The Next Bat Detector to be Reviewed: The Brand New Ranger from Titley Scientific

The next bat detector to be tested and reviewed - Via Live webinar/presentation - For (members of) The BatAbility Club, will be:

The Brand New Ranger from Titley Scientific! If you click on the link, you’ll quickly see that it’s much more than just a static bat recorder - It’s designed to record audible wildlife as well! It’s also designed with lots of excellent features.

It’s not officially available to the public yet - That’s how new it is!

This will be sometime in February 2024!

Until then, Have a Merry Christmas! 🎄 and a Happy New Year!🎊 

Happy bat detecting!

Book Review: ‘Thermal Imaging For Wildlife Applications' By Kayleigh Fawcett Williams

There’s a very interesting new book, just released entitled: 

‘Thermal Imaging For Wildlife Applications’ by Kayleigh Fawcett Williams published by Pelagic Publishing.

It was published on October 24th of this year. It is 176 pages in length, measures approx 9.5" high and 6.5" wide, and weighs 304 grams.

Right from the start, I may as well confess, that I really like books about electronic kit. In the world of bat ecology and to a lesser degree, Ecology at large, there aren’t many books on such topics. Which is to say, there aren’t many books out there, which deal specifically with the subject of electronic devices used by ecologists, biologists, and others involved in wildlife study and research.

On a related note, I’m happy to report that there are several, very interesting books printed over the last decade, dealing with the subject of wildlife recording. They cover forest habitat(s), underwater/dolphin calls, general guides to sound recording in the field, etc. I have intentions of acquiring one or two, at some point. 

Like many of you, my current bookcases are packed and overflowing.

This often forces me to place books on top of other books, which may be on top of papers I’ve printed out for reading, which are on top of a laptop that isn’t used very often anymore, etc. 

Which is when I discovered that (for whatever reason) it seems this book is a little more “slippery” than other books. Whenever I placed it on top of any sheets of paper, whether it was a single sheet of paper, or a short stack, this book always had a tendency to slip and slide away. 

It would slide off of whatever “small tower” it was precariously placed on (mea culpa). But only if placed on paper; it seem to fare well on all other random surfaces. Things like the rubberized cover of an iPad, the faux-steel cover of an HP laptop, etc. 

I can’t help but wonder, if someone at Pelagic Publishing is reading this in disbelief? (I’m just having some fun). 

In any case, we should probably bear in mind, that this was observed with my copy of the book. It may very well be that subsequent printings of the book will be slightly different. When printing for distribution, the molecular structure of the book’s covers might have a quantum change, rendering it a bit less slippery, who’s to say?

As always, a big thank you to Pelagic Publishing for the copy of the book! I feel honored to say that I received one of the very first copies. Even before the author received her copies! 

The book may be found, wherever books on Ecology (and related subjects) are sold.

The book has an eye-catching cover - depicting two Fallow Deer, whose image was captured by the author, using a FLIR T1030sc thermal camera.

The Contents are well-laid out, in a detailed, and logical order. This is immediately followed by a listing of the Figures shown in the book.

Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications offers the reader an excellent trek into the world of thermal imaging. It features a well-laid-out progression. Illustrating that this technology is not only very useful for bats, but almost any wildlife species which one may wish to study. The content was refreshing and engrossing. 

It features detailed descriptions of when and where thermal imaging has been referenced in the existing literature. The book serves as an excellent resource, pooling together records of the use of this technology over the past several decades. Along with detailed notes, and interesting information.

Pros:

• It's a unique and valuable reference on the intriguing, increasingly used technology which is thermal imaging.
• The book covers the current state of the art of these devices, along with some helpful guidance, for someone considering their acquisition and use. 
• It's a handy, one-stop resource, containing a wealth of education on the subject.

Cons:

• I would have liked to see more information on the individual imaging units available; as well as more specific recommendations.

