Conference abstracts 2013 Session one: Protecting bats Speaking up for bats Julia Hanmer, Bat Conservation Trust; [email protected] In this talk I will share BCT’s recent work to speak up for bats, to change attitudes and influence decision making in policy and practice. This year we have encountered worrying degrees of anti-bat prejudice from high level decision makers with an environmental remit. We have also seen further negative attitudes about protected species and bats in particular as part of a pro-growth agenda which seems to lay the blame for slow economic growth on wildlife protection. Bats and the legislation protecting them have also been misunderstood by the Church of England. We are working to turn this around, into positive stories, campaigns and advocates who will speak up for bats and their conservation needs. We have joined forces with UK NGOs in the State of Nature partnership to strengthen support for nature conservation, and we are working with international partners to build a global bat conservation network. A crucial part of our work is influencing decision makers to take account of the needs of bats. To facilitate more strategic decision making we have created spatial maps of bat data to give local bat groups and planners a bats eye view of the landscape. We continue to work to raise standards and have called for final comments on the 2nd Edition of the Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines. We are working to influence land management practice by training woodland managers and we are lobbying to include measures in the new environmental land management scheme that will benefit bats. And in Wales, Scotland and England we continue to deal with rapid policy change as we work to influence agendas such as sustainable development, smarter environmental regulation and biodiversity offsetting. None of this work would be possible without the support of our members, volunteers, supporters and partners. A big thank you for all you do to make a difference for bats.

Investigating potential bat crimes Pete Charleston, Bat Conservation Trust; [email protected] This year marks the tenth anniversary of BCT’s investigations project. This presentation will look at the development of the project over that time, providing insight into how we work with the Police and other enforcement organisations. Bat crime is one of the UK wildlife crime priorities, we will look at what this means in practice and whether criminal offending against bats can ever be considered to be serious and organised. We will outline how bat groups and individual bat workers can effectively contribute to bat crime investigations and will conclude by reminding delegates of how the project is funded.

Class licences for bats and other regulatory improvements: an update from Natural England Matt Heydon, Natural England; [email protected] Recently, Natural England has introduced a series of new licences for protected species, including ‘class licences’ for bat surveying. The new licences, along with other regulatory reforms, aim to facilitate activities that require licences while ensuring that the conservation status of protected species is assured. The presentation will explain the rationale behind the new bat class licences and provide the conference with an update on other relevant planned changes.

Session two: Bat mitigation Wolvercote Railway Tunnel Geoff Billington, Greena Ecological Consultancy; [email protected] Wolvercote railway tunnel is 130m long running beneath the northern Oxford ring road, as well as being a roosting site it provides a dark corridor for bats to pass beneath a highly illuminated area. Extensive studies for a proposal to increase passenger train speeds from 30mph to 70mph since 2009 have to date recorded at least 15 bat species using this corridor, including Savis pipistrelle a new resident UK species. Small numbers of up to a couple of dozen bats of 5 common bat species roost in the tunnel. This proposal was the first to be a draft EPS licence case, this has led to a very close and fruitful, working relationship with NE over the survey and monitoring requirements over several years. The first ever railway tunnel lighting bat mitigation system is currently being finalised, a full scale trial of the system was conducted over 6 weeks in 2011. Two repeat years of baseline bat survey data has been collected in 2012 & 2013 including radio tracking numbers of bats in early and late summer, 3 months triple static bat detector monitoring, hibernation counts, late summer emergence counts, extensive off site transects and 6 weeks of static bat detector monitoring, wider area roost counts, pre works casualty surveys.

Double Jeopardy: The potential for problems when bats meet breathable roofing membranes Stacey Waring, Bat Conservation Trust, University of Reading; [email protected] Bats constitute an important component of urban biodiversity and several species are now highly dependent on buildings, making them particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic and environmental changes. Many buildings suitable for use as bat roosts often require reroofing and traditional bituminous roofing felts are frequently being replaced with breathable roofing membranes (BRMs), which are designed to reduce condensation. Anecdotal evidence from where BRMs have been fitted into existing bat roosts has shown significant mortality of bats through entanglement with fibres pulled loose through contact. This paper reports on four years of experimental work carried out to determine the ways in which bats and BRMs interact, how this could pose potential dangers for bats and the implications for BRM service life predictions and warranties. A clear set of criteria for mitigation is outlined as well as suggestions for further research.

