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Introduction to Bat Identification

Introduction to Bat Identification. South Yorkshire bats. Common pipistrelle. UK = 17 species South Yorkshire = 9-10 species Small common bats of edge habitats common and soprano pipistrelles Big bats of open habitats noctule + Leisler’s bats Woodland bats

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Introduction to Bat Identification

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  1. Introduction to Bat Identification

  2. South Yorkshire bats Common pipistrelle UK = 17 species South Yorkshire = 9-10 species • Small common bats of edge habitats • common and soprano pipistrelles • Big bats of open habitats • noctule + Leisler’s bats • Woodland bats • brown long-eared bats, Natterer’s bats, whiskered bat, Brandt’s bat • Water bats • Daubenton’s bat Noctule Brown long-eared bat Daubenton’s bat

  3. Basics of Bat Call ID • Often difficult to identify bats to species level using a bat detector • Best to record calls and identify them through examination of the sonogram and measurement of call parameters • Sonogram: • Time on x axis • frequency on y axis Taken from Russ (2012)

  4. Basics of Bat Call ID • For HSM project will use call parameters provided in ‘British bat calls: a guide to species identification’ during manual call ID

  5. Basics of Bat Call ID

  6. Basics of Bat Call ID

  7. Small common bats of edge habitats: common pipistrelle • Common pipistrelle • Common in urban areas • Generalist species • Lives in new and old houses • Common pipistrelles appear fast and jerky in flight and change direction frequently as they dodge pursuing small insects which are caught and eaten in flight • when a bat detector is tuned in to the peak frequency (deepest pitch) the calls sound "wet" and "slappy" • ‘Reversed hockey stick’ call with a peak frequency between 41-49kHz

  8. Small common bats of edge habitats: soprano pipistrelle • Soprano pipistrelle • Associated with water • Lives in buidings and trees • Soprano pipistrellesappear fast and jerky in flight and change direction frequently as persue small insects which are caught and eaten in flight • when a bat detector is tuned in to the peak frequency (deepest pitch) the calls sound "wet" and "slappy" • ‘Reversed hockey stick’ call with a peak frequency between 50-64.1kHz

  9. Big bats of open habitats: noctule • Noctule • Largest British bat, emerges early • Can fly up to 50 km/h • Primarily tree rooster • Characteristic powerful, direct flight on narrow pointed wings • In open habitats produces a two part "chip-chop" call: the "chip" has a peak frequency of around 24 kHz, the "chop" has a peak frequency of around 19 kHz Leisler’s bat

  10. Big bats of open habitats: Leisler’s bat • Leisler’s bat • Very scattered distribution • Roosts in buildings and trees • Similar to noctule • With long narrow wings, in flight Leisler's bats look similar to noctules, but are slightly smaller • Like noctulesusually fly high and fast in the open, with shallow dives (noctules tend to make steeper dives) • in fairly open habitats produces a two part "chip-chop" call: the chip has a peak frequency of around 27 kHz, the chop has a peak frequency of around 23 kHz

  11. Woodland bats: brown long-eared bats • Brown long-eared bat • Known as the ‘whispering bat’ • Roosts in trees and old buildings • Hunts partially through passive hearing • Lucky to hear on a bat detector despite being a common bat, need to be within about 5 m • Frequency modulated calls usually consisting of two harmonics. Peak frequency around 33 kHZ • Calls sound like a light purring

  12. Woodland bats: Natterer’s bat • Natterer’s bat • Roosts in trees and old buildings • Feeds largely by gleaning • Emerges late • Normally fly at heights of less than 5 metres, but occasionally may reach 15 metres in the tree canopy • With all Myotis bats if you tune down to 35 kHz, below common pipistrelle peak frequecy get dry clicks • Quiet and quick, extremely broadband call on average 22.8-106.8 kHz, though can range from 15.1 - 145.3 kHz

  13. Woodland bats: whiskered and Brandt’s bat • Whiskered and Brandt’s bat • Very similar species • Feed on rides and woodland edge • Brandt’s more associated with wet habitats • Whiskered bats have fast and fluttering flight, to a height of 6 metres, generally level with occasional swoops. • Frequently fly along a regular "beat" over or alongside a hedgerow or woodland edge (whereas Brandt's bats more often fly within woodland) • Produces typically frequency modulated pulses starting at around 85 kHz and ending around 32kHz, irregular pulses compared to Daubenton’s bat

  14. Water bats • Daubenton’s bat • Hunts low over water and employs trawling to catch insects • Roosts in trees and bridges • Forms large summer roosts • Can be easily seen on River Don • Heard as a series of rapid clicks on detector • Pulses fast and regular • Produces frequency modulated sweeps starting around 85 kHz and ending at about 25kHz often with slight kinks or bend at 40kHz • Often ‘missing frequencies’ in calls emitted over water

  15. Bats we may find in South Yorkshire • Nathusius’ pipistrelle • Associated with water • Migratory and bigger than common/soprano • Peak frequency between 35.5-41.9 • Alcathoe bat • Similar to whiskered/Brandts • Associated with woodland and water • End frequency rarely drops below 40kHZ • Lesser horseshoe bat • Maybe not for several decades • Instantly recognisable from echolocation call

  16. Any questions?

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