#InlandWaters - 2015 marks the tenth year of the All Ireland Daubenton's Bat Waterway Survey – and Waterways Ireland and Bat Conservation Ireland are seeking volunteers across the island to take part in this year's survey over two nights in August.

Free training at a number of different centres began in June and will continue during July (for dates and details see HERE). This training will involve an indoor lecture followed by a practical session using bat detectors on a local river.

The survey is part a monitoring scheme recording the activity of the Daubenton's bat. These yearly surveys allow us to determine whether the population of this bat species is increasing or decreasing.

The more volunteer teams, the more accurate the information will be. In 2014, 252 waterways were surveyed across the island. Your help is needed to increase coverage for the island.

The Daubenton's bat is known as the water bat because of its preference to roost and feed close to water such as rivers and lakes. It is easy to identify because of all of our 10 species of bat, it is the only species that will be seen continuously skimming the water surface as it is feeding on insects.

Surveyors will be in teams of two people. Bat Conservation Ireland will provide the use of a bat detector for the survey. No prior experience is needed.

The All Ireland Daubenton's Bat Waterway Survey is funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

If you would like more information or would like to register, visit the Bat Conservation Ireland website HERE.