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Bat detectors (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mgiordan
- Start date
Gus Horsley
Well-known member
Hello mgiordan
Most bat detectors are similar and there's a lot of choice. You shouldn't pay more than about £120.00 for one. Try a company called Batbox on www.batbox.com. They've got a good range for beginners. And no, I don't work for that company...
Cheers
Gus
Most bat detectors are similar and there's a lot of choice. You shouldn't pay more than about £120.00 for one. Try a company called Batbox on www.batbox.com. They've got a good range for beginners. And no, I don't work for that company...
Cheers
Gus
Most mammalogists are using Anabats for detecting. They can be used on their own simply to "hear" bats or can be hooked into a computer and have software that can be used for analysis. Can't tell you a price but here is the link to their website: http://www.titley.com.au/tanabat.htm
davidandgill
Member
join a bat group and borrow untill you decide which detector is for you. I'm still in love with my batbox duet
ta brandreth
Well-known member
Try www.alanaecology.com for advice and models.
wizard
Well-known member
Hi mgiordan
i was the same & spent ages looking around, finaly i went for the Duet after recomendation for a few people who use one in their work. if i were you i would get a good one first as last, it may cost a bit more but at least you will have one much better & wont be disapointed half way through the spring. The Duet is very good, you can listen to a freq but record all freq's at the same time. well worth looking at & the firm are very helpful. buy direct & save a little, £250 from http://www.batbox.com/Page8.htm
good luck
i was the same & spent ages looking around, finaly i went for the Duet after recomendation for a few people who use one in their work. if i were you i would get a good one first as last, it may cost a bit more but at least you will have one much better & wont be disapointed half way through the spring. The Duet is very good, you can listen to a freq but record all freq's at the same time. well worth looking at & the firm are very helpful. buy direct & save a little, £250 from http://www.batbox.com/Page8.htm
good luck
Bat detectors and a dish
Hi all,
I am a newbie and not sure if I am using this list in the best way but here we go!
Bit about me: born in Gorseinon, South Wales (UK) .... much too long ago, way before computers came about (I started with a slate board in my 6 yr olds class!!). Lived in NZ since 1976 and got interested in bats in 2006 through my involvement with the local Forest & Bird Protection Soc. Local group are interested in getting bat detector boxes so that is how I found this list (IT literate enough to use Google). We did some bat hunting last summer using boxes on loan from NZ Dept of Conservation -- heaps of thanks to them.
I am gathering info on detector kits as they seem to be in our price range and may be able to find someone with enough skill to build them. The Tony Messina detector looks as if it is in the price range and members have indicated they work. Any further advice / experience around on that kit?
A question I have is: does it pick up all frequencies? The one I tried this summer had a frequency dial. NZ bats emitt either about 40 kHz (common S Island species) or about 23 kHz (not common around here). I was able to detect all sorts of creatures at the lower range but they were insect types in the grass and cicadas.
My second question is: I have a parabolic dish donated by someone previously interested in recording bird calls. Is it possible to link the dish into the detector? I would like to narrow down the location of bats to find out how many are there, the detector we used was good for about 200 m so we didn't know if there was one busy bat or several around. Would a dish help do this? Would the dish also increase the range of detection?
Cheers,
Andrew
----------------wizard said:
Hi all,
I am a newbie and not sure if I am using this list in the best way but here we go!
Bit about me: born in Gorseinon, South Wales (UK) .... much too long ago, way before computers came about (I started with a slate board in my 6 yr olds class!!). Lived in NZ since 1976 and got interested in bats in 2006 through my involvement with the local Forest & Bird Protection Soc. Local group are interested in getting bat detector boxes so that is how I found this list (IT literate enough to use Google). We did some bat hunting last summer using boxes on loan from NZ Dept of Conservation -- heaps of thanks to them.
I am gathering info on detector kits as they seem to be in our price range and may be able to find someone with enough skill to build them. The Tony Messina detector looks as if it is in the price range and members have indicated they work. Any further advice / experience around on that kit?
A question I have is: does it pick up all frequencies? The one I tried this summer had a frequency dial. NZ bats emitt either about 40 kHz (common S Island species) or about 23 kHz (not common around here). I was able to detect all sorts of creatures at the lower range but they were insect types in the grass and cicadas.
My second question is: I have a parabolic dish donated by someone previously interested in recording bird calls. Is it possible to link the dish into the detector? I would like to narrow down the location of bats to find out how many are there, the detector we used was good for about 200 m so we didn't know if there was one busy bat or several around. Would a dish help do this? Would the dish also increase the range of detection?
