Publications

The Natterer

The Natterer is the twice-yearly newsletter of Bat Conservation Ireland with recent news, events and information. BCIreland Members receive a hard copy of this publication by post. If you would like to submit an article or event to The Natterer please contact us

Guidelines, Leaflets and Reports

Bat Conservation Ireland receives funding from various State agencies and sponsors to carry out specific bat education, monitoring or other bat conservation work. Reports have been published for certain projects that Bat Conservation Ireland has been involved in.

Guidelines and Information Leaflets

• Bats and Heritage Structures: Protecting Bats during Management, Restoration and Maintenance works at Heritage Sites. When planning restoration, maintenance, or other works on a heritage site or structure it is important to consider and protect our natural heritage. This publication aims to help those involved in management, maintenance, or construction at heritage sites when planning future projects to conserve these protected species.
• The Beginners Guide to Bat Boxes.  An information leaflet on how to erect bats boxes, where to place them and the different types of bat boxes to encourage bat activity.
• Gardening For Bats.  An information leaflet on the best plants to grow and cultivate for Irish bats and the importance of gardens and gardening for bats.
• Managing Hedgerows for Bats.  An information on our hedgerows, why they are so important for Irish bats and biodiversity and how to manage them.
• Why Bats Matter.  An information leaflet on the role bats play in our environment and how we can help our Irish bats and in turn help biodiversity.
• Introduction to Irish Bats.  An information leaflet on our Irish bats, what they eat, where they can be found and the different bat species.
• Bats and Wind Turbines. Surveying for bats at proposed windfarm sites and where existing windfarms are proposed for extension or modification. Guidelines for windfarm developers, ecologists and relevant authorities.
• Lesser Horseshoe Bats and Appropriate Assessment. How to deal with the Annex II protected lesser horseshoe bat in the Appropriate Assessment process. Guidelines for developers, ecologists and relevant authorities.
• White Nose Syndrome. A factsheet on White Nose Syndrome in bats with recommended guidelines for cavers and others entering bat hibernacula
• Bat Identification Using Bat Detectors. A simple bat identification key for BATLAS 2010 volunteers using tuneable bat detectors
• Irish Bats. A summary of the different Irish bat species
• Grounded Bats. What to do with a grounded bat
• How to Make Bat Boxes. Detailed instructions for wooden boxes
• Bats and Waterways. Guidelines for protection of bats along waterways including recommendations for bat-friendly bridge maintenance work.
• Bats in Buildings. Guidelines for protection of bats in buildings including recommendations for bat-friendly building maintenance work.
• Bats and Lighting. Guidelines for protecting bats’ roosts, foraging and commuting routes from negative effects of street lighting.
• Tidy Towns. Information on how to protect, conserve and encourage bats around your community.
• Farm agri-environmental schemes. Information for farmers on how to encourage roosting bats on the farm, in particular using bat boxes.

Monitoring Scheme Reports

• Annual Report 2006: Car-Based Bat Monitoring
• Annual Report 2007: Car-Based Bat Monitoring
• Report on Daubenton’s bat monitoring pilot study 2005
• Annual Report 2006: Daubenton’s Waterways Survey
• Report on brown long-eared bat roost monitoring pilot study 2007
• Annual Report 2009: Car-Based Bat Monitoring, Daubenton’s Waterways Survey, Brown Long-eared Bat Roost Monitoring
• Annual Report 2010: Car-Based Bat Monitoring, Daubenton’s Waterways Survey
• Irish Wildlife Manual: Development of Car-Based Bat Monitoring Protocol for the Republic of Ireland (2005)
• Irish Wildlife Manual: All-Ireland Daubenton’s Bat Waterways Surveys 2006-2008
• Irish Wildlife Manual: Car-Based Bat Monitoring Results from 2003-2008
• Irish Wildlife Manual: Brown Long-eared Bat Roost Monitoring. Results from 2007-2010
• Irish Wildlife Manual: Car-based Bat Monitoring. Results from 2003-2011
• Irish Wildlife Manual: All Ireland Daubenton’s Waterways Surveys. Results from 2006-2011
• Irish Wildlife Manual: Lesser Horseshoe Bat Monitoring to 2014
• Irish Wildlife Manuals – Irish Bat Monitoring Programme 2015-2017
• Irish Wildlife Manuals – Irish Bat Monitoring Programme 2018-2021
• Northern Ireland Monitoring Report for 2022
• Northern Ireland Monitoring Report for 2023
• All Ireland Annual Monitoring Report for 2023

Reports from other Bat Conservation Ireland Projects

• BATLAS Report 2020. A report on a systematic survey of 10 x 10km squares across the island of Ireland using bat detectors to generate records for four of the most common bat species, 10 years on from the last BATLAS report.
• BATLAS 2020 Pilot. A pilot scheme was carried out in autumn 2015. Based on the results of this pilot we plan to roll out BATLAS 2020 island-wide from 2016 onwards and map the distributions of Irish bats at a 5 x 5km square level.
• BATLAS 2010. A report on a systematic survey of 10 x 10km squares across the island of Ireland using bat detectors to generate records for four of the most common bat species
• Landscape Conservation for Irish Bats. A report on a study by the Centre for Irish Bat Research into bat records, habitats, climate and other factors. Results include maps of Ireland that highlight areas of potentially high bat occurrence and areas where bats are more vulnerable
• Impact of Developments on Bats. Results of an investigation into the impact of various developments on bat faunas, a report to The Heritage Council
• Bridge Survey 2008. A report to The Heritage Council on a survey of bridges for roosting bats
• Bat Fieldcraft Workshop 2005. Report on the bat workshop, Killarney 2005 (part of the Xth European Bat Research Symposium)

The Aoibheann Gaughran Award

This award honours the memory of Aoibheann Gaughran, a devoted conservationist, volunteer and integral member of Dublin Bat Group.  Aoibheann’s enthusiasm, energy and commitment, inspired all who met her and she has been very sadly missed by loved ones, family, friends, colleagues and all who knew her.  This award characterises Aoibheann’s legacy of commitment, fun, energy and enthusiasm which she brought to every aspect of her conservation work, which lives on through all who knew her.

The spirit of the award aims to capture their commitment, leadership, work, projects and length of service which have made a difference to the world of bat conservation and helped bring people together to achieve this goal.

Voting will be online and adjudication of the award will be based along the following criteria:

• Good character;
• Proven track record
• Projects/Work centred on bat conservation completed
• Work/projects that have furthered conservation/preservation of Irish bat
• Leadership skills

Nomination is through a completed nomination form, which is available at: 2024-Aoibheann-Gaughran-Nomination-Form

Closing date for nominations is: Monday 7^th October 2024.

Announcement of Winner will be at the inaugural Bat Ball to celebrate Bat Conservation Ireland’s 20^th Anniversary, which will be held on Saturday 16^th November 2024 in the Hardiman Hotel, Eyre Square, Galway.  The winner will be invited to give an acceptance speech.

Queries in relation to the Aoibheann Gaughran Award to be directed to: admin@batconservationireland.org