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From Pippa in Cardiff
September 2007

Hello, my name is Pippa and I live in Cardiff.

I have had just one bat that flies around my garden at 8.15 to about quarter to nine in the night.

Tonight I counted lots more. I don't know where they are living because everyone where I live has new houses. I have 16 bats all together this evening. I love my bats they are very cute.

The one bat comes up to the patio doors when I stand by it and then flies in a figure of 8 around my garden. We have lots of trees where we live. In my old house the bats were very little but this bat is bigger and looks about the size of my mummy's hand. I don't know why he doesn't fly into my swing or mummy's washing line. I love bats very much.

Does anyone know about city bats?

I am 8 yrs old

Pippa


Dear Pippa

Thank you for writing and telling me about your bats. The way you describe their flight as a figure of 8 round your garden suggests they are pipistrelles. They probably roost underneath the tiles or eaves of a house nearby. They often live in cities, as long as there are some parks and gardens where they can find insect food.

If you are still seeing them around it might be worth looking out very early in the morning, just before it starts to get light. You may be lucky enough to see them flying round and round before going back into their roost. This is sometimes the best way of finding where they are roosting. But they often move on somewhere else at this time of year.

Are you a member of the Young Batworker's Club? If not, let me have your address and I will send you a magazine with a photo of 'your' bats in it.

Best wishes,
Shirley
Bat Conservation Trust