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bats

Tiny bat makes incredible migration across the North Sea

Nathusius pippistrelle

New evidence from the UK has proved that tiny bats can and do cross the sea from Britain to mainland Europe. A thumb-sized Nathusius pipistrelle originally ringed in the UK has been recovered dead almost 600km away by bat researchers in the Netherlands. Because these tiny bats, which weigh just 6-15….

Pettersson D240X Bat Detector Review

Side view of the D240X bat detector

Pros: Very solid, well made detector that feels like a quality item in the hand. Large array of controls and options offer lots of customisation and tweaks for the discerning enthusiast or bat research professional. Very sensitive microphone picks up bats with ease. High quality speaker, dials and excellent backlit….

Bat Detector Review: Elekon Batscanner

Elekon BatScanner Short Review Pros: Simple to use — just point and listen. Compact design ideal to slip in a pocket. Good sound quality and excellent microphone sensitivity. Scans across all frequencies so never miss a passing bat. Cons: Screw-on battery compartment cover would make changing batteries in the field….

Bats reprieved as minister intervenes in Clare County Council zoning fiasco

The internationally protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat has been granted a reprieve in County Clare after Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, intervened in a controversial council zoning decision. Reports indicate that the Minister took the unprecedented move of issuing a “notice of intent” directing the council to….

Batty about Irish bats!

It was Monday night. I sat half-watching a painful American TV show (just because it was on) and half-reading the latest updates to the Ireland’s Wildlife page on Facebook, when a movement outside caught my eye. The long stretch in the evening meant that while it wasn’t exactly light it….

Landscape conservation to help Irish bats

Bat conservation Map

A new initiative to help authorities make informed decisions about landscape conservation for Ireland’s bat species was launched in Dublin earlier this week by Dr Liam Lysaght, director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC). A joint project by Bat Conservation Ireland (BCI) and the Centre for Irish Bat Research….

Leisler’s Bat (Nyctalus leisleri)

Leisler’s bats are considered rare throughout their European range, except here in Ireland, where the species is common and widespread. The Irish Leisler’s bat population is the biggest in Europe, and Ireland is a significant European stronghold for this, our largest bat species. Although it is our biggest bat, Leisler’s….