Let’s talk about bat boxes

In our new garden we have seen some bats flying around occasionally, and we got to wondering about putting up a bat box to encourage more critters in a sort of rewilding effort.

So if we get or make a box, and put it up in a good place, how will we attract them? Do they just rock up? Is there anything that attracts them?

I read online about good places to put them but I’m intrigued how they find them, bearing in mind it’s pretty dark!

build it and they will come

https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/buildings-planning-and-development/bat-boxes/wooden-bat-boxes

Each bat can eat thousands of insects a night (midges, moths, mosquitoes…) so you will already have an environment they thrive in

Local wildlife groups often loan bat detectors which adds to the enjoyment, mind you there must be a useful mobile app equivalent by now

You need this guy he is on duty tonight.

We have bats roosting in the vertical tiles at the front of the house. The gap they squeeze into is tiny. With the right habitat the bats will find your boxes.

First up, get a body of water into your garden (not a chlorinated  swimming pool mind you).  The water attracts all sorts of life, a lot of it invertebrates.  And that is what the bats eat.

+1 for a bat detector.

Frequency and timing you hear them in relation to dusk and dawn will tell you the species.

They basically fly about doing high pitched fart noises.

What is a bat detector? An actual thing that can hear the bats?

That’s mad!

bearing in mind it’s pretty dark!

erm, do you need a quick bat 101 lesson, or do I need to upgrade my sarcasm detector?

as above, build it and they shall come.
regarding detectors and apps you need an ultrasonic microphone, which is not built into your standard phone. You can buy one as a phone accessory, but about £200 IIRC.

Willow trees or water are good for attracting insect prey,  linear features (tall hedges, tree line, alleyway) are good for giving them an initial safe route out of the roost. Locate box as high as you can and not on the shady side of the house or due south if possible.  I don’t know where you are but you’ll most likely get or at least aim to get one of the Pip species with a ladder/slat type box.  There are some really good pdf manuals online.  Good luck!

My brother recently built himself a house n incorporated bat boxes into the wall on one side n bird boxes on the other. Pretty awesome move I thought when I spotted them.

My brother recently built himself a house n incorporated bat boxes into the wall on one side n bird boxes on the other

Letter box in the middle?

 or do I need to upgrade my sarcasm detector?

Sarcasm? On here?

+1 for a bat detector.

Frequency and timing you hear them in relation to dusk and dawn will tell you the species.

The one we’ve used told you what they were IIRC. Excellent piece of kit. Not many Australian species incorporated in it though at the time.

We have at least one bat box but I’ve never seen any in it. They’re everywhere else though. I spotted this sheltering behind a leaf.

They like a bit of cover when they emerge and warm up to avoid predation, so near a tree, barn or car port is good.

No guarantee they’ll use it, just as likely to roost somewhere unexpected a few feet away from my experience.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/reeksyofoz/shares/v5a3PS5L1F

What is a bat detector? An actual thing that can hear the bats?

That’s mad!

Do you not watch programs on telly about wildlife? Countryfile and Springwatch regularly have items about bats, and they have bat detectors that clearly show the different sounds different species make – not unlike birds, but for different reasons.

I was sat outside the pub in Biddestone earlier this evening, watching the swifts tearing around screaming, and as it was getting a bit darker there was a bat flying around, looked nearly as big as a Swift, so probably a Noctule.

Just checked, their body/head length is 60-82mm, and their wingspan is 320-400mm, a Swift is 160-170mm long, with a wingspan of 380-400mm, so not too dissimilar.
However, a Swift can clock 70mph in level flight, which is impressive when there’s a screaming party flying flat out at less than rooftop height!

I’m following for answer. We have bats around us, so I put up two bat boxes about 5 years ago, in what I thought would be bat-friendly places. They are still empty five years on, but we still have lots of bats flying around, just not roosting in my posh bat boxes.

Let’s talk about bat boxes

I thought this was a new one from Salt n Pepa, now they’re in their late fifties.

Its worth remember once they are in there its a criminal offence to disturb them. So you can’t open it to check.

I have a build-your-own bat detector – £20 from Waterstones.

https://www.waterstones.com/product/build-your-own-bat-detector-new/5060786540126

No idea how good it is but will build it and report back. Got it for Xmas and there are no bats then :/

You should be able to stand  on the edge of woodland or water at dusk and see bats flitting about.
A detector lets you pinpoint activity so you can see it.

In Stirling the local bat group organises occasional public walks and they are happy to attend scout groups for an activity. It is important to refer to the volunteer as “Batman” or “Bat woman”.

Ooh !
I’ve also hit a bat head on while riding my bike. Edge of woods at dusk, helmet light on: collided head-on, with the bat sprawled across my face before it flew away.  Couple of my mates have had the same.

Suspect the LED gives off an ultrasonic buzz that confuses the bat. That and we were on the same flight path.

It’s more likely you were coming up its rear.

Never mind.

Had a bat box for over ten years nailed to a tree in the garden. No idea if there is a bat in there, I suspect not, but often see a pipistrelle flying about at dusk. Awesome creatures.

As above, be very careful aboiut what you wish for!  I woudl never put them on your house, for example, as if you ever need to do maintenance or emergency repair, you could end up needing to get a specialists in to get a Bat Licnce from Natural Engalnd to relocate them prior to doing the works, otherwise be subject to potential prosecution with significant penalties.  The time and cost of compliance would outweigh the value of the works.

Similarly, if you stick it to a tree/fence and that gets damaged/falls down, you may also be liable through acts of omission – I’m less sure about this point.

I’m all up for enhanceing nature, but you need to be careful what you wish for sometimes!