Microbats continue to play a role in the community engagement program of the Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network (CWCN). At the heart of CWCN’s work is the protection of local biodiversity, increasingly important in Brisbane’s fast growing inner west. The need to assess existing fauna species was the motivation behind a previous microbat survey, and is the motivation behind all ongoing engagement and data collection activities.

CWCN’s holiday program for children regularly features microbats, and did so this summer with the support of Titley Scientific’s Anabat equipment. While waiting for darkness to settle in, general bat information was provided through a game. Anabat Scout and Anabat Walkabout devices created excitement when triggered by microbat calls during the walk that followed. Floodlights at the sports oval near the CWCN Centre allowed the group not only to listen to calls via the devices and observe them on sonograms but also observe microbats in action, a very satisfying conclusion to our learning activity leaving lasting impressions on the participating children and enhancing their knowledge.

Subsequent events with five of CWCN’s 27 rehabilitation groups were guided by CWCN’s education program coordinator Jutta Godwin and used to alert rehabilitators of the presence of microbats on their sites, and allowed participants to encounter local species through transect walks along Cubberla Creek, Gubberley Creek and Witton Creek, again using the Anabat Scout and Anabat Walkabout. These walks were preceded by a short introduction to microbats and their needs, and by talking about the beneficial effects of creating habitat and connectivity for their movements as well as about bat ecology.

Questions during the walks were numerous and wide reaching. They allowed for extensive discussions. Members of the bush care groups were intrigued and keen to know more about the microbats visiting or potentially roosting in their rehabilitation site. Where sites had not previously been included in the CWCN microbat survey, locations were identified for placement of CWCN’s own Anabat Express to obtain a more comprehensive picture of microbat populations and movements in Brisbane’s inner west.

Like at previous occasions, with the help of Titley Scientific, CWCN was able to raise the level of awareness and help rehabilitators to better understand their sites, realise the diversity of nightly wildlife and recognise the important role bats play.

“CWCN is immensely grateful for the ongoing support Titley Scientific provides, and thanks Kristen Thompson for her contribution to the education program.”– Jutta Godwin