Bat photography

[goosey]

We have bats flying quite low over the garden, but everytime I try to get a photo it comes out totally black. Are there any Bat enthusiasts who could point me in the right direction of if and how they manage to get any photo's. I have Canon Powershot AF700, nothing fancy with a night photography option which I have been using with no luck. Simple answers would be appreciated as I am not so hot where camera technology is concerned.
Thanks.

[nightshade]

Just to point out that Bats do have good eyesight(except for colour)
and flash photography or strong lights may upset them if done on a
regular basis
Having said that many auto type cameras will not focus well or quickly enough
if at all in low light

[JoeF]

I think that for the reasons nightshade gives, bat photography is seriously discouraged.

Basically, your camera is too advanced for the job. You need a manual camera where you set the focus prior to taking the picture. Then when you push the button the flash and shutter fire immediately. If using film, go for iso 100-200 for better resolution rather than the higher speeds as the flash is doing the work, not the ambient light. You could also play around with longish shutter speeds to get some background colour and give a sense of movement. Thats how I would approach it but bear in mind, there is always some pot luck involved with taking pics like this.

Joe

[goosey]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Just to point out that Bats do have good eyesight(except for colour)
and flash photography or strong lights may upset them if done on a
regular basis
Having said that many auto type cameras will not focus well or quickly enough
if at all in low light

Originally Posted by JoeF

I think that for the reasons nightshade gives, bat photography is seriously discouraged.

Basically, your camera is too advanced for the job. You need a manual camera where you set the focus prior to taking the picture. Then when you push the button the flash and shutter fire immediately. If using film, go for iso 100-200 for better resolution rather than the higher speeds as the flash is doing the work, not the ambient light. You could also play around with longish shutter speeds to get some background colour and give a sense of movement. Thats how I would approach it but bear in mind, there is always some pot luck involved with taking pics like this.

Joe

Thanks nightshade and Joe, I don't think I will bother then, I would hate to upset the bats or drive them away. I was only after a photo to go on my website, really as evidence that I see them around the garden and an ID would have been great. Incidently they are about the size of swallows and swirl round in circles.

[nightshade]

Sounds like Serotine, but if you cannot take their photo you could listen to them
invest in a detector
Bat Detectors

[goosey]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Sounds like Serotine, but if you cannot take their photo you could listen to them
invest in a detector
Bat Detectors

If you think I am about to get embroiled in that thread you have another think coming - I might never get out again .

Thanks for Serotine though - something to work with .

[ChasCreek]

To carry on from nightshade and JoeF's comments - It is also worth noting that a licence is needed for photographing bats if it is likely to disturb them.

[Garden Carpet]

there was a thread last year with some lovely bat photos in.. perhaps you might find some info there. cant remember what it was called though..sorry
jaki

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

there was a thread last year with some lovely bat photos in.. perhaps you might find some info there. cant remember what it was called though..sorry
jaki

Thanks Jaki, I will look out for them.

Originally Posted by ChasCreek

To carry on from nightshade and JoeF's comments - It is also worth noting that a licence is needed for photographing bats if it is likely to disturb them.

Don't worry Chascreek, they just fly over head. I have only noticed them recently whilst looking for moths at night. I shall just admire from afar.

[goosey]

As you see I managed to get my bat photo. I didn't need use a flash. Between 2-5 have been coming over every night about 10 minutes before it get dark. I have been able to observe them over the last few weeks to be able to anticipate where the will come from and where the will go. They actually only hang around for 10-15 minutes, one comes and goes which I presume to be a female taking food back to her young, whilst the others circle and swoop over our and the neighbouring two gardens. It isn't a great photo but it was just the proof I wanted to say "look we have bats ."

[nightshade]

Well done Goosey,thats using your head

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Sounds like Serotine, but if you cannot take their photo you could listen to them
invest in a detector
Bat Detectors

Really? Serotine always seem so huge to me!! More like blackbirds!

I love serotine because I can hear them echolocating with the naked ear - it sounds a bit like rattly dragonfly wings, oh that and on a heterodyne bat detctor they sound a bit like bat DJs beat-boxing to their own crazy rythym... brilliant - this years fav bat for me

[doubleclix]

Originally Posted by ChasCreek

To carry on from nightshade and JoeF's comments - It is also worth noting that a licence is needed for photographing bats if it is likely to disturb them.

I never knew you might need a license to take wildlife photos! Are there any specifics or are they generic rules?

[nightshade]

When wildlife is under pressure, why increase the pressure? for self gratification?

[The Woodman]

This is the relevant section of The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 in relation to disturbance of bat species....my emboldening

41.—(1) A person who—

(a)
deliberately captures, injures or kills any wild animal of a European protected species, .
(b)
deliberately disturbs wild animals of any such species, .
(c)
deliberately takes or destroys the eggs of such an animal, or .
(d)
damages or destroys a breeding site or resting place of such an animal, .
is guilty of an offence.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), disturbance of animals includes in particular any disturbance which is likely—

(a)
to impair their ability— .
(i)
to survive, to breed or reproduce, or to rear or nurture their young, or .
(ii)
in the case of animals of a hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or .
(b)
to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong.

The offence of disturbance can be derogated by licence from Natural England in special circumstances e.g. for bona fide study.

You will see some posters who list their bird photography licences in their signatures. I would hope that any image shown on WAB that is taken under a licence should be tagged as such to prevent any "copycat" actiion by aspiring photgraphers.

[doubleclix]

Thanks Mr Woodman

[The Woodman]

I don't think I've explained the situation as well as I might.

With reference to bats and disturbance from photgraphy, these are my thoughts.

A couple of scenarios.

1. A random attempt at photographing a flying bat will probably not cause any disturbance to that creature. Bats encounter all sorts of hazards with similar causes like car headlights or the huge exploding fireworks set off by certain hotels near the midnight hour in prime bat habitat!

They can cope with it, we just don't know what effect one flash photo will do but in my experience - not much - if any.

2. If you determine a bats feeding flight path and set up a strobe flash unit that causes the bat to cease using that flight path then disturbance has taken place.

3. Entering a cave to take photos of hibernating bats and using bright flashes coupled with body heat that rouses the bat from its torpor is disturbance.

4. Entering a roof void to photo a nursery roost of bats will undoubtedly cause a degree of disturbance. If severe, the adult females may abandon the roost site and leave their single babies to perish.

I've just tried to give examples of what the wordy legislation covers - if that helps.

[hachidori]

Originally Posted by doubleclix

I never knew you might need a license to take wildlife photos! Are there any specifics or are they generic rules?

Doubleclix, you basically have to just use a bit of commmon sense with any protected species. Just think "am I disturbing this animal, or affecting how it is going about its daily life? (including feeding, breeding, roosting, hibernation)"... I think people can get a bit confused by the legalities, but in the end it just comes down to disturbance. So even something as simple as shining a torch at a bat box to 'see better' would disturb them quite a lot.

Flash photography certainly would disturb bats, and you would need a licence. Its the same for any protected species, although with birds, etc, disturbance usually comes from approaching them in the first place.

But switch your flash off as you did, and I dont think anyone would say you are causing disturbance by snapping pics as the bats come near your house. Have fun!

You can pick up bat detectors relatively cheaply these days, and you could also get in touch with your local bat group - enough time spent doing bat walks and using detectors, and you will get your 'eye in' when it comes to identifying bats.