BASKET ( 0 )

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

Bat and Hedgehog Surveys

Event Series Event Series (See All)

August 8 @ 9:00 pm – 10:15 pm

Our nocturnal wildlife is steeped in mystery – by coming out after dark, the ecology and behaviours of sunset explorers including bats and hedgehogs can be unknown and misunderstood. However these creatures have fascinating nocturnal adaptations waiting to be discovered, and are incredibly important indicators of the health of our urban environments.

The ways in which bats and hedgehogs move through and use the Wild Ouseburn project area are little-understood – and in such cases, we can make changes without properly understanding the impact we’re having on these declining mammal populations.

Both rely upon darkness away from urban lighting, habitat connectivity and food availability, so to understand how we can protect and improve these natural features, we need to first identify where bats and hedgehogs are currently active.

Our Bat and Hedgehog Surveys will involve meeting at set points to survey bat activity acoustically (with bat detectors) and search for hedgehogs and their signs. All information will be recorded on a map, as part of the Wild Ouseburn project.

Join us on our Bat and Hedgehog Surveys to help us discover where these animals are active, and:

  • Learn about Bat and Hedgehog ecology
  • Be introduced to Bat survey methodology
  • Learn how to use a Magenta 4 bat detector 
  • Learn different ways to survey Hedgehogs

Surveys will take part in different locations within the Wild Ouseburn project area, and at different times according to the sunset. Please look at Dates and Locations section for the meeting points and start times of each event. 

You are welcome to attend one or all surveys and, if you are interested, will have the opportunity to volunteer to take on areas to continue and expand these important surveys. Everyone is welcome, no prior experience or knowledge of bats or hedgehogs is needed. Please note that most routes include steps.

This is the start of longer-term Wild Ouseburn surveys and studies on our urban bats and hedgehogs, and more opportunities will be developed to contribute to surveying and protecting these mammals.

SURVEY DATES & LOCATIONS

Wednesday 26th June | 21:30 – 22:45

Ouseburn Woods (meet outside Ouseburn Farm entrance)

Friday 5th July | 21:30 – 22:45

Ballast Hill and St Lawrence (meet by bench at Ballast Hill)

Tuesday 9th July | CANCELLED due to weather

Shieldfield

Thursday 18th July | 21:20 -22:35

St Ann’s and Lime Street (meet on Lime Street, at bottom of Steps to Nowhere)

Friday 2nd August | 21:00 – 22:15

Ouseburn Woods (meet outside Ouseburn Farm entrance)

Thursday 8th August | 21:00 – 22:15

Shieldfield (meet outside Big River Bakery)

Thursday 15th August | 20:30 – 21:45

Ballast Hill and St Lawrence (meet by bench at Ballast Hill)

Tuesday 27th August | 20:00 – 21:15

St Ann’s and Lime Street  (meet on Lime Street, at bottom of Steps to Nowhere)