Your passion projects
Meet Jan Crooks, the bat detective
Our fantastic volunteers do lots of exciting and inspiring things. It’s our mission to hear all about them.
So in every issue we’re meeting a Girlguiding member with a special talent or interest. Today Brownie and Ranger leader Jan Crooks tells us all about being a bat detective...
What noise does a bat make? To humans, they seem mostly silent. But they’re really very chatty – it’s just at a pitch too high for most of us to hear.
Bats use high frequency sound waves to find food. When a bat senses an insect it wants to eat, it makes sound waves to pin down the exact location of its prey – before swooping in for its dinner! This is called echolocation.
While we may not be able to hear bats with our naked ears, we can listen to them using small machines called bat detectors. The 17 different species of bat in the UK all make different sounds.
Heading out with a bat detector and trying to hear all the species is a fascinating and relaxing hobby for lots of people.
Hi Jan, tell us about yourself! What do you do in Girlguiding and how long have you been with us?
It all started in 1973, when I became a Brownie. I was then a Guide and Ranger. I’ve been a Brown Owl and Ranger leader for about 15 years now. First of all in Cornwall, then we recently moved to Scotland. Now I’m Brown Owl of 2nd Kirkcudbright Brownies in Dumfries and Galloway. I’m also leader of the 1st Stewartry Rangers. Outside of guiding, I’m a health visitor working with teenage mothers in my area.
How did you get into bat detecting?
I’ve been doing it since I was a child, with my dad. I grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, in a beautiful area called Jesmond Dene. I don’t know if bat detectors were around then, but we just used to go and watch them. As soon as I was earning some money when I was a student nurse, I bought a bat detector and I’ve been doing it ever since.
Why do you love bats?
They’re so tranquil and relaxing to watch. Bat detecting is mega-good for your mental health. Bats are great for the environment too. I’m a nature geek and I absolutely love them.
I asked my Brownies what they like about bats and they said they’re cute, especially tiny Pipistrelles, who weigh about the same as a 50p piece. Bats are often portrayed as scary and like vampires, but now my Brownies know more about them they really love them.
What’s your favourite species of bat and why?
My favourite is the Brown Long-Eared bat. They look like little rabbits when you see them up close. They’re so cute. They’re also quite gentle and quiet. Pipistrelle bats, for example, would be flying all over the place, but Brown Long-Eared bats are more structured in how they fly. They make a really gentle sound on the bat detector.
Have you tried bat detecting with your units?
Of course! In Cornwall we did a lot of bat detecting. We built bat boxes to encourage bats to come to the beautiful woodland we used. The Rangers were very into it. They really enjoyed the spring and summer evenings just listening to the different sounds. We picked up some quite rare species, including Horseshoe and Daubenton’s bats. I’ve continued bat detecting with my units in Scotland. We live in a beautiful area, where there are 10 of the UK’s 17 species of bats. I’ve picked up bats I’ve never heard before like Barbastelles and Noctules. My Brownies and Rangers here love bat detecting too. I got the Bat Conservation Trust to come and give them a talk.
2nd Kirkcudbright Brownies in action
1st Stewartry Rangers sharing Jan's love of bats
If a unit wanted to try bat detecting, how could they go about it?
I would recommend that they get in touch with the Bat Conservation Trust. They give talks to all sorts of uniformed organisations, and can help you get started. Sometimes they bring rescue bats to look at too. You’ll need a bat detector. You can then use a book to interpret what you hear, or there are bat apps that will tell you what type of bat you’re picking up.
What’s your ultimate ambition when it comes to bat detecting?
To get every single Brownie and Ranger in my units to have a go with a bat detector and have the lovely experience of hearing and seeing the sounds of a bat. I would also really like to get all 17 UK species of bat on my bat app! When I retire, I’d like to help rescue bats too.
Find bats in your local area
Churches have been home to bats for hundreds of years. It’s thought that they’re in at least 60% of pre-16th century churches in England – but the true figure could be much higher. The Bats in Churches project, a partnership between heritage and conservation organisations, is calling for volunteers to survey their local church this summer to help them find out how and why bats are using churches. They’ll use the information to help protect the bats. Could your unit help out with the survey? Find out more at batsinchurches.org.uk .
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