Please note: You're reading a review of a book, dealing with high tech electronic kit - written by someone who adores high tech electronic kits! It hasn't been easy to remain stoic and objective. I've had to curb my enthusiasm, but I can say, that I really enjoyed it!

I'll can also tell you that even a geek like me, learned a few things about this amazing technology, which was completely unknown to me.

Some things I really liked:

The word cloud on page 5.

The paired photographs on page 7.

The photos on page 27.

I was pleased to read Chapter 3 ('Methods') because it explained the various ways in which these cameras may be deployed.

It was neat to see the 'Kayleigh says' paragraph boxes throughout the book - which contained enlightening tips/information shared by the Author. The boxes were reminiscent of those often seen in the 'For Dummies' series of books.

I enjoyed Chapter 5 ('Application Types'), and Chapter 6 ('Wildlife Applications'). 

As the author herself points out: The book may be read cover-to-cover, or used as a reference. This is certainly the case. I found the descriptions of several different types of thermal imagers engaging. 

I enjoyed learning a bunch of stuff that I was unaware of in regards to this unique technology: How it's deployed, utilized, and most importantly, how the resulting data is handled. You'll be sure to learn some things you might never have guessed (I did!).

Pages 84 through 124 contained an Appendix, detailing when and where thermal imaging was discussed in the existing literature - From 1968 to 2021. As someone who is fascinated with how instruments such as bat detectors, microscopes, and telescopes have evolved over time - I found it very interesting!

Page 125 ('Resources') shares very intriguing information, which you probably didn't know you needed. Which is neatly followed up with ('Supplier Directory') on page 127. To be blatantly honest - always one of my favourite parts of any book of this type. This is the section informing the reader exactly where they can get their hands on such magic. In other words: the list of active vendors/Dealers to check out when shopping for your own thermal imagers. 

I found the book delightful, engaging, informative, and an overall wonderful reference. It would be of interest to anyone who is either considering, or ready to begin using thermal imaging technology. It's not only a unique resource on the subject, but an impressive technical reference, which one can come back to again, and again.

It also serves as an easy to understand introduction to the world of thermal imaging. Which would be well suited to a newcomer to this fascinating and useful technology. 

Until next time,

Happy bat detecting! thermal imaging!

The Next Item To Be Reviewed...

The next device to be reviewed, on The BatAbility Club (via live webinar), will be The Brand-New USB Mic - designed by Open Acoustic Devices in England.

I've actually already written a detailed review of it Here.

A look at the documentation from Open Acoustic Devices.

The Product Review Webinar will be presented live, for members of The BatAbility Club on November 13th, 5pm London time.

I'm really looking forward to sharing my experiences, tests, and results using this unique USB Microphone.

I've become accustomed to recording bats (as well as singing insects) with the USB Mic attached to my laptop, via a 10' (3 meter) USB cable. It's actually very convenient; and the recordings end up exactly where you want them!

A sincere thank you, to my readers; for sharing this blog amongst your colleagues and peers! It reached over 16,000 visitors this month!

Also, a special thank you, to Singapore! Thank you for all the visits.

I will also be reviewing a brand-new book, which is soon-to-be-released, from Pelagic Publishing - Titled 'Thermal Imaging For Wildlife Applications' By Kayleigh Fawcett Williams.

Currently available for Pre-Order from NHBS:

Until next time, 

Thanks again, and

Happy bat detecting!

The AudioMoth Online Conference 2023

For the second year in a row, Nils Bouillard has arranged, curated, and orchestrated The AudioMoth Online Conference!

And it was even better than the first one! I'll share the description seen on the welcome screen of the course:

"Welcome to this second edition of the Audiomoth Online Conference. Over the course of four sessions, we will be hearing from 12 researchers using Audiomoth in the field! The topics we will be covering will include coral reefs, soundscapes, birds, bats, rodents as well as perspectives and a bit of an overview of the state of affordable bioacoustic tools. Needless to say, the breadth of knowledge that will be shared during this conference, once more, will be substantial and may give you some ideas for projects of your own!"