Pseudogymnoascus destructans in the UK Lisa Worledge1, Helen Miller1, Alex Barlow2 and Kevin Drees3; Bat Conservation Trust1, AHVLA Wildlife Group2, Northern Arizona University Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics3. [email protected], [email protected] The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been confirmed as the cause of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease that has devastated some bat populations in North America. It has been identified as a novel pathogen that may have been introduced from continental Europe. Pd has been confirmed on bats in a number of European countries but without the mass mortalities associated with the syndrome. One hypothesis is that bats in mainland Europe have evolved resistance to Pd over a long period of time. Since 2008 the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) and the Animal Health & Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) have been undertaking a passive surveillance programme, testing suspect funguses found on bats in the UK, for the presence of Pd. Guidance on what to look for at hibernation sites and how to collect samples from suspect bats has been provided to UK bat workers since 2010. In addition 658 hibernation sites have been visited in the last four years as part of the UK’s National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) and surveyors are asked to provide information on the presence of suspect bats. Over the same time period (2010 to 2013) there have been 55 suspect cases with samples (tape, swab or dead bats) submitted for testing from six different bat species through the passive surveillance programme. Due to the limited number of samples being submitted to the passive surveillance programme, BCT in collaboration with the AHVLA, Northern Arizona University and five NBMP volunteers, undertook a small-scale active surveillance project to look for the presence of Pd in environmental samples in UK hibernacula. Northern Arizona University are one of the foremost institutions in carrying out work isolating Pd from surface and sediment samples. They tested a small number of UK samples as part of this research. Sediment and surface samples were collected by NBMP volunteers from six sites in Kent and Sussex in January 2013. There were positive samples from five of the six sites and additionally a positive sample from a live bat at one of the sites submitted as part of the passive surveillance programme. The discovery of Pd in the UK is cause for cautious optimism. Its absence may have indicated that UK bats did not have an innate resistance to the fungus as has been seen in bats in continental Europe. However, further work is required to understand the distribution of the fungus beyond South East England.

Session three: Woodland bat ecology The role of the Madagascar flying fox (Pteropus rufus) in forest regeneration in Madagascar Ryszard Oleksy and Gareth Jones, University of Bristol; [email protected] Madagascar has three endangered and endemic species of fruit bats. The largest one, Pteropus rufus, is relatively common and distributed widely in the country. So far 110 plant species have been identified in its diet, including 59 (i.e. 55%) endemic species. This suggests that P. rufus has a very diverse diet, which has enabled it to adapt to areas with vastly differing vegetation types, e.g. dry deciduous forest in the south, littoral forest on the coast, and lowland rain forest in the north-east.

