UKC

Hi All,
Looking to do some research on the use of rock faces by roosting bats and would be most grateful if anyone with experience of this could complete the short survey I have pulled together here - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/D5Z3CQK
Cheers

In reply to mikeshewring:

Done, copy in your findings once complete I'll be keen to know.

Thanks

In reply to mikeshewring:

Haven't filled the survey in yet as not sure of species/numbers but I'm fairly sure there are bats in the cave(s) at Chudleigh. I'll check at work tomorrow.

In reply to greylag:

Thanks Greylag, will do.

In reply to Skip:

Hi Skip,
No need for species information if not known. FYI - not interested in cave systems as such (these are pretty well recorded) but more use of features on rock faces (although this may incl. shallow caves).
Cheers
Mike

In reply to mikeshewring:

I've done the survey, if you can e-mail me your e-mail address I can send you the photo I took of it.

L

In reply to lone:

Thanks Ione. I have emailed you.
Cheers
Mike

In reply to mikeshewring: Done!

In reply to johncook:

Thanks John.

In reply to mikeshewring:

I've completed with the only info I can remember for certain as I've seen the bat(s) there more than once, although I've seen them elsewhere since. The first time I heard the bat before I saw it. I have noticed what are presumably bat droppings in the breaks too, and I suspect you might be able to survey some sites from them.

In reply to mikeshewring:

My mother insists all rock climbers are bats. Not sure if that helps....

In reply to Adam Long:

Thanks Adam, much appreciated. Any records of droppings also gratefully received! Drop me an email if easier and you have the time!
Cheers
Mike

In reply to mikeshewring:

Done, but hoping this isn't going to lead to bat bans on top of the bird restrictions!

In reply to mikeshewring:

Done. Assume you want a second reply for another occasion?

In reply to mikeshewring:

Done

In reply to The Ivanator:

Hi The Ivanator,
That's certainly not my aim. I'd also expect most use of rock faces by bats to be occasional and in low numbers. As such any disturbance by climbing would be unlikely to impact on the conservation status of bats, unlike disturbance in more high risk roosts such as hibernation (i.e. caves) or maternity (usually trees and buildings).
Cheers
Mike

In reply to Derek Furze:

Thanks Derek Furze. Yes please!

In reply to mikeshewring:

Completed.

In reply to mikeshewring:

Some organisations DO NOT have a common sense approach to this issue and I would suggest that everyone stays well clear of question 5 and the request for information about bat droppings.

In reply to mikej:

Hi mikej,

Hope your well. Thanks for completing the survey.

As stated in my reply to The Ivanator I would not expect disturbance by rock climbing to be of any concern to statutory nature conservation organisation as most roosts will be transitory in nature and thus disturbance would be unlikely to effect the conservation status of any bat species (this is the criteria it would be assessed against by any SNCO). Its also certainly been my experience of dealing with SNH, NRW and NE that they usually take a pragmatic approach.

The purpose of question 5 is to give me an idea of geographic spread of this use and ideally have look at rock type etc based on the responses. Happy for people to exclude route names if this is still of concern.

Drop me an email if you want to discuss further.

Cheers

MIke

In reply to Christheclimber:

Thanks Christtheclimber much appreciated.

In reply to mikeshewring:

I am not the Messiah!

In reply to mikeshewring:

Completed. One small bat in 40 odd years - I should get out more (oh, but I do)!

In reply to HB1:

done - one in 30.

In reply to mikeshewring:

Done. One in 43 years!

In reply to Nigel Coe:

Thanks Nigel, much appreciated.