Cheers,
Andrew
Hello, I started out with a Batbox III, fairly cheap heterodyne detector (one which you set the frequency, and you will hear anything +/- 15 KHz of that frequency.
That was fine for many species, and combined with the bats's "jizz", a sound CD, and a lot of practise, you'd be able to identify Serotine, Noctule, Natterers, Daubentens, , Barbastelle, Common and Soprano Pips, and Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats. Plus you'd have a good chance of identifying a Leislers. Depending on where you live many of these species might not be present. South and West is probably best for number of species.
It's main limitation is you could be happily listening to a Pipistrelle at 45Khz, and miss a Noctule and Greater Horseshoe whiz by! Plus you can't really do any meaningful recording for future analysis.
So, I traded mine in on ebay, and replaced it with a Pettersson D230, which I think was about 400UKP, not cheap, but I now have the heterodyne in one earphone, and the Broadband detector that will pick up all frequencies in the other ear!
Works well with the headphones, or you can set it to broadband, and flip to Heterodyne when it picks something up.
I also have an MP3 player with line in socket and recorder feature, and can record, upload to the PC and analyse with freeware spectrum analysis software (e.g. audacity). This is useful for both analysis of what you have previously heard, or leaving it recording for a couple of hours, then whizzing through the MP3 file to check if anything passed by. (I've recorded about 6 hours in my back yard this last couple of weeks with just one Pipistrelle recorded so far! only took about 30 mins to check all the files).
Think the Duet is fairly similar to the Petterson D230 but about 100 UKP cheaper.
The species identifiable are about the same as the Heterodyne, with probably a better chance of Nathusius Pip, and one or two others, but these are so rare, the benefit would be questionable. Main advantage is the recording, and not missing anything.
The Time expansion detectors are the top of the range, but also very pricey.
Would recommend joining your local bat group.. I have some great evenings with the North Bucks group.. Checking boxes, seeing Natterers and Long Eared in the hand,. and several surveys, colony counts, and bat walks through forests.
Differs from birding in that the emphasis is more on conservation, and finding/preserving roosts as opposed to lists and the number of species you see. Obviously bats aren't anything to look at compared with birds, but they are fascinating none the less, and are very enjoyable to watch.
Cheers,
Peter
That was fine for many species, and combined with the bats's "jizz", a sound CD, and a lot of practise, you'd be able to identify Serotine, Noctule, Natterers, Daubentens, , Barbastelle, Common and Soprano Pips, and Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats. Plus you'd have a good chance of identifying a Leislers. Depending on where you live many of these species might not be present. South and West is probably best for number of species.
It's main limitation is you could be happily listening to a Pipistrelle at 45Khz, and miss a Noctule and Greater Horseshoe whiz by! Plus you can't really do any meaningful recording for future analysis.
So, I traded mine in on ebay, and replaced it with a Pettersson D230, which I think was about 400UKP, not cheap, but I now have the heterodyne in one earphone, and the Broadband detector that will pick up all frequencies in the other ear!
Works well with the headphones, or you can set it to broadband, and flip to Heterodyne when it picks something up.
I also have an MP3 player with line in socket and recorder feature, and can record, upload to the PC and analyse with freeware spectrum analysis software (e.g. audacity). This is useful for both analysis of what you have previously heard, or leaving it recording for a couple of hours, then whizzing through the MP3 file to check if anything passed by. (I've recorded about 6 hours in my back yard this last couple of weeks with just one Pipistrelle recorded so far! only took about 30 mins to check all the files).
Think the Duet is fairly similar to the Petterson D230 but about 100 UKP cheaper.
The species identifiable are about the same as the Heterodyne, with probably a better chance of Nathusius Pip, and one or two others, but these are so rare, the benefit would be questionable. Main advantage is the recording, and not missing anything.
The Time expansion detectors are the top of the range, but also very pricey.
Would recommend joining your local bat group.. I have some great evenings with the North Bucks group.. Checking boxes, seeing Natterers and Long Eared in the hand,. and several surveys, colony counts, and bat walks through forests.
Differs from birding in that the emphasis is more on conservation, and finding/preserving roosts as opposed to lists and the number of species you see. Obviously bats aren't anything to look at compared with birds, but they are fascinating none the less, and are very enjoyable to watch.
