An all-Ireland charity that promotes the conservation of bats and their habitats

Bat Conservation Ireland

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Publications

The Natterer

The Natterer is the twice-yearly newsletter of Bat Conservation Ireland with recent news, events and information. BCIreland Members receive a hard copy of this publication by post. If you would like to submit an article or event to The Natterer please contact us

Guidelines, Leaflets and Reports

Bat Conservation Ireland receives funding from various State agencies and sponsors to carry out specific bat education, monitoring or other bat conservation work. Reports have been published for certain projects that Bat Conservation Ireland has been involved in.

Guidelines and Information Leaflets

  • Bat Survey, Assessment & Mitigation Guidelines for Onshore Wind in Ireland by Bat Conservation Ireland (2026). This document provides a coherent, standardised framework for survey, assessment, and interpretation of bat activity at onshore wind energy developments in the Republic of Ireland and localises recognised UK and European best practice to the Irish ecological and legislative context.
  • Bats and Heritage Structures: Protecting Bats during Management, Restoration and Maintenance works at Heritage Sites. When planning restoration, maintenance, or other works on a heritage site or structure it is important to consider and protect our natural heritage. This publication aims to help those involved in management, maintenance, or construction at heritage sites when planning future projects to conserve these protected species.
  • The Beginners Guide to Bat Boxes.  An information leaflet on how to erect bats boxes, where to place them and the different types of bat boxes to encourage bat activity.
  • Gardening For Bats An information leaflet on the best plants to grow and cultivate for Irish bats and the importance of gardens and gardening for bats.
  • Managing Hedgerows for Bats.  An information on our hedgerows, why they are so important for Irish bats and biodiversity and how to manage them.
  • Why Bats Matter.  An information leaflet on the role bats play in our environment and how we can help our Irish bats and in turn help biodiversity.
  • Introduction to Irish Bats.  An information leaflet on our Irish bats, what they eat, where they can be found and the different bat species.
  • Bats and Wind Turbines. Surveying for bats at proposed windfarm sites and where existing windfarms are proposed for extension or modification. Guidelines for windfarm developers, ecologists and relevant authorities.
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bats and Appropriate Assessment. How to deal with the Annex II protected lesser horseshoe bat in the Appropriate Assessment process. Guidelines for developers, ecologists and relevant authorities.
  • White Nose Syndrome. A factsheet on White Nose Syndrome in bats with recommended guidelines for cavers and others entering bat hibernacula
  • Bat Identification Using Bat Detectors. A simple bat identification key for BATLAS 2010 volunteers using tuneable bat detectors
  • Irish Bats. A summary of the different Irish bat species
  • Grounded Bats. What to do with a grounded bat
  • How to Make Bat Boxes. Detailed instructions for wooden boxes
  • Bats and Waterways. Guidelines for protection of bats along waterways including recommendations for bat-friendly bridge maintenance work.
  • Bats in Buildings. Guidelines for protection of bats in buildings including recommendations for bat-friendly building maintenance work.
  • Bats and Lighting. Guidelines for protecting bats’ roosts, foraging and commuting routes from negative effects of street lighting.
  • Tidy Towns. Information on how to protect, conserve and encourage bats around your community.
  • Farm agri-environmental schemes. Information for farmers on how to encourage roosting bats on the farm, in particular using bat boxes.

Monitoring Scheme Reports

 

Reports from other Bat Conservation Ireland Projects

  • Neighbourhood Bats Report 2025_Final – Mary Roberts. Neighbourhood Bats is a citizen science project where bat detectors were located at different locations around the country in summer and autumn.
  • The Lesser Horseshoe Bat: Mapping Landscape Connectivity to Facilitate Species Recovery and Expansion in Ireland – Wright, P., Guilfoyle, C., Smyth, D., Roche, N. & McAney, K. (2026). Results of a study on landscape permeability for the lesser horsehoe bat throughout its range. Pathways that may help connect isolated populations are identified.
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bat Roosting Resource – Penelope Fialas and Niamh Roche (2025). Species distribution modelling was carried out on the known lesser horseshoe bat summer and winter roost network to create landcover favourability maps for the species across the Republic of Ireland, in both winter and summer
  • Neighbourhood Bats: Analysis Report 2024 – Mary Roberts. The Neighbourhood Bats Project involved 7 bat groups affiliated with Bat Conservation Ireland, engaging in a Citizen Science project where bat detectors were located at 10 different locations around the country over the period of 1 month in 2024.
  • Neighbourhood Bats Analysis Report 2022 – Mary Roberts. The Neighbourhood Bats Project involved 8 bat groups affiliated with Bat Conservation Ireland, engaging in a Citizen Science project where bat detectors were located at 9 different locations around the country over the period of 2 weeks in 2022.
  • Neighbourhood Bats – with a little help from Neighbourhood Citizen Scientists 2021 – Brian Keeley. The Neighbourhood Bats Project involved 9 bat groups affiliated with Bat Conservation Ireland, engaging in a Citizen Science project where bat detectors were located at 9 different locations around the country over the period of 6 weeks in 2021.
  • BATLAS Report 2020. A report on a systematic survey of 10 x 10km squares across the island of Ireland using bat detectors to generate records for four of the most common bat species, 10 years on from the last BATLAS report.
  • BATLAS 2020 Pilot. A pilot scheme was carried out in autumn 2015. Based on the results of this pilot we plan to roll out BATLAS 2020 island-wide from 2016 onwards and map the distributions of Irish bats at a 5 x 5km square level.
  • BATLAS 2010. A report on a systematic survey of 10 x 10km squares across the island of Ireland using bat detectors to generate records for four of the most common bat species
  • Landscape Conservation for Irish Bats. A report on a study by the Centre for Irish Bat Research into bat records, habitats, climate and other factors. Results include maps of Ireland that highlight areas of potentially high bat occurrence and areas where bats are more vulnerable
  • Impact of Developments on Bats. Results of an investigation into the impact of various developments on bat faunas, a report to The Heritage Council
  • Bridge Survey 2008. A report to The Heritage Council on a survey of bridges for roosting bats
  • Bat Fieldcraft Workshop 2005. Report on the bat workshop, Killarney 2005 (part of the Xth European Bat Research Symposium)

 

Irish Bat Conference Books of Abstracts

Bat Conservation Ireland,
Carmichael House,
4-7, North Brunswick Street,
Dublin 7
D07 RHA8

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