P
peter hayes
Guest
Research into a North Devon-based colony of greater horseshoe bats -
some of Europe's rarest creatures - has uncovered valuable new evidence
about their lifestyles. But the high-tech equipment used to trace the
flying patterns of the bats, which are down to their last 5,000 in the
UK, is unlikely to crack one particular mystery - where the bats go in
the winter.Researchers from English Nature, the Government's wildlife
conservation agency, traced the summertime flight patterns of the
Braunton colony of greater horseshoe bats.At 700 strong, this is one of
the most significant colonies of the bats in the whole of Europe.English
Nature began work in the Braunton area five years ago with the aim of
finding out what factors affected the bats and what could be done to
ensure that they could thrive.Last summer, the English Nature team used
tiny transmitters to obtain exact details on where the bats
flew.Yesterday, the team invited farmers and other landowners who had
helped them with their work to a seminar at Braunton Parish Hall, where
they revealed their findings.English Nature conservation officer James
Diamond said: "Bats were carefully caught in their roosts and a tiny
patch of fur shaved so that the transmitters, which weigh 0.6g, could be
attached. Special glue was used for this so that after ten days, the
transmitters would just fall off."The results of the radio tracking
showed the researchers that the bats cover surprisingly large distances
at night in pursuit of their food, and also had favourite spots
according to the time of year.The tracking was carried out at two
separate times of the summer, to avoid the breeding season.In May, the
researchers found that the Braunton colony spent much of its time
feeding on Braunton marshes, which is a rich hunting ground for
cockchafers, also known as May bugs.In August, the other period of radio
tracking carried out by researchers, the bats abandoned Braunton marshes
and favoured the hedgerows of fields in areas such as Georgeham."We
expected them to like hedgerows, areas of pasture and other places rich
in the beetles and moths they like to eat, but we were quite surprised
to find that some of the bats fly from Braunton and cross the Taw
estuary to feed in the Fremington area," said James.The bats flew across
the River Taw and then fed up and down the route of the former
Barnstaple to Bideford railway, which is now the Tarka Trail."There are
trees and hedges along the trail, which obviously provide the greater
horseshoe bats with the food they are looking for," said James."Although
we have found out a lot about the bats, we still do not know where their
winter roosts are, where they go to hibernate."The researchers have also
discovered that the bats, which weigh a little over one ounce and have a
wingspan of about 14 inches, can reach speeds of up to 40mph.An
important part of the work carried out by the English Nature team was
working with landowners to ensure that the traditional farming landscape
around Braunton was maintained. Many of the sites used by greater
horseshoe bats in the Braunton area and other parts of the Westcountry
are covered by Countryside Stewardship Schemes, which play an important
role in providing the right habitat for the bats.Yesterday's seminar was
told that the support being given to the bats was paying off.From 1988
to 2002, the number of females in the colony had increased by 22 per
cent - from 209 to 268.
some of Europe's rarest creatures - has uncovered valuable new evidence
about their lifestyles. But the high-tech equipment used to trace the
flying patterns of the bats, which are down to their last 5,000 in the
UK, is unlikely to crack one particular mystery - where the bats go in
the winter.Researchers from English Nature, the Government's wildlife
conservation agency, traced the summertime flight patterns of the
Braunton colony of greater horseshoe bats.At 700 strong, this is one of
the most significant colonies of the bats in the whole of Europe.English
Nature began work in the Braunton area five years ago with the aim of
finding out what factors affected the bats and what could be done to
ensure that they could thrive.Last summer, the English Nature team used
tiny transmitters to obtain exact details on where the bats
flew.Yesterday, the team invited farmers and other landowners who had
helped them with their work to a seminar at Braunton Parish Hall, where
they revealed their findings.English Nature conservation officer James
Diamond said: "Bats were carefully caught in their roosts and a tiny
patch of fur shaved so that the transmitters, which weigh 0.6g, could be
attached. Special glue was used for this so that after ten days, the
transmitters would just fall off."The results of the radio tracking
showed the researchers that the bats cover surprisingly large distances
at night in pursuit of their food, and also had favourite spots
according to the time of year.The tracking was carried out at two
separate times of the summer, to avoid the breeding season.In May, the
researchers found that the Braunton colony spent much of its time
feeding on Braunton marshes, which is a rich hunting ground for
cockchafers, also known as May bugs.In August, the other period of radio
tracking carried out by researchers, the bats abandoned Braunton marshes
and favoured the hedgerows of fields in areas such as Georgeham."We
expected them to like hedgerows, areas of pasture and other places rich
in the beetles and moths they like to eat, but we were quite surprised
to find that some of the bats fly from Braunton and cross the Taw
estuary to feed in the Fremington area," said James.The bats flew across
the River Taw and then fed up and down the route of the former
Barnstaple to Bideford railway, which is now the Tarka Trail."There are
trees and hedges along the trail, which obviously provide the greater
horseshoe bats with the food they are looking for," said James."Although
we have found out a lot about the bats, we still do not know where their
winter roosts are, where they go to hibernate."The researchers have also
discovered that the bats, which weigh a little over one ounce and have a
wingspan of about 14 inches, can reach speeds of up to 40mph.An
important part of the work carried out by the English Nature team was
working with landowners to ensure that the traditional farming landscape
around Braunton was maintained. Many of the sites used by greater
horseshoe bats in the Braunton area and other parts of the Westcountry
are covered by Countryside Stewardship Schemes, which play an important
role in providing the right habitat for the bats.Yesterday's seminar was
told that the support being given to the bats was paying off.From 1988
to 2002, the number of females in the colony had increased by 22 per
cent - from 209 to 268.
