94 residents got to know bats during safaris in West Maas en Waal
No fewer than 94 people have taken part in one of the four bat safaris held in the municipality of West Maas en Waal over the past few weeks. The excursions were organized by the municipality of West Maas en Waal and IVN Maas en Waal. Accompanied by nature guides Rob and Daan, participants went in search of bats at Maasbommel, Appeltern, Dreumel , and Altforst .
Using a bat detector, participants were also able to hear the sounds of bats. During the field trips, several species were observed, including the common pipistrelle, the whiskered pipistrelle, the serotine bat, the red bat, and the Daubenton's bat.
The excursion to “ Appeltern ” attracted the most visitors, with 43 participants. According to nature guide Daan, that’s not surprising. “The area around De Tuut is truly a bat paradise. From the little pipistrelle to the red bat and the Daubenton’s bat—they all communicate on different frequencies, which allows us to use the bat detector to identify which species are flying.”
Alderman , Marieke van den Boom, also joined one of the safaris. She found it fascinating to learn more about these nocturnal animals. “I often see bats flying over my yard, but they move too fast for me to get a good look at them. It’s fun to learn more about the different species this way and to be able to identify them better. Daan and Rob are passionate about what they’re sharing, which makes it interesting. It’s great that we can organize this for our residents, together with IVN West Maas en Waal."
During the safaris, the focus wasn’t just on spotting bats, but also on their important role in nature. Among other things, the guides talked about eco-friendly insulation. Many bats use cavity walls and other areas inside buildings as roosting sites. That’s why it’s important to take these protected animals into account when making homes more sustainable.
Rob and Daan look back fondly on the four evenings. The participants asked many questions and were enthusiastic about the field trips. The safaris not only provided wonderful encounters with bats, but also deepened their knowledge and understanding of these remarkable animals.
The municipality of West Maas en Waal is still looking for locations where additional roosting sites for bats can be created, preferably in barns.
Do you have a suitable location? If so, please contact us at nuittenhout@westmaasenwaal.nl