Bat Acoustic Monitoring (BAM) in Northwest Wisconsin

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Bat Acoustic Monitoring (BAM) in Northwest
Wisconsin
Project Coordinator Nikki Nelson Advisor
John Paul White Participants Spooner WDNR,
Grantsburg High School Research Biology, Crex
Meadows, Citizen volunteers Organization
Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary
Abstract Four of the fourteen mammals in Species
of Greatest Conservation Need in the Wildlife
Action Plan are bats (hoary bat, eastern red bat,
silver-haired bat, and northern long-eared
myotis) and four additional bats (Eastern
pipistrelle, little brown myotis, big brown bat,
and Indiana bat) were identified as species with
additional information needs. Lack of information
on basic ecology and trends, in addition to their
susceptibility for decline due to low
reproductive rates and limited location
availability for their natural maturity cycles
(i.e. hibernacula and maternity colonies) makes
them species of growing monitoring demand. One
of the main objectives of BAM in Northwest
Wisconsin is to aid in the long-term collection
and understanding of the bat populations of
Wisconsin through the help of citizen monitors
collecting data specific to Northwest Wisconsin
and reporting it to the Wisconsin Bat Monitoring
program. In addition, we hope to increase citizen
monitoring efforts within our community, gain a
better understanding of bat populations in
Wisconsin and provide outreach opportunities
through educational programming. Methods, Study
Period and Citizen Involvement Following the
protocol developed by the Wisconsin Bat
Conservation and Management plan and as guided by
Wisconsin Bat Program personnel, an acoustic
recording system monitored the acoustic signals
of bats in flight. Surveys are conducted using
an anabat (which detects the acoustic signals), a
GPS receiver (which records the position of each
bat passing), and a PDA (to view sonograms,
record data, and ensure the system is working
properly). Surveys are conducted during the
spring, summer and fall seasons starting a half
hour after sunset and continueing up to 3 hours,
but not less than 1 hour at the preferable pace
of 3 mph. Over 220 individuals participated in
activities directly related to BAM in Northwest
Wisconsin. Activities included a training with
WDNRs Paul White, citizen monitoring by
volunteers, a program highlighting bats in
Wisconsin presented by WDNRs Anna Rossler, a
citizen science introduction program, a nature at
night program emphasizing bat monitoring and
roost observation nights with the anabat.
Results and Data Use With thirteen surveys
submitted to the Wisconsin Bat Monitoring
Program, data showed that our monitors
encountered all of the bat species known to occur
in Wisconsin (see Image 1 2). In addition, the
Wisconsin Bat Monitoring program now has more
data regarding the species diversity found around
Washburn County, which had previously been
lacking (see Image 3).
A creative volunteers solution to monitoring
by bike
Image 2
Image 1
Image 3