Bailiwick Bat Survey 2023

The surveying season is finished!

We are now at the end of our surveying season for 2023. Next year will be the last year of the project so it will be your final chance to take part! If you’re not already signed up, please email us and register early for the 2024 season.

The 2024 surveying season will begin again on the 1st April and will run through until the end of October.

If you have any queries, please get in touch and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

The survey aims to improve our understanding of the distribution and activity of the different species of bat found in Guernsey, Herm, Alderney and Sark whilst providing an opportunity for anyone across the islands to take part in this project.

Why care about Bats?

Bats are an ‘indicator species’. They can tell us a lot about the state of our environment as they are a top predator for nocturnal insects. Bats will be affected by changes in landscape, agriculture practises, development and habitat fragmentation. These changes will have an impact on many species in Guernsey but by surveying the changes in bat populations, it will indicate the wider health of our wildlife, without having to count every species.

Bats are a natural form of pest control, eating thousands of insects each night – including mosquitos! They are great for keeping bugs away from crops which provides a valuable service for agriculture and even your own vegetable patch. Bats provide this service free of charge, and without the use of pesticides.

Meet our local bats

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Nathusiass-pipistrelle-by-Daniel-Hargreaves

EA5A6963 Kulhs pip Pipistrellus kulhi Guernsey 17.08.18 - Daniel Hargreaves

Sadly, bat species around the world are vulnerable or endangered due to factors ranging from loss of habitat, diminished food supply, destruction of roosts, disease or killing of bats.

However … there are lots of things we can do to help!

To learn more, head to our ‘Bat Protection’ page.

Read the results of the 2022 bailiwick Bat survey

2022 Bailiwick Bat Survey Report

Overall, 3,389,138 recordings were collected which, following analyses and validation, were found to include 872,126 bat recordings, and 8,587 small terrestrial mammal recordings. Over 2 million recordings of bush-crickets and audible moth species were also recorded as ‘by-catch’, for which we report species presence on a site and night basis.

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