Cheers,
Peter
JSlee said:
I've pasted some links below to recordings I made last night in my back garden. Left the detector running for an hour recording onto an MP3 player/recorder, and fast forwarded through the mp3 file on the PC to get two bats pass by:
First one I'm 99% certain is a Serotine. Peak Frequency was 27-29KHz, other parameters right for Serotine as opposed to Noctule. Should sound irregular like a jazz drummer!
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/uploads/p/petermk/3768.wav
2nd one definitely a Common Pipistrelle. Peak frequency was 45KHz exactly.
Not a brilliant recording but gives you an idea what they sound like if you haven't heard this type of thing before!..:
http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/uploads/p/petermk/3769.wav
Analysing recordings
Hi Peter
My new birdbox duet arrived today so tonight I will be out listening and recording to my Sony Minidisc. I note you use AUDACITY to analyse your recordings I also use this for recording/processing bird calls so am familiar with it. My question is what are the stages you use to process your recordings for bats, I guess its speed that you adjust? I guess most are identified by the frequency they are detected at, but can you process them to be able to identify them, and reference them against some of the recordings available on CDs etc
Many thanks for your help
Regards Kim
Hi Peter
My new birdbox duet arrived today so tonight I will be out listening and recording to my Sony Minidisc. I note you use AUDACITY to analyse your recordings I also use this for recording/processing bird calls so am familiar with it. My question is what are the stages you use to process your recordings for bats, I guess its speed that you adjust? I guess most are identified by the frequency they are detected at, but can you process them to be able to identify them, and reference them against some of the recordings available on CDs etc
Many thanks for your help
Regards Kim
Hello,
The detector I have records both the heterodyne and Frequency division to the left and right channels respectively, in a stereo format.
The Heterodyne is very little use, other than a reminder of how it sounded, so you need to analyse the Frequency division channel.
Not sure what the duet does, but mine divides the frequency by 10.
Aftyer importing the file to the PC:
1. I open the file in audacity,
2. Find the best quality bat bits
3. Zoom the scale so I can see about 2 seconds worth (you can use this view to calculate how many signals per second, the space between signals, and the length of the signals)
4. Drag the mouse over a good quality signal and go to @analyse@ in the top menu bar, and select "plot spectrum", (you can use this to see the peak frequency from the resulting graph by multiplying the highest point by 10 in my case)
There are other freeware packages to see the spectogram (e.g. soundruler, or spectrogram). The shape of which may give some clues to the identity of a bat, but I tend to focus on the peak frequency, number of signals per second, and length of signal when analyzing.
I have a bat key from the field studies council which has info on the peak frequencies etc., and the bristol university bioacoustics lab has a good reference page:
http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/index.htm
Would be good to know if anyone has any tips to improve analysis.
I got most of the above techniques from the local bat group, who do a sound analysis workshop every so often.
Good Luck,
Peter
The detector I have records both the heterodyne and Frequency division to the left and right channels respectively, in a stereo format.
The Heterodyne is very little use, other than a reminder of how it sounded, so you need to analyse the Frequency division channel.
Not sure what the duet does, but mine divides the frequency by 10.
Aftyer importing the file to the PC:
1. I open the file in audacity,
2. Find the best quality bat bits
3. Zoom the scale so I can see about 2 seconds worth (you can use this view to calculate how many signals per second, the space between signals, and the length of the signals)
4. Drag the mouse over a good quality signal and go to @analyse@ in the top menu bar, and select "plot spectrum", (you can use this to see the peak frequency from the resulting graph by multiplying the highest point by 10 in my case)
There are other freeware packages to see the spectogram (e.g. soundruler, or spectrogram). The shape of which may give some clues to the identity of a bat, but I tend to focus on the peak frequency, number of signals per second, and length of signal when analyzing.
I have a bat key from the field studies council which has info on the peak frequencies etc., and the bristol university bioacoustics lab has a good reference page:
http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/index.htm
Would be good to know if anyone has any tips to improve analysis.
I got most of the above techniques from the local bat group, who do a sound analysis workshop every so often.
Good Luck,
Peter
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
Does anyone know anything about Ciel bat detectors? They do a Frequency Division only detector for about £43 and a Heterodyne/FD detector for £160, compared to £250 for the batbox duet. I'm tempted at £43 but wonder if the low price means there are quality problems.
http://www.batplanet.co.uk/Products - Frequency.htm
http://www.batplanet.co.uk/Products - Frequency.htm
Last edited:
I'd like to know more about these (Ciel detectors) too, they seem to be new to the market..
The frequency detector only model sounds like it would be great to just leave hidden somewhere to record for several hours, and return the next morning to collect! ( a bit reluctant to do that with £400 worth of equipment!)
