Rare bat discovery a flying finish for Donegal conservation project
Ireland’s largest bat species takes flight at Grianán of Aileach in one of the programme’s standout discoveries
A fascinating discovery at one of Inishowen’s most iconic landmarks has provided a flying finish to a local bat conservation programme, with participants detecting Ireland’s largest bat species at Grianán of Aileach.
Members of the BAT-WATCH programme, organised through Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP), detected a Leisler’s Bat during one of the final sessions of the initiative at the ancient Burt hillfort.
The Leisler’s Bat is Ireland’s largest bat species and is sometimes referred to as the “Irish Bat” because of its importance here and its relative rarity elsewhere in Europe.
The recording at Grianán of Aileach was particularly significant, with IDP noting that it was one of the highest bat recordings made by the group in Donegal.
The discovery was one of several highlights as the BAT-WATCH programme came to a close following months of bat monitoring, habitat observations and practical conservation work.
Participants from Moville Men’s Shed have spent recent months learning more about the fascinating nocturnal creatures while developing practical skills and contributing to the protection of local biodiversity.
As part of the final sessions, the group installed bat boxes at Moville Men’s Shed, providing potential roosting sites for bats in the area.
They also travelled to Bay Road Park in Derry for a guided bat walk, where bat detectors were used to identify different species and monitor bat activity in their natural surroundings.
The programme has given participants the opportunity to get hands-on with conservation, from building and installing bat boxes to observing habitats and learning how to identify different bat species using specialist equipment.
IDP thanked everyone who took part in BAT-WATCH and committed their time to exploring and protecting the region’s wildlife.