Devon Schoolboy Contributes to Bat Population Monitoring

A schoolboy from Devon, whose interest lies in bats, has transitioned his pastime into a scientific endeavor through the collection of data concerning these nocturnal creatures. Twelve-year-old Marcus, a resident of Tavistock, is contributing to the efforts of conservation organizations in monitoring bat populations. He has received a specialized detector capable of identifying the ultrasonic sounds bats employ for navigation during nighttime. The United Kingdom hosts 18 distinct bat species, with 16 of these found within Devon. Regarding the device, Marcus stated: “It detects the frequency of the bat and how high the sound is so you can tell what type of bat is flying around the area.” According to the Bat Conservation Trust, bat numbers across the UK have seen a “considerable” reduction over the past century. Tavistock Town councillor Ursula Mann has fostered Marcus’s engagement in his hobby, providing instruction on the operation of the bat detector. Ms Mann indicated that the gathered data would be submitted to the Devon Bat Group and the Bat Conservation Trust, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the area’s biodiversity. She commented: “When bat species decline that can show a decline in species of invertebrates. That might mean we need to be looking at how we do rewilding in the sense of meadows to get back butterflies and insects, all the things that bats feed on. So it’s not just about one species.” Marcus expressed significant enjoyment from using the bat detector and mentioned he is contemplating a career path in conservation. For updates, follow BBC Devon across its social media platforms, X, Facebook, and Instagram. Story proposals can be sent to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. This content is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external links is available.