Bat Ringing

Bat ringing refers to the technique of applying a small ring to the forearm of a bat to allow for individual identification. It cannot be done without a licence from the Statutory Nature Conservation Body (SNCB also known as SNCO). Only experienced proven individuals are able to obtain such licences.

The ability to recognise individual bats enables researchers to estimate population size and survivorship, study roost fidelity and social relationships, and investigate migratory movements, to name a few.

Ringing and the associated capture of bats are amongst the most invasive methods used to survey or study wild bats, and should only be employed if a rigorous assessment concludes that the benefits of doing such work clearly outweigh the potential harm to bats. The associated capture methods are often referred to as advanced survey techniques. Again a licence is required to undertake those methods of capture.

This webpage is to provide links and information to those already ringing. If you are looking for advanced training, please see our training for ecologists or speak with your local bat group.

If you have found a ringed bat and are wondering what to do, please see our advice page.

A central repository of data on ringed bats is important due to the long-term nature of such studies, and increases the information that can be gained from the process. It is also in accordance with EUROBATS Resolution No. 4.6 (2003).

The scope and requirements of this database have been agreed through discussion with bat ringers.

To first access the database, please use the link below. You will need to either login using your NBMP account details for www.monitoring.bats.org.uk or register an account and verify your email, you will then be prompted to 'enrol in the bat ringing activity'. Once this is done, the site can be accessed without this link.

Via this database, you can upload individual or bulk records of a variety of types of ringed bat records, both current and historic, view your records on a map, and place orders for packs of rings.

You can upload the following types of records:

• Ringing - the first instance of a bat being ringed
• Recapture - a record of a bat found with a ring already on by the project that applied the ring
• Control - a record of a bat found with a ring already on that was found by someone outside of the project that ringed it, such as by a member of the public or different group
• Dead - ring found on the remains of a bat

Please note that details, including comments, in a control record will be visible to the account that enters the ringing record for that ring number, apart from the username of the person uploading the control record for GDPR. For details on how the data will be used, please see the privacy notice.

For additional information on the data fields, please see the instructions tab of the 'ringing record import spreadsheet'. This is the spreadsheet that will allow for bulk uploads and is available to download from the ‘Upload Ringing & Recapture Records’ webpage.

Bat ringing guidelines are being drafted, in consultation with experts in the field, and will be available here in due course.

Currently guidance can be found in chapter 6 of the Bat Workers Manual (2004).