Steve Roe, FPCR Associate Director (Ecology), recently led two practical radio telemetry workshops at the Bat Conservation Trust’s South-West Regional Bat Conference, held at Petroc’s North Devon Campus in Barnstaple this April.

The regional bat conferences provide an excellent opportunity for ecologists and consultants to stay up to date with the latest bat research, guidance and survey techniques, while sharing knowledge and experiences from across the sector.

Steve’s workshops introduced delegates to the theory behind radio telemetry before moving outdoors for a hands-on tracking exercise across the campus. Participants used receivers to locate a series of training tags hidden around the site, simulating bats fitted with radio tags occupying potential roost locations.

Despite challenging conditions – including tall buildings and interference from telecommunications systems across the campus – all delegates successfully located the tags, developing practical skills in signal detection and tracking interpretation along the way.

Feedback from attendees was extremely positive, with the workshops offering a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in a realistic survey environment and enjoy the warm April sunshine – rather than being confined to a classroom.

Steve, who has served as Chair of the Bat Conservation Trust since joining the Board of Trustees in 2018, regularly uses radio telemetry techniques as part of FPCR’s ecological consultancy work. Radio tracking can play a vital role in locating bat roosts on complex development sites, particularly within woodland and other challenging landscapes.

If you would like to find out more about FPCR’s bat survey and radio telemetry services, please get in touch with our ecology team here.