If you look closely, you can see what the prices were (€57, and €30 for Students).

This 2023 Conference featured 12 speakers!

A LOT of material was covered! Let's get a couple of things out of the way:

• I learned a lot!
• Each of these talks were simply fascinating!

The kind of stuff that would inspire one to start thinking about collecting wildlife sound recordings! As well as underwater recordings...And hydrophones!

Yes, I still have the cutest little (purple) circuit boards for building pre-amps for (DIY) hydrophones...

No, I haven't built any yet, because I'm a bit of a scatterbrain who gets distracted by shiny, new things! lol

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but - Back to The AudioMoth Conference!

12 speakers - I'll break it down further (a generalization):

Session 1

• AudioMoth + Light Pollution + Effects on the timing of bird songs (Hong Kong). By Ann To.
• AudioMoth + Bat Activity + Street lights (Hong Kong). By John Allcock. 💓
• AudioMoth + Utility of Acoustic Indices to assess diversity of birds. By Gaurav Singh

Very engrossing! Light pollution and Swinhoe's White Eye (bird) - Wow! The effects of light pollution, and street lighting on bats, Along with fascinating findings while assessing the diversity of passerine/non-passerine birds. All excellent and very informative!

Session 2

• AudioMoth + Sampling High Frequency calls of Cave Bats + Southeastern Amazon. By Giulliana Appel.
• AudioMoth + Impact of community-led Conservation Practices on Biodiversity in Floodplain Lakes + Jurua River / Amazon. By Carly Batist.
• Taking The AudioMoth Underwater + Oceanic Soundscapes + HydroMoth. By Lucille Chapuis. 💓

The techniques used to record cave bats in the Amazon was illuminating and enchanting, Learning about the floodplains, weather, and wildlife, as well as cutting edge data manipulation was interesting, The oceanic soundscapes/underwater recording, as well as equipment discussion was captivating. 

Session 3

• AudioMoth + Assessing Avian Diversity in Taita Hills, Kenya. By Vikram Malhi
• AudioMoth + Estimating The Abundance of The Critically Endangered Great Green Macaw. By Tom Lewis. 💓
• AudioMoth + Social Vocalization In Social Networks of Wild, Free-Living House Mice. By Nicholas Jourjine. 💓

Fascinating descriptions of methodologies in (avian) surveys, and data collection, The critically endangered Green Macaw is simply captivating, I thoroughly enjoyed the informative talk on the (wild) House Mice.

Session 4

• HydroMoths + Hurricanes + How Does A Low-Cost Recording Device Perform in Extreme Weather. By Nathan Wolek. 💓
• AudioMoth + Creating Tools To Conserve Our Wildlife. By Andrew Schulz.
• AudioMoth + Open Acoustic Devices. By Andy Hill. 💓

The Hurricanes and Hydromoths presentation was just chock-full of getting kids involved in real science; educative! Creating Tools to conserve our wildlife was incredibly informative, and also demonstrated kids involved in real science, the talk from Andy Hill was extremely instructive and explanatory. He shared several valuable/useful guidelines for getting the most from AudioMoths.

Now: Please keep in mind, that all of these presentations were fascinating and informative! I found all of them captivating, and deeply appreciated each of them. I simply placed a "💓" after the ones which I found to be particularly absorbing to me.

Each of these talks offered those in attendance, a unique glimpse into the current state of bioacoustic study. Each consisted of instructional breakdowns, and informative explanations of the projects discussed. As well as very well explained details of the processes, and a glimpse into the extensive amounts of work involved. 

These educational AudioMoth Online Conferences are a treasure trove of learning; and not to be missed! They are an outstanding way to learn which current, and future methods are being employed in the field of bioacoustics. 

