Bat Detectors

The discovery of echolocation in the 1950s paved the way for the development of the first bat detectors. Detectors are small hand-held instruments that pick up ultrasound (sounds at frequencies too high for the human ear to hear) and convert it into an audible sound. Bat detectors can be bought for €50 upwards. A detector is an essential item of equipment for anyone developing an interest in bats and who wants to watch them in the field.