot and can confidently say it was possibly the best training course I have ever attended.

I’m enthused for the coming season and ready to get more involved with the range of public participation surveys that BCT and the Northern Ireland Bat Group organise. There really is something for everyone.