Bat Night on 29 August: Go on a bat-spotting expedition with the Bat-Detector

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To mark the international Bat Night weekend on 29 and 30 August, NABU Saxony is once again organising a series of events this year. Late summer is a particularly good time to spot bats. At dusk, they go hunting for insects and the young are already able to fly. During evening excursions and hands-on activities, the ultrasonic calls of these nocturnal creatures are made audible using bat detectors, and NABU experts explain what can be done to protect these fascinating night hunters.

Of the 25 species of bat native to Germany, 22 are found in Saxony. Many of them are at risk because suitable roosts in buildings, cellars, attics, old trees or caves are being lost, whilst at the same time the supply of insects – their most important food source – is dwindling. Some species, such as the lesser horseshoe bat, the barbastelle and the grey long-eared bat, are particularly in need of protection. The Alpine bat and the white-edged bat have recently been confirmed in Saxony.

These are seen as examples of range expansion, which is facilitated by milder winters. In late summer and autumn, many bats prepare for the mating season, a change of roost and the subsequent hibernation – a good opportunity to raise awareness of their conservation around Batnight.

Anyone wishing to help bats can fit bat boards, shallow boxes or cave boxes to their house and seek expert advice at an early stage when undertaking building or renovation projects. Nature-friendly gardens also make an important contribution: native plants, night-flowering perennials, mature trees and shrubs, a small pond and avoiding the use of pesticides encourage insects and thus support the bats’ most important food source.

International Bat Night is organised in numerous countries by EUROBATS, the European Bat Conservation Office. In Germany, NABU coordinates the activities, thereby raising awareness of the importance of bat conservation. Across Germany, there are around 200 events taking place this year as part of Bat Night.

In Leipzig, the NABU Leipzig Bat Conservation Working Group is hosting an evening event in Stünzer Park on Saturday 29 August. There will be interesting facts about these hunters of the night, guided bat-watching sessions with bat experts, and advice on how to support our bat species.

The meeting point is at 7.30 pm by the pond in Stünzer Park. Register at Fledermausschutz@NABU-Leipzig.de

Bat conservation in Saxony

Through the ‘Bat, Come into the House’ campaign, NABU Saxony and the Saxon State Foundation for Nature and the Environment recognise homeowners and property owners who preserve bat roosts or create new roosting opportunities. Looking after existing roosts is also important: volunteer roost sponsors help to monitor populations, document changes and advise property owners.