This study aimed to determine the efficiency of Malagasy bats in promoting forest regeneration by comparing the germination success of seeds from faecal and ejecta pellets with those of ripe fruits. The seeds were exposed to progressively more natural challenges. Treatments were performed in conditions ranging from the laboratory, where sterilized seeds were placed on filter paper in a Petri dish, through differently treated soil and finally, in their natural conditions. Additionally, using high resolution GPS tags, we recorded the movement and foraging patterns of the Madagascar flying fox in a fragmented landscape. Findings will illustrate the role of P.rufus in forest regeneration through long distance seed dispersal, habitat preferences and movements across isolated forest fragments. Knowledge about this behaviour in relation to constant disturbance and hunting may help in further conservation actions and assist with the protection of these important Malagasy mammals. Can’t see the wood for the trees? – Determining the distribution of rare woodland bats at a landscape level. The Isle of Wight Woodland Bat Project Ian Davidson-Watts, Davidson-Watts Ecology; [email protected] In this study the Isle of Wight woodland bat project aimed to provide the distribution and breeding status of woodland bats (primarily Bechstein’s bat, barbastelle and noctule) in relation to woodland types on the Isle of Wight, from which other conservation actions within the Isle of Wight Woodland Bat Species Action Plan can be initiated and provide a reasonably high level of information relating to how these species use habitats at a landscape/county level. In 2006 and 2007, a total of 42 woodlands of various types, including plantations, ancient semi-natural broadleaved and planted ancient woodlands were sampled using mist nets and harp traps. Bechstein’s and barbastelle bats were fitted with radio transmitters to locate roosts. A total of 219 bats of 12 different species were captured. The most frequently caught bat was the Bechstein’s bat (32% of all bats) which was captured in 67% of the woodlands surveyed. Male Bechstein’s bats were found across the Isle of Wight where there was reasonable woodland cover and maternity colonies appeared to favour ancient semi natural and planted ancient woodland. A total of 21 maternity roosts of Bechstein’s bats and six maternity roosts of barbastelles were also located through radio tracking. One barbastelle roost tree contained over 115 individuals making it possibly the largest barbastelle roost in the UK. Comparison of Bechstein’s bat roost trees to randomly selected trees found that maternity roosts of Bechstein’s bats appear to be found mainly in woodpecker holes in ash trees, which made up over 80% of the 21 roosts located, and within woodland blocks. Males significantly selected other cavity types (scars/splits) as opposed to woodpecker holes. This paper demonstrates that the Isle of Wight is possibly of international significance for rare woodland bats at a landscape level and has one of the highest numbers of confirmed breeding colonies of Bechstein’s bats in the UK. Factors such as a warmer maritime climate, good woodland networks, the lack of deer browsing affecting the understory in woodlands, and the absence of the aggressive tree hole competitor – the grey squirrel, are possible reasons for the high population of this species on the Isle of Wight.

Session four: Local conservation partnerships Big Bat Surveys - How to enjoy a night out in Somerset Edward Wells, Cath Shellswell, Somerset Bat Group; [email protected] Since 2007 Somerset Bat Group has been involved in annual “Big Bat Surveys” on the Mendip Hills and more recently the Blackdown Hills. The surveys were conceived to provide data of bat activity across the landscape which could inform agri-environment applications. Additionally, they provided a way of engaging local communities with a largely unseen element of the wildlife on their doorstep. In each survey pre-set transects were walked by teams of at least four people and equipped with both heterodyne and frequency division bat detectors. All transects were walked on the same night to minimise environmental variability. Bat passes were recorded on a form and a continuous recording was subsequently analysed using BatSound to confirm number of passes and species or species group. Each transect was walked in the reverse direction on alternate years to counteract any difference in bat distribution caused by the time at which each section was reached. Annually over 50 people took part in the Mendip survey and over 70 on the Blackdowns survey. The Mendip survey was primarily organised by Somerset Wildlife Trust (SWT) responsible for contacting land owners and the police as well as providing a base camp, insurance cover, health and safety equipment and back up. The Blackdowns survey was run by Somerset Environmental Record Centre (SERC) on behalf of Blackdown Hills AONB. SERC undertook an initial map based assessment of potential bat “hot spots” which was used to select transect areas and provided similar administrative and logistic support. In both cases Somerset Bat Group members helped devise the routes, provided the main recorders and call analysers and produced the reports. We report on the results of both surveys in terms of an insight into landscape use by bats and as a popular local event raising the profile of bats in the community. Full copies of the Mendip Survey is available on SWT’s website http://www.somersetwildlife.org/mendip_living_landscapes.html and the Blackdowns Survey is available on SERC’s website http://www.somerc.com/viewnews/2012/03/09/The+Blackdown+Hills+Big+Bat+Survey+2012/.

