Bat Conservation Ireland bases its conservation recommendations for bats on the results of scientific research. Since the establishment of BCIreland in 2004 our knowledge of Irish bats has increased tremendously, but there are still many gaps in our understanding.
For example, we have little information on the extent of ecosystems services provided to us by bats in Ireland, how many pests insects do they eat? We also still do not know much about where our bats hibernate in winter, whether migrations occur to and from the continent, and what impacts climate change will have as it continues.
In order to address some of these gaps Bat Conservation Ireland has contributed data to indigenous and overseas researchers working on these kinds of research questions.
We also support 3rd level research carried out in Ireland, for example, we devised and partly funded a project that was completed in Queens University and the Centre for Irish Bat Research on landscape and roosting associations of Irish bats.
BCIreland also occasionally acts as external supervisor on Masters research based in 3rd level institutions across the island.
In addition, the work that BCIreland carries out on monitoring bats is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and regularly presented at national and international conferences for the appraisal of the international scientific community.
If you are interested in completing a science project on Irish bats in Ireland, whether big or small, at school or 3rd level, we would be happy to help if we can. Feel free to contact us to discuss your research interests.