Achieving Professional Training Standards Through BCT Courses

Transcription

1 Achieving Professional Training Standards Through BCT Courses For 2012, the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) has developed a suite of training courses for those undertaking professional bat work. These courses are designed around the latest developments and standards and link directly to BCT s Professional Training Standards for Ecological Consultants and BCT s Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines (2nd edition). This document outlines which of BCT s professional training courses can provide individuals with some of the knowledge and skills covered in the Professional Training Standards document. For each performance criteria (where relevant) the corresponding training course or courses are highlighted. Attendance of these courses will provide some of the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to be competent within that performance criteria. Please note that although BCT s training courses can provide individuals with some of the knowledge/skills required, this must also be accompanied by additional practical experience. BCT currently offers the following training courses for professional consultants and ecologists; these are divided into foundation, intermediate and advanced level courses: Foundation level Training course Course content Bat ecology and conservation Bat taxonomy UK species, range and distribution Bat species identification Bat physiology Life histories Feeding behaviour Bat conservation and threats Surveying for bats Identifying survey objectives Planning surveys Resource planning and costings Health and safety Identifying appropriate survey techniques Survey skills and field signs Building construction and architectural terms Case studies and practical roost visits Interpreting your bat surveys Legislation Development planning Licensing Interpreting survey results Assessing value and impact Avoidance, mitigation and compensation (an introduction) Monitoring Case studies Bat detectors and sound analysis level one UK bat calls recorded on time expansion and frequency division detectors

2 How to use software Practical sessions Anabat level one How bats use echolocation Introduction to Anabat Anabat setup Commercial uses Analook basics Key to identification of bat species Intermediate level Surveying built structures Construction of barns, churches and bridges Use of these structures by bats Survey techniques and equipment Identification of potential roost sites Practical assessment exercise Surveying trees Legislation in respect of trees and bat roosts Use of trees by bats Survey methodologies H&S requirements How to recognise signs of bat usage on trees Evaluation of potential tree roosts Initial tree survey surveys Introduction to large scale development Planning and legislation Assessment, preparation and planning Survey techniques and standards Interpreting results Case studies Mitigation Mitigation types Mitigation by species and project type Examples of successful and unsuccessful strategies Future for bat mitigation Bat detectors and sound analysis level two Advanced species identification Equipment and techniques for surveying and identifying bats from their echolocation calls Case studies Choosing optimum survey equipment and methods Statistical techniques Anabat level two How bats use echolocation Analook basics Analook advanced Practical field usage of Ananbats Use of GPS Key to identification of bats Advanced level Anabat level three How bats use echolocation Difficult sonograms, social calls, other vocalisations Workshop for difficult calls Readers can visit the BCT website ( for further information and training course details, or contact the training team: Helen Miller (Training Manager) / Dave Sutton (Training and Events Administrator) /

3 Section 1.1 Why conserve bats Unit 1: Foundation knowledge Explain why bats need to be protected BCT Course Describe the differing geographical range of bats in the UK and the factors affecting this Recognise the differing geographical range of UK bats in Europe and the factors affecting this 1.2 Physiology Describe adaptations to flight Explain bat energetics and torpor Explain echolocation Anabat level one Explain passive hearing and vision 1.3 Life histories Describe the life cycle of a bat in the UK Describe mating strategies Explain the process of gestational delay strategies Explain what triggers breeding Explain the maternal cycle List the key phases in pup development Explain sexual maturity in bats Describe the optimum conditions needed for maternity roosts 1.4 Feeding Explain the need of bats to feed Recall the types of food taken by bats Recall where most feeding takes place and recognise that certain species of bats have favourite feeding habitats linked to food or physical design Recall that bats produce a feeding buzz when attempting to catch some insects Recall the feeding techniques used by bats

4 Describe changing feeding patterns of female bats from pregnancy to lactation 1.5 Roost sites Identify the different types and locations of bat roosts Explain roost composition Describe the use, role and conditions of underground sites Describe the use, role and conditions of trees as roosting sites Describe the use, role, design and effects of bat boxes Describe (with diagrams if necessary) built structures, their construction and usage Describe artificial structures (other than buildings), their construction and use Surveying Trees (L1 & 2) Mitigation Unit 2: Legislation, licensing and planning Section 2.1 Legislation Describe and apply the protection afforded to bats across the UK Explain the wider context of UK wildlife legislation concerning bats and related advice Explain related legislation and protection afforded to bats Explain how the law regarding bats is administered in the UK Explain enforcement procedures in the country in which the work is taking place Outline the advantages and disadvantages of prosecution 2.2 Development Explain the process used to control development planning Explain protection of listed buildings, conservation areas, tree preservation orders Interpreting your bat surveys (L1 & 2) Explain development with regards to churches Surveying trees

5 2.3 How we conserve bats Recognise the value of submitting sufficient ecological information with an application Recognise the planning policy and statutory issues that should/must be addressed when determining an application Describe how the UK and local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) conserves the UK s bats surveys (L1 & 2) 2.4 Licensing Differentiate between licensed and unlicensed activities Describe the purposes of the different licences relating to bats Apply for a personal or a class survey licence Recognise the role of the different authorities within the licensing process Decide when it is appropriate to apply for a mitigation licence Interpreting your bat surveys (L1 & 2) Surveying trees (L1 & 2) Interpreting your bat Mitigation (L2) Surveying trees (L2) Apply for a mitigation licence Interpreting your bat Section 3.1 Health & safety Unit 3: Preparation and planning of surveys Explain why health and safety (H&S) issues are important Recognise the need for risk assessments Surveying trees Apply health and safety appropriate to the circumstances Surveying trees Recognise the risks associated with European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV) 3.2 Planning Identify the objectives of a survey

