Night-vision adds a new dimension to bat walks
Bat Walks begin on May 12
Navigating the night isn’t a problem for bats. Now visitors to Arundel Wetland Centre will be able to watch these winged wonders under cloak of darkness, with the aid of night-vision equipment. Starting this May, corporate partner Viewpoint Optics will be trialling a range of night-vision equipment during the monthly bat walks at WWT Arundel.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity to add an extra dimension to this already enlightening experience with these mysterious creatures” said Neil Phillipson of Viewpoint Optics. Currently bat detectors are used to locate bats and flashlights pick them out in the dark to watch them feed over the water. The bat walks start with a visit to the Reed bed hide to watch the tiny pipistrelle bats emerge from their roosts at dusk.
"Being able to easily see the bats in the dark as well as hear them will be amazing’’ said Paul Stevens, grounds manager and licensed bat worker who leads the walks. Paul completed a bat survey of the site in April by walking the reserve and listening with bat detectors at 13 set points. "I detected three species; soprano pipistrelle, common pipistrelle and Daubenton's bat but we can get up to 7 of the 17 species found in the UK. "
Some of the bat boxes built during workshops at WWT Arundel in March were donated to Arundel’s bat population. These have been erected around the reserve on south facing walls that collect the heat of the day. These bat hot spots are stops on the walk, “Bats prefer warm, sun-beat spots but the Woodland Lodge building is in shade most of the day so we have installed a heater to encourage bats to roost there”.
Bat Walks at Arundel Wetland Centre start Thursday 12 May, 2011. The walk costs £12 and must be pre-booked by calling 01903 881530.