Bats, churches and communities: trialling approaches and working for harmony Laura Bambini and Karen Haysom, Bat Conversation Trust; [email protected] A previous national study concluded that in the UK at least 60% of pre-16th century churches may be occupied by bats and in rural areas the rate of occupancy may be much higher. The Bat Conservation Trust’s National Bat Helpline receives more than 400 enquiries from churches each year, with most information requests relating to how to take appropriate account of bats during work on church buildings. Demand for advice is particularly high in eastern and southern England, with these regions comprising approximately 60% of total England church enquiries. Where problems are experienced, bats and churches issues receive a high profile in the media and in Parliament. Several high profile cases have focused attention on the need to help churches that host large roosts of bats within the church buildings, when congregations struggle to cope with the impact of large quantities of droppings or urine damage. BCT has identified that all key stakeholders

(church users, church organisations, bat-workers) have important information, resource and support needs. In particular, church congregations lack the information and support they need to manage bat issues confidently. In 2013, BCT ran a pilot project to work with batworkers, the Church of England, other church organisations, congregations and their wider communities to share knowledge, provide information, create effective partnerships and strengthen and improve the support network for church communities. The overall aim was to ensure that bats and people can thrive together, and that a more positive future is achieved for those bat populations that are dependent on church buildings. This paper discusses the work of the project to date, on-going challenges and future plans.

Session five: Novel places, novel approaches Bats on the Edge: bat activity on islands off the coast of Northumberland Hugh Watson and Rachael Greave, AMEC; [email protected] Several species of bats are known to make long distance migrations between breeding areas in Scandinavia and north-eastern Europe and wintering areas in the south and west of the continent. They are known to cross the Baltic Sea when migrating from Sweden to Germany and Poland and have been observed flying around offshore wind turbines in the Baltic. The three species best known for being long-distance migrants are also regarded as being at highest risk from onshore turbines. These are noctule (Nyctalus noctula), Leisler’s bat (N. Leisleri) and Nathusius’ pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii). We know there is bat migration across the North Sea into Britain, with bats turning up periodically on oil rigs, but we have no real idea of its scale. With the proposed expansion of the offshore wind industry in the North Sea, it is important to know whether this could, potentially, impact large numbers of bats making a regular and underestimated annual migration, or whether there is simply a small-scale drift of seasonal vagrants. In 2012 we placed SM2+ bat detectors on three islands off the Northumberland coast (Lindisfarne, Inner Farne and Coquet) to see what bat activity there was. Analysis is still under way, but results to date show that we have had Nathusius’ pipistrelle activity on all three islands and noctule activity on two. We have also had activity by common and soprano pipistrelles and by Myotis species. We are planning to continue the work this year and by September will be in a position to talk in more detail about our findings. Piloting a novel approach for large-scale automated acoustic monitoring of bats Stuart Newson1 Katherine Boughey2, Jane Harris2, Ash Murray2, Seth Lambiase3 and Martin Horlock4; British Trust for Ornithology & Norwich Bat Group1, Norfolk Barbastelle Study Group2, Norfolk Myotis Study Group3, Norfolk Biodiversity Information Services4; [email protected] Our understanding of bat populations has been hampered by the difficulty in distinguishing different species of bats, the expertise that is required to do so and the time consuming process of analysing sound files containing bat calls. At a good site, it is possible to produce several thousand sound files over a night. With developments in passive bat detectors and software for automating the capture and analysis of sound files, there is the potential to collect and analyse large volumes of data. This information is essential for the targeting of conservation action. However, whilst technology has moved on, the cost of the equipment remains too high to be widely used in large-scale monitoring programmes.