Peter
The frequency detector only model sounds like it would be great to just leave hidden somewhere to record for several hours, and return the next morning to collect! ( a bit reluctant to do that with £400 worth of equipment!)
Peter
Ciel bat box
Dear Folks,
The missus got me a Ciel CDB103 as an early birthday present the other day. I am completely new to this game, but at the moment it is doing its job just fine (although I only get Pipistrelles over our garden and not been to a more productive spot specieswise). It has a two year guarantee as well.
One thing I would like to know, are the species' different noises not too difficult to master (I've just ordered a C.D)? With fieldwork and C.Ds I'm pretty confident with birdsong and was wondering if bats are any harder.
Regards, Chris
Dear Folks,
The missus got me a Ciel CDB103 as an early birthday present the other day. I am completely new to this game, but at the moment it is doing its job just fine (although I only get Pipistrelles over our garden and not been to a more productive spot specieswise). It has a two year guarantee as well.
One thing I would like to know, are the species' different noises not too difficult to master (I've just ordered a C.D)? With fieldwork and C.Ds I'm pretty confident with birdsong and was wondering if bats are any harder.
Regards, Chris
Hello Chris,
From my experience, and I guess similar background to you of Birder first and foremost, Bat watcher as an add on hobby! You are listening to different things with Bats, mainly the speed of the clicks, and whether the call is a dry click or a wet "smack", plus the frequency where the signal is at its deepest on the heterodyne output. You can also use "Jizz", behaviour, and if at a roost emergence time after dusk to help the ID.
Many species can be identified from the detector signal alone:
Common pip, Soprano Pip, Noctule, Serotine, Barbastelle are quite easy with practise (the last two might not occur "up north"?). Daubentens you will find using the detector, and identify by their jizz (they tend to stay very close to the water's surface over still water. The other "myotis" species are fairly tough to crack (Natterer's, Whiskered, Brandts).
I think you have to go into Wales for your closest Horseshoe Bats.. They do have a totally different "Call" which must be experienced to be believed! Greater Horseshoe Bat is a must see for anyone. really big, seem to nearly take your head off, and produce a sound that you wouldn't think the bat detector was capable of!
From my experience, and I guess similar background to you of Birder first and foremost, Bat watcher as an add on hobby! You are listening to different things with Bats, mainly the speed of the clicks, and whether the call is a dry click or a wet "smack", plus the frequency where the signal is at its deepest on the heterodyne output. You can also use "Jizz", behaviour, and if at a roost emergence time after dusk to help the ID.
Many species can be identified from the detector signal alone:
Common pip, Soprano Pip, Noctule, Serotine, Barbastelle are quite easy with practise (the last two might not occur "up north"?). Daubentens you will find using the detector, and identify by their jizz (they tend to stay very close to the water's surface over still water. The other "myotis" species are fairly tough to crack (Natterer's, Whiskered, Brandts).
I think you have to go into Wales for your closest Horseshoe Bats.. They do have a totally different "Call" which must be experienced to be believed! Greater Horseshoe Bat is a must see for anyone. really big, seem to nearly take your head off, and produce a sound that you wouldn't think the bat detector was capable of!
Thanks for that Peter. What you say seems to fit perfectly with the first few listens of my new C.D. One problem I have, is that I think I have only ever seen Pipistrelles in my local area, though to be honest, I haven't looked too hard before. I think my first village target species will be Daubentons on some local bodies of water.
You are right about Horseshoes, they sound magic on my C.D!
You are right about Horseshoes, they sound magic on my C.D!
Good Luck Chris! looks like Noctule, Natterer's and Daubenton's are in your area, plus the pipistrelles are now two species (Common at 45Khz, Soprano at 55KHz), so finding them should keep you busy!
There is a good reference site at the link here:
http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/index.htm
And there is likely to be a local bat group in your county which might be worth getting involved in. The Bat groups are a lot different from the local bird clubs though.. a higher emphasis on conservation, and finding roost sites, which isn't a bad thing.
As well as water bodies, old churches are often good to stand near from dusk for about an hour if you have time, to see if any bats are roosting inside.
There is a good reference site at the link here:
http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/index.htm
And there is likely to be a local bat group in your county which might be worth getting involved in. The Bat groups are a lot different from the local bird clubs though.. a higher emphasis on conservation, and finding roost sites, which isn't a bad thing.
As well as water bodies, old churches are often good to stand near from dusk for about an hour if you have time, to see if any bats are roosting inside.
