Bat Presence/Absence Surveys
Bat Presence/Absence Surveys
Bats
- Dusk or dawn
- No. visits: 1-3
- May - August (sub optimal: September)
- Not in high winds or heavy rain
- Above 7°C (Dawn)
- Above 10°C (Dusk)
- Competitive prices
Results from a prior Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA) may indicate that further surveys are needed. In this instance, phase 2 bat surveys known as Bat Emergence Surveys or Bat Presence/Absence Surveys will be undertaken.
Various UK bat species appear throughout the country, including in the West Midlands area. Unfortunately, however, a Preliminary Roost Assessment will not always suffice and a more detailed assessment known as a Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey (BERS) enables an ecological consultant to uncover additional information regarding the crevice-dwelling species.
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Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey (BERS) / Bat Activity Survey
What is a Bat Emergence Survey?
Otherwise known as Bat Activity Surveys, Dusk and Dawn Surveys, Presence and Absence Surveys or Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Surveys (BERS), a Bat Emergence Survey is a secondary bat survey following the initial assessment conducted as an internal and external inspection of the site for the presence of bats and their roosts.
During the phase two bat survey, all natural and man-made structures in the applicable location will be monitored at a specific time of the year to gather more data regarding bats present. Such information will include the species of bat, population numbers and each possible entry and exit, with the resulting information typically completing the full bat survey process.
Uses for Bat Activity Surveys
BERS and Planning Applications
Numerous UK and European legislation aims to protect the natural environment, including species protected in the UK, such as bats. More specifically, relevant legislation includes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.
If the earlier Scoping Bat Survey determined that bats are present or even if the professional ecologist simply couldn’t rule out the occupancy of bats on the site, Bat Emergence / Re-Entry Surveys will be mandatory. Afterwards, however, no further survey work for bats should be needed.
Not only will Bat Presence and Absence Surveys help to support roosting bats but they will also benefit efforts to remain in line with the stipulations of the local planning authorities. Once both of the two types of bat surveys have been completed, mitigation measures have been created and the bat consultant has been able to provide advice, there should be nothing standing in the way of a successful full planning application.
The completed report will address any remaining issues and give the local planning authority every reason to grant planning consent.
Bat Emergence Survey Guidelines
Bat Emergence Survey Steps
Bat Emergence Survey Report
Bat Emergence Survey Season
With reference to the information gathered during the phase 1 bat survey, the BERS will involve several ecologists carrying out multiple visits to the site at dusk and dawn during certain times of year, ensuring at least two or three surveys are undertaken before the end of August.
Entry and exit points will be monitored outside of daylight hours, where specialist equipment will record bats. Predicted locations of bat roosts will be predicted based on the identification of dead bat carcasses, feeding remains, nearby foraging areas, urine stains and bat droppings.
Both UK Bat Scoping Surveys and Bat Activity Surveys conclude with professional ecologists putting together a bat survey report featuring all further information from the assessment and elements that will help with obtaining planning permission.
In most cases, a bat report for a Bat Emergence Survey would detail the likely population number, locations where bats roost, and the certain species of bats on the site. Further advice could also be included to support the development plans and avoid harming bats unnecessarily.
All protected species surveys are dictated using the unique seasonal behaviours of the fully protected species in question. Unlike preliminary roost assessments, dusk emergence and dawn re-entry surveys are limited by the bat survey season and can only be held at the best time.
A preliminary roost assessment can be all year round, whereas dusk and dawn bat surveys must be undertaken between May and September. The summer months from May to September are when bats are most active, as opting for different times outside of the optimal time would be ineffective.Â
BERS in the West Midlands
Our Methodology
Our Consultants
Our Pricing
We always show adherence and compliance to bat survey guidelines and the instructions of relevant organisations such as statutory nature conservation organisations and the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT).
Our ecology team ensure that suitable mitigation work and further action are conducted correctly and in line with a developer’s legal obligation to rural communities and the local authority.
Following the infrastructure in place to assist permitted development and support bats enables us to keep informed on the latest updates, including anything that could impact bats or applications for a bat mitigation class licence via Natural England or Natural Resources Wales.
Showing consideration for all parts of the West Midlands County, our team has been in operation for many years, working to find the best solution for development projects that could affect bats and leading the necessary bat surveys in-house.
The extensive experience we possess extends to DNA testing, radio tagging, using bat detectors, installing bat boxes and acting as an Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW).
It also makes us effective in identifying potential roosting features, such as roof voids, gable ends, roof tiles (ridge tiles or hanging tiles on slate roofs), weather boarding and other potential roosting sites, such as buildings close to rural areas, livestock buildings and agricultural buildings.
From a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) to an Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) and both common types of bat surveys, we price up our ecological survey services in the same way.
All protected species surveys over individual bats, nesting birds and other forms of wildlife are given a price using the details of the planning project, such as the development site and the scale of the proposed development.
It could be that you’re working on a tree removal, enhancing a loft space, barn conversions or a site with a particularly large network of bats or different types of roosts such as maternity roosts. Whatever the situation, our team can step in for supporting bats in your development proposal.
Request a BERS Quote Today
Whether it relates to common questions surrounding your local authority, mitigation licences, habitat loss, natural habitats regulations, local bat populations in the West Midlands, general environmental management, efforts to protect bats, potential access points, the different time frames for bat surveys or any other consideration connected to crevice-dwelling bats and the planning process, Midland Ecology can help.
In an active effort to avoid disturbing bats protected by law, it would be advisable to enquire about the bat surveys you need at the first instance. By working out if you need a bat survey and arranging it for your new development at the earliest opportunity, you can account for any issues with the shelf life of an assessment, the weather conditions based on the season, and guarantee that your development proposals bypass any reasonable likelihood that would otherwise unintentionally or intentionally kill, injure or disturb bats, or in any way disturb bat roosts.
Under certain circumstances, it could be the case that your site has high suitability or high potential for new roosts, is likely to obstruct access to resting places for bats, or evidence of bats may have already been found. Regardless of your reason for reaching out, our experienced ecologists can provide the necessary steps, from mitigation and compensation measures and meeting the legal requirement from the local authorities, to support with other legally protected species in addition to the bat found on your site and European protected species licence applications.
Use the booking form on our contact page and one of our team will be able to send you a free quote for the required physical inspection. Providing a licensed ecologist has already carried out a PEA survey that either resulted in a bat roost or bat found on the site (or evidence that left the report inconclusive), we can then accept a completed quote form from you for a Bat Emergence Survey. A handful of expert ecologists will then monitor the important areas where a bat or bat roost type was spotted, using best practice guidelines to help with appeasing the local council, obtaining a bat licence or securing planning permission