3:50pm Tuesday 17th August 2010
This summer the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is appealing to the public to turn their eyes to the skies for their chance to see real stars of twilight – bats, for the Big Bat Map the UK’s biggest bat survey.
The Big Bat Map www.bats.org.uk/bigbatmap is an online bat survey that allows the public to share their bat sightings on the Bat Conservation Trust website. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and City of London’s City Bridge Trust as part of the Count Bat Project to inspire a more diverse range of people to get involved in conserving bats. Piloted in August 2009, hundreds of people took part in the Big Bat Map challenge last year spotting bats at twilight in the back garden, parks and along canals and waterways. This year it is hoped 10,000 people will take part. Bat sightings can be logged onto the interactive Big Bat Map in only a few minutes www.bats.org.uk/bigbatmap noting the place and rough time of their sighting. In the summer months bats can be seen hunting insects after sunset across the UK. Dan Merrett, Count Bat Regional Coordinator at BCT, said: “We know from last year’s pilot survey that if people take a few minutes at dusk to watch the skies around their homes and gardens they can be rewarded with the spectacular sight of local bats hunting their insect prey. “Bats can be found even in the middle of cities provided there are enough trees and green spaces. The Big Bat Map is a great way for people to let us know where their local bats hang out. By taking part in the Big Bat Map, you can help the Bat Conservation Trust identify bat hotspots and share with others great places to see bats! Last year the survey uncovered previously unknown bat roosts and bat colonies, helping us protect these wonderful animals”
BCT also runs a dedicated Bat Helpline where members of public can get free advice on bats for grounded or injured bats that they have found, by calling 0845 1300 228.
Fantastic bat facts: There are currently 18 species of bats in the UK, 17 of which are known to be breeding.
Bats make up one-third of the UK mammalian biodiversity.
Bats and their roosts are all protected by national and European law due to the dramatic decrease in their numbers.
Bats are unique to the natural heritage as they are the only true flying mammal and are a crucial part of the UK 's delicately balanced biodiversity.
There are over 1000 species of bat in the world and only 3 of species vampire bat. These live in Central and South America feeding on birds, pigs, horses and cattle Operating at the top of the food chain, bats keep in check the numbers of insects active between the hours of dusk and darkness when birds are largely absent. Their role is increasingly important as our climate warms-up and insect numbers increase – a single pipistrelle bat can eat 3,000 insects in the evening whilst a colony of bats eats millions of insects over the summer months.
Bats only have one baby at a time and can live up to 30 years.
Bats are more closely related to people than mice.
The term ‘blind as a bat' is totally inaccurate – bats can see but mainly use a sonar system called ‘echolocation'. This is above the range of human hearing, but can be heard by people using a ‘bat detector'.
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