The event is facilitated by the Harrison Institute and Titley Scientific is proud to have supported the event with a donation of four AnaBat SD1’s – refurbished units from our trade-in programme.

Richard is looking forward to helping the delegates make best use of their new AnaBat detectors, and catching bats in order to begin a call-reference library, although he admits to being daunted by India’s diversity with over 160 different bat species!

In January this year, independently of his role with Titley Scientific, Richard Crompton was invited to share his experience of being part of the team that produced the UK Good Practice Guidelines for Bat Surveys.

He said: “ it was a privilege to be invited to be present at the beginning of such an important process: bats have just not been properly considered prior to wind farm developments in South Africa until now, yet the potential for adverse impacts from these schemes is huge. The event was a ‘train-the trainers’ format, and the participants’ enthusiasm for the subject was incredible!”

Richard presented the European experience of producing guidelines along with assisting in the use of Analook software for analysing large data-sets and geo-referencing bat call data.

The event was facilitated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the other tutors were well-known UK/South Africa trainers Dr Sandie Sowler and Gerry Westmacott, and Dr Samantha Stoffberg, a bat specialist from the University of Cape Town.

Surveying using Anabat [bat detector]

Jill Tardivel, Senior Ecologist at Lloyd Bore gives her take on surveyingusing AnaBat.

We started with a single AnaBat (SD1) used both with and without PDA (which show real time sonograms) for remote recording, emergence surveys, general activity surveys and bat walks. Its usefulness is confirmed by the fact that now each member of our team has an SD1 or SD2.

The following are real plusses:

• Ease of usefor recording onto a CF card - once the machines have been initialised they are pretty nearly plug and play.
• Real time sonograms on the PDA - instant identification for several species - no continual tuning needed.
• Long battery life (for weeks in the field).

-  below the full article - 

This article is from the Bat Conservation Trust’s membership magazine.
To find out more about bats and how to become a member
visit the Bat Conservation Trust’s website - http://www.bats.org.uk/
or call the free national (UK) Bat Helpline on 0845 1300 228. 

How to get the best out of your Handheld Three-Element Yagi Antenna

The Yagi Three Element Antenna is gamma tuned for receiving signals from longer distances. Heavy duty spring loaded folding elements and a pistol grip handle make this the ideal portable, general use antenna.

Features:

• Gamma tuned

• Folding elements for easy transportation and storage

• Pistol grip handle for ease of use

• Suitable for use with an Australis 26k Scanning Receiver

• Antenna bag also available separately

Frequencies available:

148MHz, 151MHz, 160MHz, 173MHz

Omni-Directional Whip Antenna

Magnetic-based, omni-directional, designed to sit on roof of vehicle. Can withstand wind pressure of 100kph.

Recommendations

For detection of signals within a prescribed radius to establish presence of the transmitter. Once a signal is detected, the antenna changes to a directional antenna to establish the bearing of the signal.

Size for 151 MHz:

1380mm H X 90mm

Weight:

830g

The tag sends coded acoustic ‘pings’ at a frequency of 69kHz. Each ping can include telemetry data as well as the tag’s serial number, enabling fast and efficient processing.

Coding the acoustic pings helps to increase battery life and the number of tags that can be used on a single frequency.

The tag is activated using an internal magnetic switch. When the magnet supplied is removed from the outer skin, the tag is activated. Replacing the magnet will trigger the internal magnetic switch and deactivate the tag.

Titley Scientific's acoustic tags allow researchers to:

• Conduct Fish Survival Studies
• Monitor Fish Migration/Passage/Trajectory
• Track Fish Behaviour in Two or Three Dimensions (2D or 3D)
• Measure Bypass Effectiveness at Dams and other Passages
• Observe Predator/Prey Dynamics and More

Titley Scientific offer the T11, T14, T17 model tags.

Expected Battery Life

Battery life for each tag size is entirely dependent on:

• Power output: the Acoustic Tags have a standard power output up to 147dB +- 3dB re 1uPa @ 1m. Tailored power output levels are available upon request
• Types of sensors included
• Time shelved: Tag life will be reduced if it is shelved for a long period of time. Transmitters should be activated within two months of delivery. For more information, contact us.
• Delay between transmissions (in seconds).
• The Acoustic Tags have six standard delays available with user-specified delays possible on request(see below).

Transmission rate varies randomly 45% about the nominal delay value. For example, a 90 second nominal delay indicates that the tag transmits randomly every 50 to 131 seconds.

Projected battery life is an estimate and users will experience a decrease in battery life if their tags are operating in extreme conditions.

In the Field

Titley Scientific acoustic tags have been used on an expedition by James Cook University to track the finescale movements of Tiger Sharks and Green Sea Turtles around Raine Island (Far North Queensland) during the turtle nesting season.

A total of 22 Tiger Sharks were tagged through the use of a pole with a tag applicator on the end. The sharks were attracted by baits to the research vessel. The expedition also involved the tagging of 16 Green Sea Turtles by use of a thin wire attached to the underside of the shell.