6 surveys Identify appropriate techniques for surveying Undertake a preliminary ecological appraisal List the types of survey techniques available and when to use them Identify the level of surveys and surveyors required for a development Recognise the limitations of different survey techniques Plan surveys Surveying built structures (L2) Surveying trees Bat detectors and sound analysis level two (L1 & 2) Surveying trees Surveying trees surveys Bat detectors and sound analysis level two

7 Recognise and overcome constraints associated with surveys Section 4.1 Recording information Unit 4: Survey techniques and equipment Recognise why bat information should be recorded Record information in standard formats Recognise the importance of accurate biological recording and how to collect this data Record data from individual bat surveys Recognise where to send data Explain data ownership 4.2 Activity surveys Describe the principles of the Data Protection Act Prepare reports Use heterodyne detectors in the field Use broadband detectors in the field Use static detectors in the field Undertake manual field surveys Anabat level one Anabat level two Anabat level three

8 Bat detectors and sound analysis level two Identify bats in the field Bat detectors and sound analysis level one Recognise social calling in bats (L2) Bat detectors and sound analysis level two (L2) 4.3 Roost surveys Use bat droppings and bat urine to locate bat activity sites and roosts Use grease marks and other signs to locate bat roosting places Use insect prey remains to locate night feeding sites Locate bats by smell Locate live bats in exposed positions in structures Locate live bats in crevices Survey bat boxes safely Locate live bats in underground sites (cellars, mines, ice-houses, lime-kilns, tunnels, caves etc.) Locate likely tree roosting sites Surveying trees (L1 & 2) 4.4 Catching bats Identify situations where static net use is appropriate Identify situations where mist net/harp trap use is appropriate Identify which mist nets/harp traps are appropriate for catching bats Justify the purpose of catching bats with a static net, i.e. why do it, is there an alternative, sample sizes Justify the purpose of catching bats with a mist

9 net/harp trap, i.e. why do it, is there an alternative, sample sizes Recognise the effect capture can have on each species/reproductive status including variations in effect depending on timing of captures Use a static net to catch bats with acceptable disturbance Use a mist net/harp trap to catch bats with acceptable disturbance Explain trap placement and how to maximise efficiency/suit purpose Identify the most appropriate protocol to use when catching bats Recall when techniques to lure bats could be employed Describe the difference in impact on bats between use of capture by mist nets and harp traps 4.5 Marking bats Identify which methods of marking are appropriate Recall that bats fitted with radio transmitters can be used to locate roosting places and obtain foraging data Identify situations where marking is appropriate Justify the purpose of marking bats Recognise the effect marking can have on each species/reproductive status Use equipment to mark bats with acceptable disturbance Section Unit 5: Bat identification Please note that the handling of live bats should only be carried out by appropriately licensed and vaccinated individuals when necessary for the purposes of the situation 5.1 Bat identification visually and in the hand Identify a live or dead bat from its physical characteristics Identify a bat when in a crevice or bat box Differentiate between sexes Differentiate between age classes Assess the reproductive status of an individual

10 Section 6.1 Interpreting data and assessing impacts Unit 6: Interpreting data and assessing impacts Performance criteria Interpret acoustic data (L1 & 2) Bat detectors and sound analysis level two (L1, 2 & 3) Anabat level one Anabat level two (L1 & 2) Anabat level three (L1, 2 & 3) Interpret survey results Interpreting your bat surveys (L1 & 2) surveys (L1 & 2) Assess impacts Interpreting your bat Section 7.1 Man-made roost mitigation Unit 7: Mitigating for development impacts Recognise the principles underpinning the design and implementation of successful mitigation schemes Mitigation (L2) Manage existing roosts Mitigation Carry out work to minimise potential impacts to an extent where disturbance can be avoided Interpreting your bat surveys (L1 & 2) Surveying trees (L2) Mitigation (L2) Recognise how to (safely and legally) physically modify and alter the environment within and around bat roosts Undertake roost creation, restoration and enhancement Interpreting your bat Mitigation (L2) Interpreting your bat Surveying trees (L2) Mitigation (L2)

11 7.2 Natural roosts and habitat mitigation 7.3 Post mitigation monitoring Devise long-term habitat management and maintenance Recognise the importance of tree roosts and woodland management Explain post-development population monitoring Recall the end-user of monitoring information (e.g. local bat groups, LBRCs, SNCOs and BCT) Surveying for trees (L2) Interpreting your bat surveys (L1 & 2) Unit 8: Bat handling Please note that the handling of live bats should only be carried out by appropriately licensed and vaccinated individuals when necessary for the purposes of the situation Content 8.1 Bat handling Assess the risks involved in handling the bat Recognise the legal basis for handling bats Wear the necessary protective clothing Use suitable handling methods Demonstrate safe collection and transportation of a bat to a carer Demonstrate safe working procedures Unit 9: Communication Section 9.1 Written Communicate with different audiences Produce competent reports 9.2 Verbal communication skills Recognise how and when to communicate verbally Communicate with a range of audiences Deal with difficult individuals/situations