Join the Community Bat Count

Bat Watch is a citizen science program to annually monitor bat populations in roost sites. Abandoned houses, barns, church steeples – and even currently occupied structures and bat houses – can provide a summer home to female bats and their young. Monitoring these “maternity colonies” can give biologists a good idea of how bat populations in an area are doing from year to year. With the occurrence of White-nose Syndrome in North America, monitoring these colonies is more important than ever.

Ideally, the Bat Count includes four counts during the summer - two between June 1 and 21 (before pups can fly) and two more between July 11 and August 5 (when pups are flying and exiting the roost with their mothers). Doing all four bat counts allows Bat Watch to best compare data from year to year and between sites. However, if you don't have time, you can choose your level of participation (one count, one count each period, two counts once or twice).

Here's how. It's fun and simple (glass of wine while counting is optional): 

Arrive at your bat roost at sunset (bats will begin to emerge at dusk).

The air temperature should be at least 12° (C) with low wind speed.

Sit or stand outside so that the bats' exit point is visible from a comfortable distance. More than one person might be needed if bats are exiting from multiple points.

Tally the bats as they fly out for their nightly insect eating. A hand clicker can help. 

Record your observations on the data sheet (available at www.bcbats.ca/attachments/BCBatCountdataform2017.pdf).

Mail your data sheet to the BC Bats Program at the end of the summer.

Do not enter bat roosts or handle the animals.

Please respect private property. Ask permission if the bat roost is on someone else's land.

For more information go www.bcbats.ca  or contact ThINC@thetisisland.net