By CAROLYN GRANT
The Kootenay Community Bat Project is once again calling on citizen scientists to assist in the annual bat count.
If you are new to counting or wish to meet other volunteers, the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP) is organizing Bat Count Workshop in different regions of the Columbia Basin. If you are interested check out the registration page here. It is a free and family friendly event.
The BC Annual Bat Count is easy, fun, and safe, not to mention vital for monitoring bat populations, says Elodie Kuhnert, coordinator of the KCBP . “The counts are a wonderful way for people to get outside, learn about bats, and be involved in collecting important scientific information. Volunteers wait outside a known roost site, such as a bat-box, barn, or attic, and count bats as they fly out at twilight. A guano sample can also be sent in to identify the species of bat at the roost site.”
With the data biologists can gain a better understanding of bat distribution and monitor for white’ nose syndrome, a fungal disease, which is fatal for bats.
The Kootenay Community Bat Project will also be hosting a training workshop this July, for those who would like to continue helping bats.
The Bat Ambassador Training workshop is a three-hour virtual workshop is designed to provide attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to become a bat ambassador for their region. Participants will learn the skills needed to collect guano samples, conduct annual bat counts, and provide presentations on bats. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about these fascinating animals including bat basics like behavior, habitat, and population dynamics, as well as the threats they face and strategies for their protection.
The training will be led by Elodie Kuhnert, the KCBP Coordinator who has been working with bats for over 10 years and Juliet Craig, original founder of the KCBP, who has been promoting bat conservation for over 30 years.
The online training will include a mix of presentations, videos and interactive discussions with ample time for questions and answers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with fellow bat enthusiasts. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will receive a certificate of attendance and have the opportunity to be the local bat ambassador for their region.
We are excited to offer this unique training opportunity to anyone interested in becoming a volunteer bat ambassador and expanding and sharing their knowledge of bats. Bats are fascinating animals that play important ecological roles, but they are also facing numerous challenges, from habitat loss and fragmentation to disease and persecution. By equipping people with the expertise to work with bats and people, we hope to make a positive impact on their conservation.
The Bat Ambassador Training Workshop will take place on July 7th, 2023 from 9 am to noon PT and registration is now open. Priority will be giving to people living within the Kootenays. To learn more or to register visit www.kcbp.ca or contact Kootenaybats@gmail.com