ChiroBoxes

Participation is open to anyone, with or without previous experience, who is interested into being part of a long-term monitoring project.

The project is based upon a monitoring protocol using bat boxes, that can be installed anywhere. You must simply install a bat box and monitoring the bats that occupy it. Ans, if you want to monitor one of our boxes, look it up in the Explore data section and contact us.


Sampling dates

Revisions should be conducted at least one time each season:

Winter: November 15th - February 28th

Spring: March 1st - May 15th

Summer: May 16th - August 31st

Autumn: September 1st - November 14th

In order for the data to be comparable you should conduct your revisions in similar dates over the years.




Do you want to participate?

If you want to participate, don't wait any longer and register! Once you've registered you will be able to contribute the data from your boxes. If you have any doubt of you wish to participate in some training course, you may contact us through info@ratpenats.org


Register! »


Instructions

Necessary material

1) A bat box:

                    Model 1

                Model 2

                    Model 3


                    Model 4

                    Model 5

2) Endoscopic camera:
(ex. Zacro wireless endoscope)

3) Telescopic fishing rod






While you can buy your boxes, you can also build your own bat box yourself:

Building a bat box

Manual

Installation

Installation recomendations

Registering

Register you bat box HERE.

Revision

Boxes must be revised with an endoscope in order to minimize disturbing the bats and avoid accidents during the revision. We will gently introduce an endoscope through the box opening (which will allow us to revise it without opening it) and we will count the individual bats occupying it. If necessary, we'll take a photo of the inside (with the endoscope camera) in order to identify the species. Under no circumstances can you open the box or handle the animals!

Sending the results

Once you have revised the box you will be able to upload your results in the website and check the results from other boxes within the monitoring programme. 

Resources

Other links with bat boxes models

Other bat boxes


Training courses

Periodically we organize training sessions to provide the necessary knowledge to carry out this protocol.

Keep an eye on our social networks and sign up for our newsletter to be updated.

Other material

  Bat species list