As part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) we run workshops providing different levels of training for volunteers. You may wish to simply start with our free "Discover Your Local Bats" workshop to gain some basic skills or get a flavour of other training to progress on to. If you would like more in-depth training you can go straight on to our Level 1 or Level 2 bat detector workshops, or our sound analysis workshops. Progressing through two or more levels of our training is a proven way of increasing your skill and confidence in discovering and identifying bats.
Scroll down the page for more information on each of our workshop types and upcoming events.
If your group or organisation would like to host a bat detector workshop in your area, then please email nbmp@bats.org.uk.
For information on training for professionals please visit this page.
NBMP Beginner Level Workshop: Discover Your Local Bats
People taking part in an NBMP Sunset Survey © Philip Briggs
This free beginner's workshop invites you to explore the wonderful world of bats! It covers which bats are in the UK, how they are surveyed, and how you can find these amazing animals in your local area. It will show you how to carry out your first bat count and ways in which you can continue to develop your skills. You will be introduced to the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP), and discover how to take part in the NBMP Sunset Survey.
Further events will be posted here when confirmed
NBMP Level 1 Workshop
A heterodyne bat detector © Sian Moore
This workshop will give you an introduction to using a tuneable heterodyne bat detector and fundamental species identification skills, and enable you to participate in the NBMP Waterway Survey. You will learn how to separate big bats and small bats, and how to identify pipistrelles and Daubenton's bat. This workshop is the perfect next step if you have attended the NBMP Beginner Level "Discover Your Local Bats" workshop.
In-person events (not online) also include a practical field session where you will practise using detectors and identifying bats.
Further events will be posted here when confirmed
NBMP Level 2 Workshop: Using Your Ears
A bat walk
In this workshop you will be equipped with species identification skills using a heterodyne bat detector in the field. The focus is on pipistrelles, noctule, serotine and Daubenton's bat as these illustrate a range of different bat sounds. The workshop will cover heterodyne detectors, training your "sonic memory", and breaking bat sounds down into four elements: repetition rate, rhythm, tonal quality, and pitch. You will learn how and why these elements vary between different species, and how to find the "peak frequency" using a heterodyne detector.
The training will enable you to take part in the NBMP Field Survey, and is the perfect next step for those who have attended the NBMP Beginner Level "Discover Your Local Bats" and NBMP Level 1 workshops.
In-person events (not online) also include a practical field session where you will practise using detectors and identifying bats.
Online opportunities to attend this workshop:
Thursday 15th May 2025 (Zoom), 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday 28th May 2025 (Zoom), 6:30pm - 8:30pm
In person opportunities to attend this workshop:
Thursday 15th May 2025 (Swansea University), 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Friday 16th May 2025 (Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire), 7:00pm - 10:30pm
Monday 19th May 2025 (Ashton Keynes, Wiltshire), 7:00pm - 10:30pm
Saturday 31st May 2025 (Waltham Abbey, Essex), 7:00pm - 10:30pm
Further events will be posted here when confirmed
Introduction to Sound Analysis
Shirley Thompson
This session provides an introduction to bat call analysis using sound analysis software. It will use software that can be downloaded free of charge, but the analysis techniques covered will be applicable to a range of different programs. As well as species ID we will look at the links between species’ ecology and call characteristics. Attendees will be given a library of recordings of bat calls to work through which they can keep afterwards for their own use.
Online opportunities to attend this workshop:
Thursday 10th July 2025 (Zoom), 6:30pm - 9:00pm
Further events will be posted here when confirmed
Advanced Sound Analysis
This workshop looks at the theory of signal processing, tips on making more precise measurements when analysing bat sounds, and species identification including some more unusual/challenging calls. Techniques will be demonstrated in Anabat Insight, BatSound, Kaleidoscope and Sonobat. Although some knowledge of sound analysis is helpful this workshop will also have information included for beginners.
Online opportunities to attend this workshop:
Tuesday 27th May 2025 (Zoom), 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Further events will be posted here when confirmed