Here Stuart Newson provides an overview of a novel approach (trialed across Norfolk in 2013 and known as the Norfolk Bat Survey, www.batsurvey.org) for enabling the wider public to take advantage of recent advances in technology for automating the capture and analysis of acoustic monitoring data for bats. Working in partnership with a broad range of national and local organisations, nature reserve visitor centres and local libraries, the Norfolk Bat Survey provides a mechanism for enabling anyone in the county to be within 15-20 miles of a “Bat Monitoring Centre”, from which a high quality passive detector can be borrowed, and a system in place for analyzing these data and providing timely feedback to volunteers. The aim is that by doing this we will improve the ability of biological surveillance data for bats in the county to provide information on the status of species, and over time a representative and robust measure of change. In addition, whilst all species of bats are recorded, we maximise the use of these data during the season, by identifying sites where difficult to distinguish e.g. Whiskered / Brandt’s bats are recorded, and for more intensive site-based work to be carried out at a sample of these sites (acoustic lure used with mist-netting) to ground truth identification. Acoustic identification of these cryptic species has improved considerably over the past couple of years, particularly as a result of work that has been carried out on these species by Chris Scott at Leeds University and Charlotte Walters at ZSL. An understanding of how far we can push acoustic identification with these new tools will be extremely useful for on-going largescale monitoring work. Analysis of wing beat frequency using computer vision John Atanbori1, Peter Cowling2, John Murray1, Belinda Colston1, Paul Eady1, Dave Hughes1,2 and Patrick Dickinson1; University of Lincoln1, Lincolnshire Bat Group2 [email protected] and [email protected] Computer vision techniques have been used extensively to automatically monitor human activities; however applications for analysing animal behaviour are sparse. The analysis of bat behaviour in particular has attracted only one or two studies. Most existing work uses either expensive thermal imaging equipment, or bespoke sensors which are not accessible to field researchers, ecologists, and scientists studying behaviour. Our work aims to develop computer vision techniques for analysing bat behaviour using low-cost and accessible imaging equipment, providing a useful and informative field tool. The work we present here is a study analysing the features of bat flight behaviour using computer vision techniques. In particular we are investigating effective spectral analysis techniques for quantifying wing beat frequency, using a single imaging device in low-light. In our case we use a Casio Exilim ZR100 consumer digital camera. The aim is not only to measure and characterise wing beat frequency variation in flight, but to correlate this with physical features (e.g. body mass and species) and use it as a feature for automated classification. Our work is ongoing and we present initial results obtained using video data collected by the Lincolnshire Bat Group. We discuss effective low-level image processing techniques for dealing with low-light video data and tracking bats in flight. We then present results achieved using different image metrics, analysed as a 1D time signal and transformed into the frequency domain using Short Time Fourier Transforms (STFT). Our current focus is on the segmentation of flight tracks into coherent sub-sequences representing different modes of flight, and development of robust algorithms which can be used to analyse longer video sequences in naturalistic environments. We conclude with a discussion of future challenges in the development of this technology and the use of computer vision to characterise behaviour over very large data corpora.

Bat species identification from zero-crossing and full-spectrum echolocation calls using HMMs, fisher scores, unsupervised clustering and balanced winnow pairwise classifiers Ian Agranat, Wildlife Acoustics, Inc. [email protected] A new classification technique developed for Wildlife Acoustics' upcoming Kaleidoscope Pro Bat Auto ID Software for the identification of bats to species from their echolocation calls is presented. Three different datasets are compiled and split in half. The first for training and the second for testing classifiers. Combined, the data include 9,014 files (bat passes) with 226,432 candidate calls (pulses or extraneous noise) representing 22 different species of bats found in North America and the United Kingdom. Some files are of high quality consisting of hand-selected search phase calls of tagged free flying bats while others are from a variety of field conditions including both active (attended) and passive (unattended) recordings made with a variety of zero-crossing and full-spectrum recording equipment from multiple vendors. Average correct classification rates for the three datasets on test data are 100.0%, 97.9%, and 88.8%, respectively with an average of 92.5%, 72.2%, and 39.9% of all files identified to species. Most importantly, classifiers in the third dataset for two species of U.S. endangered bats, Myotis sodalis (MYSO) and Myotis grisescens (MYGR) have a correct classification rate of 100% and 98.6% respectively and identify 67.4% and 93.8% of all files to species suggesting that the classifiers are well suited to distinguishing echolocations with very similar characteristics.