Identifying Bats of Britain and Ireland
A Field Worker’s Guide
- Packed with insider tips on bat ID.
- Instructions for how to handle bats and work towards securing a bat license.
- Detailed images and diagrams allow easy comparison between species.
- bat detecting
- bat ecology
- bat licence
- bats
- chiroptera
- Coming Soon
- handling
- identification
- survey
Description
Stock Alert: We have temporarily run out of stock of the first print run of Identifying Bats. We hope to have a second print run in stock by late February. You can place an order now and this will be fulfilled as soon as stock arrives. Please accept our apologies while we resolve this issue.
This book will help anyone understand the fun and adventures to be had working with these fascinating animals. Packed with insider information, it offers expert guidance on how to identify bats in the hand. As you learn the process of handling them safely, you will also discover the key features that distinguish one species from another.
Filling a gap between basic books and more technical volumes, this guide uses humour, mnemonics, rhymes and images as it communicates in simple terms the techniques required when training for a bat licence. Detailed images, diagrams and tables help in comparison between species, and the fundamentals of bat ecology and survey equipment are discussed. All British bat species are covered, as well as possible vagrants.
Warning: James’s infectious enthusiasm for bats is likely to rub off – reading about these fascinating mammals may well become a lifelong obsession.
The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to the Bat Conservation Trust.
DOI:10.53061/BBON2009
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Bat to basics
3. Experience and equipment
4. Handling and identification techniques
5. British and Irish species identification
Rhinolophidae
Greater Horseshoe Bat (GHS)
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (LHS)
Vespertilionidae
Common Pipistrelle
Soprano Pipistrelle
Nathusius’ Pipistrelle
Noctule
Leisler’s Bat
Serotine
Barbastelle
Brown Long-eared Bat (BLE)
Grey Long-eared Bat (GLE)
Daubenton’s Bat
Natterer’s Bat
Bechstein’s Bat
Brandt’s Bat
Whiskered Bat
Alcathoe Bat
Greater Mouse-eared Bat
6. Vagrants
Geoffroy’s Bat
Kuhl’s Pipistrelle
Parti-coloured Bat
Molossidae
European Free-tailed Bat
7. Picture library and ID crib
Further reading and useful resources
Reviews
- At long last, a book that anyone who works with bats needs to identify British bats (and the vagrants and migrants that visit these shores in ever increasing numbers). A long overdue tome that is well written by someone who knows his subject. The book is full of all the ‘hints’ and ‘tips’ you’ll need to look for on those difficult to identify, or cryptic species. Thanks to James, it will sit well in my bat-book library.
—Colin Morris - For me this is one of the most anticipated bat books for a several years and I’m delighted that James has taken the time to put it together. I was pleased to see that the book reflects the authors approach to batwork - managing to combine accurate and well-observed descriptions in a light hearted and often humorous way. This is another excellent book from Pelagic that will happily join the others on the bookshelves of anyone working with British bats in any capacity.
—Richard Crompton, Ecology on Demand - An essential companion for anyone new to bats or already working with them in the UK and Ireland. Brimful of practical ID tips along with detailed photographs. This is a book that captures James's generosity, fun loving personality and joy at
sharing his knowledge with others.
—Graham Hart, Suffolk Wildlife Trust - A great book I would recommend for those starting out on their bat journey and those who would like a refresher. Full of facts while being easy to read, understand and remember. James’ chatty style is wonderfully fun, so you’ll be learning and laughing.
—Laura Holmes, ecologist and UK bat specialist
About the Author
James Shipman is a lifelong bat enthusiast who loves to inspire and motivate future bat workers. He works as a senior ecologist and is involved in numerous bat-related projects. In 2016 he was recognised with the Bat Conservation Trust’s Pete Guest Award for outstanding contribution to bat conservation.Bibliographic Information
- 128 pages
- 182 colour illustrations
- BISAC SCI070030, NAT011000, NAT019000
- BIC PSVW7, RNKH, WNCF