Waterway Survey

Quality Control

All data were collected using a standardised methodology. Heterodyne detectors and visual confirmation of species presence are used enabling a wide range of volunteers to collect data for the purpose of producing Daubenton’s bat population trends. Participants are provided with training and resources to aid species identification but it is not possible to verify records from this survey. The data do not provide a complete picture of bat distribution, but should be considered as a sample of sites from across the UK. These data are not intended to replace systematic local surveys and data held by local records centres.

Method steps

1. A 1km stretch of waterway (river/canal) is walked, with four-minute stops at ten points along the route to record bat activity of Daubenton’s bat with a heterodyne bat detector, during two evenings in August. Daubenton’s bats are identified using a combination of listening to the calls on the bat detector and visually observing bats foraging low over the water, with the aid of a torch if needed. Normally one survey is carried out between 1-15 August and a second survey between 16-30 August.

UK. The survey collects data using a random stratified sampling approach. Survey coverage is not complete however and is lower in areas with fewer volunteers or with less accessible terrain such as upland areas.