Participants in the bat walk in Oud-Waterschei, guided by Natuurpunt expert Ghis Palmans, received an introduction to bats. They then explored the area to discover how these insectivores move, which places they prefer, and which they avoid.
Bat detectors proved to be a useful tool. These devices captured the ultrasonic sounds of bats, allowing participants to know precisely when to look upwards.
As the walk took place towards the end of the active season, it was mainly dwarf bats that were observed. Nevertheless, the evening provided many valuable insights into their behavior and preferred locations.
Following the walk, three volunteers committed to going out with detectors in the following month. This will help gather additional data on the presence and behavior of bats in Oud-Waterschei.
This exercise will be repeated during the breeding season in May and June, the busiest period of the year for bats. This approach aims to build a solid knowledge base to further strengthen the habitat of these useful and wonderful animals.