In many cases, a look into what it's like, to utilize state-of-the-art manipulation of collected acoustic data. As well as methods and techniques, employed in challenging environments, to collect important and viable bioacoustic data.

So these online conferences would be ideal for anyone who works with, or plans to work with or deploy, virtually any device created by Open Acoustic Devices.

Attendees who have watched all the courses, whether live or recorded playback, get a certificate of completion emailed to them.

By the way, you can subscribe to the free email updates right from the Barbastella Ecology page. Just scroll down to the bottom of this page. So you won't miss out on future events. 

Until next time,

Happy bat detecting!

Unwavering Dedication to "My" Bat Detectors

"Find what you love and let it kill you"     

 -Bukowski

Sure, I can talk about it now; I'll try to keep it short. Unnecessary details have been omitted.

Lest anyone doubt my dedication to bat detectors... lol ...read on:

It was August 23rd (2021) I had some superfluous concern for the wee kit; I knew it would be fine, but still...

It had been exposed to non-stop rain (from hurricane Henry) for 12+ hours; and I knew the batteries were halfway to flat.

Everything was very muddy...some torn clothes and a few hours later: 

A Doctor was confirming that my shoulder wasn't dislocated. He recommended an MRI and orthopedic specialist (concerned about torn/damaged rotator cuff, cartilage/nerves, etc.).

I got a nifty navy blue sling for my right arm, and lots of pain.

Needless to say, I was determined early on, not to allow this little mishap delay my current testing, and upcoming reviews - and it didn't.

 

Bruise from torn bicep

So, an Orthopedic Dr. had X-Rays performed; and scheduled an MRI. 

Turns-out, I fractured my shoulder. Luckily, surgery wasn't required.

Things in progress (back in 2021):

Currently in the early stages of testing/data collection, using USB microphones from Pettersson Electronic. Utilizing the Bat Recorder Android app by Bill Krause, which I found to work very well! 

Also working on a video presentation review, for The M500 and U384 USB Mics from Pettersson. This will be featured exclusively on The BatAbility Club Web Site.

With more amazing equipment on the horizon...

Happy bat detecting!

Review: The uMoth (AudioMoth) From Open Acoustic Devices

Review: The uMoth (AudioMoth) From Open Acoustic Devices

FYI: A full, webinar (review) of The uMoth was presented on The BatAbility Club (on 9/11/2023). This detailed discussion (1+ hour) is available for viewing anytime, to members of the Club (individual memberships are only £30 per month).

The uMoth is the worlds smallest passive bat recorder. It is a miniaturized version of the well-known AudioMoth, passive/static wildlife sound recorder. Just like the larger (original) AudioMoth unit - The uMoth is not only able to record ultrasound, but sounds in the audible range as well.

Stock Photo - Back/Microchip view of The uMoth.

This brings to mind The AudioMoth Live desktop App, and the fact that the heterodyne detector simulator, tunes down to 12kHz. 

Let me point out straight away, that Open Acoustic Devices is a non-profit organization. There are two firms who manufacture these devices designed by The Open Acoustic Devices Team. They are: GroupGets and LabMaker.

Front of The uMoth - Where the microphone hole, MicroSD card slot, Battery connector, Main switch, and MicroUSB connector reside.

The current price(s) from the manufacturers (at the time of this writing) are:

GroupGets - $99.99 + Shipping

LabMaker - Currently not available (sold out)

Packaging - The uMoth arrived (rather quickly) to me, here on the East coast of The US, from England. It arrived well-packaged & protected. See below - Inner box, after removing from external, brown padded envelope: 

The uMoth PCB, packed with Silica gel

(cute business card is visible through static-proof bag).

The uMoth measures 32 x 24mm and the PCB itself weighs just 5 grams (without battery).

It's intended to be used on certain animals as well. The fact that it's so small and light, makes it an excellent candidate for attaching to animals (especially large mammals); providing Ecologists/Biologists with dynamic sound recordings. Adding a very interesting facet to their collection of sound files.

