Optimum Time For Protecting Bats

[Red Squirrel]

I was given info on bat protection but can anyone tell me please when would be the best time to start a barn conversion.

We've had a bat survey done and no evidence of bats were found but 'high potential' was stated.

We now have to have a bat count done in May but don't they have their babies then? So conversion can't start then IF bats are found.

They roost in October so conversion can't be done next Winter.

Anyone help please?

[thunder]

You say no evidence of bats was found. Were you present when the survey was done? Did they get up in the roof and inspect the timber joints with endoscopes?

henrya

[Johnny Redgate]

Your conversion can't be planned until the presence or absence of bats has been established. If you are being asked to do another survey in May then I expect your initial survey was carried out in the winter when the bats are hibernating. They may not hibernate in your barn but use it when they are active.

[Red Squirrel]

Don't know about the endoscope thunder, we just left him to it.
His report said no evidence but high potential.

Johnny redgate, yes the survey was done just before Christmas and National Heritage say a count has to be done in May.

[Meta menardi]

If the survey in May shows evidence of bats, then you may have to delay your development, and once activity has died down, you may get permission provided you make provision for not displacing the bats next year. My knowledge of all this is limited, but I think this likely to be the way things will run. If this commensense way of working is not followed, one more colony of bats bites the dust, and I don't suppose that is what you want.

Could I suggest that you talk to the person at your planning authority who is overlooking this, they are the ones who can give you answers and they will be working to get your development done with no detriment to the bats that may be there. They don't bite, they may be subscribers to WAB, and if they are not, you can tell them about the site.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Johnny Redgate

Your conversion can't be planned until the presence or absence of bats has been established. If you are being asked to do another survey in May then I expect your initial survey was carried out in the winter when the bats are hibernating. They may not hibernate in your barn but use it when they are active.

If the bats use the barn then such use should be easy to establish, even in the winter. If no evidence was found, then that siggests that bats don't use the barn. Seems absurd, to me, to make you wait for another season. And with barns, examination of timber joints seems essential to me, if no other evidence is found.

henrya

[Red Squirrel]

Yes thunder it does seem daft. The barn has been there for 400 years and he couldn't find any evidence.

There is no way we would harm them and we will put any amount of boxes up but I need to know when the best time to start the developement is after the count.

We can't even be given planning permission until the count has been done so everything is held up.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Red Squirrel

Yes thunder it does seem daft. The barn has been there for 400 years and he couldn't find any evidence.

There is no way we would harm them and we will put any amount of boxes up but I need to know when the best time to start the developement is after the count.

We can't even be given planning permission until the count has been done so everything is held up.

It seems to me that they have their own way of doing things - I am sure they will tell you when you can start once this pointless 'count' has been done in May.

henrya

[The Woodman]

Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

The consultant ecologist has identified high potential, meaning that he/she has identified features that might be used for daytime roosting e.g. gaps/cracks in walls, open joints or shakes in timbers, etc. Surrounding habitat should have also been considered and judgement made.

Known bat roosts and records in the surrounding area should have been noted too, which may have assisted the judgement.

Hibernating bats are difficult to find, so there must be a probability of bats returning in the active season of 2010, approx. April to September, to use the building. For instance, bats could use the barn for day roosting, night roosting or maternity roosting. I don't know the circumstances but finding evidence is not entirely straightforward. Some barns are "active". Cattle and bedding make a search for dropping extremely difficult. Clean undisturbed surfaces may make it easier. Some owners even resort to pressure washing or thoroughly cleaning a place before a survey for whatever reason.

SNH will have their survey guidelines as do the Bat Conservation Trust. The consultant has done the right thing and only further surveys in the active season will establish the accurate status of the barns use by bats. The presence of bats in your barn will not stop you developing it, but as you will be aware, their habitats will have to be either saved or mitigated for if disturbed or destroyed.

Have a chat with the person who did the survey and ask for an explanation of the potential scanarios that might prevent you from proceeding as quickly as might want to.

[thunder]

Quote
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Endquote

Unless something like pressure washing has taken place, absence of bat droppings is pretty good evidence that no bats use the site.

Quote
The consultant ecologist has identified high potential, meaning that he/she has identified features that might be used for daytime roosting e.g. gaps/cracks in walls, open joints or shakes in timbers, etc.
Endquote

Yes, and he found no evidence of actual use.

Quote
Hibernating bats are difficult to find,
Endquote

But not impossible! Especially in barns.

Quote
so there must be a probability of bats returning in the active season of 2010, approx. April to September, to use the building.
Endquote

Returning implies they have been there before, and there is no evidence of this.

Quote
I don't know the circumstances but finding evidence is not entirely straightforward.
Endquote

No, but thorough searching almost always reveals evidence.

Quote
only further surveys in the active season will establish the accurate status of the barns use by bats.
Endquote

But you would need much more than "a bat count in May" !

Quote
Have a chat with the person who did the survey and ask for an explanation of the potential scanarios that might prevent you from proceeding as quickly as might want to.
Endquote

This seems like a good idea.

henrya