The Bats in Backyards project is signalling for hero citizen scientists to help uncover secrets of the night.
Following another successful year, the Bats in Backyards project once again needs help to survey for threatened micro-bats.
Volunteer farmers, urban dwellers, anyone with the smallest area of outside space are needed in Armidale, Collarenebri, Mungindi/Weemelah, Narrabri, Nyngan, Pillar Valley, Wellington and Western Sydney areas.
Using a supplied bat detector the wildlife heroes, caped or not, will pick up the high frequency echolocations of these insect-eating bats over 3 to 5 days.
The sensitive system can identify bats by their distinctive echolocations unique to individual species.
This program helps understand where these micro-bats are, which ones are threatened and lets land holders know which ones are chomping insects over their property.
There are 34 species of insect-eating bats in NSW 18 of which are listed as threatened.
Often misunderstood bats play a critical role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. Historically portrayed as villains, bats eat mosquitos, biting midges and crop pests by the billions. Yes, that is with a ‘b’.
Bats can eat up to their own body weight in insects every single night and are a great natural and free bug-controller.
Predation on agricultural pests by bats is worth $63.6 million annually to the cotton industry alone.
Participating citizen scientists will receive a personalized report detailing each bat species detected, their preferred habitat and food sources, as well as recommendations for their protection and conservation.
Home, land, and apartment owners or occupiers in the project areas are invited to participate from October 2024 to March 2025.
Last year the 301 Bats in Backyards participants, including farmers, urban residents, recorded 395 708 echolocations, identified 20 species of bats including seven threatened species.
The results of the project will help better understands bats and how to provide protection for them including roosting habitats.
So the bat-signal is calling, jump online to find out more and register your interest https://saving ourspecies.online/bats.
The ‘Bats in Backyards’ project is being delivered by the NSW Government Saving our Species program in partnership with NSW Department of Primary Industries and Western Sydney University.