Photo above shows: The uMoth, USB based battery charger, and an enclosed battery. Photo provided by Open Acoustic Devices.

Features - As per Open Acoustic Devices' site: 

• Silicon Labs Wonder Gecko microcontroller:

– 48MHz 32-bit processor 

– DSP instruction support and floating-point unit 

– 256kB Flash 

– 32kB RAM plus an extra 256kB of external SRAM 

– For full details of the Wonder Gecko microcontroller please see the Wonder Gecko reference manual. 

• On-board analog MEMS microphone, Sensitivity -18 dBV/Pa, 63 dBA SNR, 10Hz to 192kHz 

• Sample rates up to 384kHz 

• Micro-USB B port for power, configuration and for reprogramming the Flash 

• 2-pin JST-PH header for connecting external power supplies (3.6V to 6V) 

• 6-pin 2.54mm pitch header for multi-function 3V General Purpose I/O (GPIO) 

• 6-pin 2.54mm pitch serial wire debug port 

• MicroSD card connector compatible with up to 1TB capacity

One of the reasons why I became fascinated with The uMoth: It's ability to comfortably fit into an empty film pot! With battery! Photo provided by Open Acoustic Devices.

Yes - It's in there, with MicroSD card inserted, and battery (it's sitting atop Page 2, of the 7-page datasheet). 

The uMoth has been designed to not only be incredibly small, but also versatile. Those who know their way around single board computing devices (like the Raspberry Pi or Arduino) will be happy to see the flexibility offered by The uMoth. Several available contact pads, offering: GIPO/logic states, a 3v power output, and other geeky goodness, provides plenty to keep an evil genius satisfied.

If at this point you're wondering "what is he going on about?"

Have you ever wished that your coffee maker could turn on at the first fly by of a bat? Well, it wouldn't be out of the question using this circuit board as your starting point...

                        

                                                            

GIPO pads are clearly visible on the circuit board.

I found several tiny screwdrivers ideally sized for the turning the rotary switch.

                                                         

Here is a link directly to the Datasheet for The uMoth. When you do order a battery (or two) for it, make sure that it comes equipped with the correct size JST-PH connector.

It just so happened, that one of the batteries I ordered (from Amazon) came with everything needed to get the battery attached to The uMoth. As well as an excellent printed page, describing all you need to know about JST connectors:

                                                     

This one included a small length of heat shrink tubing, 2 connectors (w/red & black leads), and a convenient fold-out providing you with all you need to know about JST connectors.

An assortment of JST connectors.

       

You may learn more about JST connectors here.

To give you an idea of what your typical batteries will look like:

The first two are ideal sizes, for a good balance between small size and performance. The extra small (100maH) one was used for experimental enclosures (paper clip for scale).

I cut and soldered the red & black wires (into their correct places) and used my own heat shrink tubing. However, you do not need to go that route. For someone not keen on splicing wires and soldering: The included instructions and something like a ball point pen (or similar) are all that is required to achieve what is needed. 

The uMoth is a bat detector/wildlife sound recorder which may be used in a simple manner (with minimal configuration) - Or, fully customised by specifying times to turn on/record, shut-off/stand-by, trigger by amplitude, trigger by filter setting, and other options.

The AudioMoth Configuration App

Default screen/when first launched - 1970 appears, to help remind you to set the clock.

The next tab is for scheduling.

The next tab, allows you to narrow down which sounds get recorded, by the set-up of filter settings.

The next setting, allows you to set which sounds get recorded, by the set-up of sound duration.

A look at the 'Advanced' tab and it's available settings.

The uMoth would be ideally suited for those wanting the features and performance of the full-sized AudioMoth, in a much smaller package.

Ballpoint pen for scale.

This tiny unit would also be good for those needing to deploy several recorders, quickly, and easily - across a medium-sized area. The uMoth is excellent for attaching to trees. And again, may be attached directly onto medium to large sized animals - providing unique recording opportunities.

