The bat group were really sorry to learn that the owner of the serotine roost died lat year. Audrey loved hosting the bats and made us very welcome whenever we went round. The serotine roost was used in a PhD research project which involved ringing the bats. We have been returning every year since to try to catch the bats and check the ring numbers.
Photo Hedj Dollman
Audrey was very clear that she wanted us to continue to monitor the roost and Tony went round to see the new occupants who did not realise they shared their house with bats. They were happy to let us check the roost. The bats were as sneaky as usual and of the 6 bats that emerged we only managed to catch two of them using our patent bat catcher- which Iain described last year as “A zimmer frame wearing a nappy”,
Photo Jude Hirstwood
One of the bats was a female ringed three years ago and not caught since, she hadn’t had a baby this year and the other was a male juvenile ( our first ever captured male). Numbers were lower this year but we know that serotine colonies use several roosts.
The householders have said we can go back next year and continue monitoring the roost – the only known serotine in Bedfordshire. We are very happy to do this and honour Audrey’s request.