BAT COURSES
Bat courses in Estonia
In the summer of 2025 we carry out bat courses in Estonia. Those include observations and learning of bats, using an ultrasound detector and a sound analysis programme.Our bat courses include two aspects: 1) night-time public bat walk to observe the flying bats using a bat detector, and record bat sounds for further analysis and species identification; 2) cameral work using a sound analysis programme to learn and identify bats previously recorded during fieldwork.
Equipment. To listen to the flying bats we use the Pettersson D240x detector and ordinary earphones (not big, not very small) attached to the detector. To record bat sounds from the detector we use the Zoom H2 digital recorder.
Night-time public bat walks are open for persons interested to learn bats. To registrate to the bat walk please look at the calendar below and write your wish to the following e-mail: matti.masing (at) gmail. com. Particpants will receive a written invitation as a respond to their letter. It is advisable to take your bat detector with you. The duration of a bat walk is about two hours. Bat walk begins about one hour after sunset at a geographical location provided to the registered participants.
In the case of bad weather (heavy rain etc.) the bat walk will be postponed.
Day-time analysis of the recorded bat sounds are open for those who have attended the bat walk first. For this indoor event, it is advisable to take your own computer with you. We use the Pettersson BatSound programme to analyse bat sounds.
Calendar of bat walks in 2025
03.8.2025: Tartu, EstoniaAdditional information
For the participants it is also advisable to make some preparations to get full of the courses. Of those preparations, the most important is reading bat sound handbooks on the bats of Europe. I advise Skiba’s books of 2004 and 2009 (2nd edition). When you understand the principles of bat call study, then you also understand what we show you in our courses. It is good to have your own bat detector and sound recording device, and a sound analysis programme in your computer. We use Pettersson D240x hand detector and BatSound programme, so giving examples on this basis.
P.S.1. Our bat courses are free for those interested. But the participants must pay for their accommodation, food and transport during the events.
P.S.2. The forests in Estonia are full of ticks (Ixodes) which deliver different diseases. So the participants in outdoor events (especially in forests) must know this, and prepare themselves accordingly.
Matti Masing, PhD
Bat Station
https://bat-station.blogspot.com/
P.S.1. Our bat courses are free for those interested. But the participants must pay for their accommodation, food and transport during the events.
P.S.2. The forests in Estonia are full of ticks (Ixodes) which deliver different diseases. So the participants in outdoor events (especially in forests) must know this, and prepare themselves accordingly.
Matti Masing, PhD
Bat Station
https://bat-station.blogspot.com/
