SPEA Açores carried out another field season of the LIFE Natura@night project between 3 and 10 April in Graciosa island. This season aimed to characterize and identify the species of bats present on this island.
This fieldwork was divided in two actions. Firstly, during 3 nights, bats were captured in several areas of the Natura 2000 network, with the use of bat capture nets. Next, the acoustic study of bats was carried out using listening devices, the Audiomoths. These devices were installed with special attention in the areas where the captures were made and programmed to record for 24 hours.
Technicians Eva Nóbrega from the Instituto das Florestas e Conservação da Natureza (IFCN), Sara Nunes from the Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO) and Yasmin Redolosis from SPEA Açores were involved in this action.
In addition to the sampling, SPEA Açores promoted environmental education activities in the White Island. The initiative aimed to raise awareness of the importance of bats and included two activities.
The first environmental education activity took place in the ATL of Santa Cruz de Graciosa, where the youngest, between 6 and 10 years old, were introduced to the importance of bats for the ecosystem. The second activity was carried out outdoors, with the demonstration of field work and the capture of bats. Using capture nets, the participants could see how bats are studied.