Especially, for example if a certain species shares it's habitat closely with the target species.

An example of an quick/simple approach to set-up might entail something like:

• Inserting an appropriate MicroSD card & attaching a recommended battery.
• Configuring the unit via the AudioMoth Configuration software.
• Making sure your time is set - Via Configuration /or Chime App.
• Deploy in desired location.

An example of a more thorough approach to set-up, might include additional steps, things like:

• Configuring the unit to turn on/off at desired times. Up to 4 times in a 24 hour period.
• Setting-up the filter settings.
• Setting-up time duration settings (Minimum trigger duration).

During my extensive testing, I found The uMoth to reproduce sounds very accurately. I found it to offer plenty of sensitivity, with very little self noise. 

Just to outline what each of the three switch settings provide:

• USB/OFF

Consider this a starting point: With a USB cable connected, it allows you to: Set the on-board clock, configure scheduled recording(s), and apply new firmware.

When not connected to a computer, it serves as an Off switch.

• Custom

If configured (recording schedule has been set): The uMoth will start running it's configuration. In order for this to happen, the clock must be set - Either during configuration, or with a chime from your smartphone.

• Default

This will cause The uMoth to start recording continuously. It will use whichever sample rate, and gain level is configured. The clock doesn't need to be set.

Below, are just a few short spectrograms, made using The uMoth, and using Kaleidoscope Pro software, from Wildlife Acoustics:

Eptesicus Fuscus - Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus Fuscus - Big Brown Bat

Lasionycteris Noctivagans - Silver-Haired Bat

Some additional features:

• EFM32 Gecko processor

• Capable of recording at sample rates up to 384kHz

• Records uncompressed WAV files to microSD card

• Powered by a two pin JST-PH connector 

• Can be used with 3.7 V - 6 V batteries

• Analog MEMS microphone

• Analog pre-amplifier with adjustable gain

• Measures just 26 x 36 mm

• Configurable USB interface

• Onboard real-time clock keeps track of time in UTC

• Exposed header for GPIO expansion 

Pros:

• Excellent, sensitive, low-noise microphone.

• High-quality, detailed recordings.

• Very small size.

• Long battery life versus size of batteries (LiPo).

Cons:

• Configuration isn't as easy as other (more expensive) static recorders.
• Cannot always be ordered immediately (may need to join a campaign).
• The clock must always be set: Either via a few clicks, while connected to PC, or via the smartphone chime app.

Again, the only way to order this device, is through either of the manufacturer's respective web sites:

GroupGets - $99.99 + Shipping

LabMaker -  Not available (currently sold out)

I've also been (slowly) working on creating videos, and posting them on my YouTube channel. I would greatly appreciate it, if you would visit, and please consider subscribing. Not for the reason why most YouTubers ask for you to "please subscribe, and hit that button...and bell" and whatever else - No, I'm only asking, for the sheer desire to share information.

As it has always been one of my main goals, from the very beginning with this blog - For it to be a free, non-profit, ad-free place - where I help get the word out about the latest and greatest bat detectors. It's basically the only place on the Web, where you can get completely honest, unbiased, reviews of bat detectors (and associated equipment).

So, again, as for my YouTube channel - I have no expectation of ever achieving 1,000 Subscribers. And that's totally fine.

However, if you know of anyone who might find my (short) videos of interest, please share! It would be nice to have around 100 subscribers one day...

Thanks! 

I've also just started to create simple videos, which allow me to share the actual sound recordings produced by the different bat recorders. There are a few there (so far...) of recordings from this uMoth. 

I may as well mention...My Twitter: @batdetectors

And my Instagram: batdetectors

I'll also take this opportunity to mention, that we've talked about doing a live webinar/presentation review of The AudioMoth USB Mic. It is tentatively planned for The BatAbility Club, in November. As always, it will be a live, detailed, presentation - with opportunities for Club members to ask questions, etc.

