National Bat Conference

The National Bat Conference is the biggest event in the bat calendar - a weekend of exciting talks, workshops and networking. The conference is an opportunity to learn about the new discoveries in the world of bat conservation, catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

Find out more about the conference highlights by searching #NatBatConf

Friday afternoon 29 October - kicks off at 2pm BST

Keynote - Professor Tigga Kingston, Texas Tech University

• The role of landscape features in spatial activity patterns of greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum): investigating landscape ecology with predictive spatial modelling - Thomas Foxley, University of the West of England

Workshops (60 mins) - workshop details

5pm - Networking opportunities

7pm - Virtual pub opens

Saturday 30 October - welcome at 10am BST

Talks:

• Bat Conservation Trust Update - Kit Stoner, Bat Conservation Trust

• Impacts of part-night lighting regimes on riparian bats – implications for current mitigation strategies - Jack Hooker, University of West of England

• Roost Award 2021 Presentation - Chris Damant, Bernwood Ecology

• A novel field survey method to inform the selection of dark corridors for bats - Morgan Hughes and Scott Brown, University of Wolverhampton & Birmingham and Black Country Bat Group
• Using GIS methodology to describe and explain bat distribution at a coastal site - Nicky Wood, Nottingham Trent University
• Towards a field apparatus & method for real-time tracking of an echolocating bat in free space - Robert Chandler, University of Gibraltar

Workshops (90 mins) - workshop details

16:30 - Networking opportunities

19:00 - Big Batty Quiz (also open to non-conference attendees)

Sunday 31 October - welcome at 10:30am BST

Talks:

• Advances in trail cameras for recording bats emerging from roosts - Gareth Lang, BSG Ecology
• Better bat surveys; Using IR video for bats - Richard Crompton, Ecology on Demand
• BCT Wildlife Crime Project - Mark Goulding, BCT
• Vincent Weir Award Winner 2020 - Rana Khayat
• Visual communication of bat facts and encouraging empathy for bats through illustration and storytelling - Emma Reynolds,

Panel: Looking back over bat conservation, 30 years of the Bat Conservation Trust, then and now.

Workshops (90 mins) - workshop details

17:00 - Conference closes

Additional features

• Poster breakout room - You will be able to drop into our poster room during the conference - we are still accepting submissions of static posters or short films about research or interesting projects, email nwebster@bats.org.uk if you are interested
• Exhibition breakout rooms - Visit some of our sponsors and exhibitors during the breaks to get your questions answered and find out about their latest products
• Bat Care round table discussion - Saturday lunchtime, instead of the Bat Carers Coffee Break, discussion of lessons for bat care from the pandemic
• Bat-ilates sessions - join us in some gentle bat-themed stretches to stay flexible and comfortable in front of the screen
• Event app - everything you expect from your delegate pack and more will be found on the event app

The National Bat Conference 2020 took place online as a result of the pandemic.

We were delighted that Professor Danilo Russo gave the Keynote and loved hearing from all our speakers as well as the panellists and workshop leaders.

You can view videos of some of the talks on our YouTube channel.

We were grateful to the event sponsors and exhibitors.

Sponsors: NHBS, Pettersson and Wildlife Acoustics

Exhibitors: Batbox, Creature Candy, Elekon, Lotek, Surescreen Scientifics, The Nestbox Company, Titley Scientific and Vivara Pro.