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A large citizen science project that has enhanced understanding of the local bat population will come to an end after four years.
In that time the Bailiwick Bat Survey has confirmed the presence of at least 13 bat different species, five small mammal species and six species of bush-crickets.
The 2024 report, as well as one comparing the four years of surveys, will be released in the Spring.
"The survey has produced a data set which has revolutionised our understanding of the local bat population and how they use the islands," said project co-ordinator Sarah Alllez.
"The Bailiwick Bat Survey was designed to connect and engage our community with an aspect of nature that was generally poorly understood, and the outcome was hugely successful.
"Using citizen science in this way, we were able to help to raise awareness of what bats do for us and why it is important to conserve them, as well as providing the public with a sense of stewardship regarding this aspect of nature.
"The efforts of everyone involved in this project, as well as the survey's results themselves, have far exceeded our expectations. We are so grateful for the support from all our volunteers and the community towards this project."
Pictured: One of the bat detectors used in what has been described as the Bailiwick's largest citizen science project.
The survey was commissioned by the States' Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services as part of the implementation of the Strategy for Nature, the British Trust for Ornithology provided the technical know-how and La Société, Alderney Wildlife Trust and La Société Sercquaise helped to co-ordinate the project in their respective islands.
Hundreds of volunteers selected a square (measuring 500 x 500 metres) from an online map, and placed a bat detector in it for a four-night period in the spring and then the autumn.
The bat detector automatically recorded bat calls to a memory card every time a bat passed throughout a night. These recordings were uploaded to the survey website and the automated sound analysis identified each sound recording to species.
Although this is the end of the survey in its current form, it will begin again in 2026 in a slightly different format.
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Serotine
Whiskered or Brandt's Bat
Natterer's Bat
Leisler's Bat
Common Noctule
Kuhl's Pipistrelle or Nathusius' Pipistrelle
Common Pipistrelle
Soprano Pipistrelle
Brown Long-eared Bat
Grey Long-eared Bat
Greater Horseshoe Bat
Lesser Horseshoe Bat
Pictured top: Brown Long-eared bats in flight, image by Daniel Hargreaves.
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