This brand-new USB Mic, is the very latest device just developed, by the Team at Open Acoustic Devices in the UK. As far as I know, I'm the only one outside of The Open Acoustic Devices Team, to actually get my hands on one! They aren't available for sale yet. I'm happy to state that I've had plenty of time to test this new USB Mic:

Firstly, I really like it!

And, secondly, I did post a written review of it here on the blog.

 

It is a versatile USB Microphone because it can be attached to either a laptop or smartphone. 

When it does become available for purchase, it will be affordable, at or below the $100 mark...

Until next time,

Happy bat detecting!

Book Review: Big Bat Year A Conservation Story by Nils Bouillard

Review: Big Bat Year - A Conservation Story by Nils Bouillard

The book may be seen here, at the publisher's site.

Big Bat Year, takes the reader along on the unique journey made by it's author, to see as many different species of bats as possible, in a single year.

For those of you who weren't aware, this is similar to a "Big bird year" which some avid birders undertake; often traveling around the world, to see as many different species of birds in a single calendar year.

The book is 232 pages in length, measures 6.21 x 0.63 x 8.92 inches, weighs 510 grams, and was published on April 27th, 2023.

I was very curious about this book, from the time I first learned of it. By the time I'd reached the bottom of page 4 - after reading the rules, which the author decided to impose on himself, I realized two things:

•  He's thought things through, and isn't going to make it easy for himself.
•  I'm going to enjoy reading about this adventure!

This book is unique. This factor was obvious to me, from the time of the book's release. It isn't the kind of book on bats you and I are used to. One of the key differences, is that this is a book which you sit down and read through. 

I know, please bear with me here...

It's a recounting of an adventure, a memoir of a young man determined to accomplish something (unique) which no one had set out to do before:

Record as many different species of bats as possible, while traveling around the world, and limiting yourself to one calendar year. 

I think you would agree, that he's accomplished this goal admirably! 

As always, I advise you to shop around for the best price, and delivery times. Link to NHBS below to get you started:

Back to the book...

I was pleased to read page 11, because it was the first time in which bat detectors were discussed!

Some interesting facts about invasive species began on page 13. There are such sections placed throughout the book. I will not report on all of them, so as to leave some as surprises.

An exciting description of recording a bat in New Caledonia on page 32.

I loved reading about the events leading up to the author's purchase of an AnaBat Walkabout detector (pages 34-35).

There's some concise, but effective, and encouraging words on page 69, for anyone who has ever considered learning more about bats.

Pages 71-74 (Sepilok, Borneo) has a little something for everyone - By the time you reach this point in the book, you've become well-aware that the author gives reports of many different types of animals encountered (not just bats). This will undoubtedly keep naturalists intrigued. 

Pages 75 through 206 represented the whirlwind tour of bat chasing I was looking forward to! 

With a "stop" on page 98, for a concise overview of bats & disease. 

And a short, but informative "stop" on page 100 for an explanation of bats & culture (I enjoyed it!).

Page 114 discussed the author's acquisition of The EM3 detector (from Wildlife Acoustics) so I was smiling!

There was a fascinating "first" described on page 161 (no, I'm not going to disclose everything...).

Pros:

• A unique book, which is easy to read.
• Beautiful assortment of photos.
• Very nice descriptions of the animals encountered. 

Cons:

• I would have loved to see more pictures of bats.

I found the book very interesting, at times exciting, and overall inspiring. It would be of interest to anyone connected to bats in any way; and would also be a great introduction to the world of bats for a newcomer.

If you know a birder, who either would (or should!) be interested in learning more about bats: This is the book to gift them! 

In fact, as I type this, more than one person comes to my mind...Indeed, I will inform the leaders of the 2 Birding Groups I used to tag along with - Highly recommended!  

Until next time,

Happy bat detecting!