Skip to content

The Academy is being rebuilt

We are moving the courses to this new site, so they cannot be bought at the moment. The course pages show what each course will include.

Expected reopening: 15th November 2026

Already enrolled on a course? Email admin@bioconserve.org and we will make sure you keep your access.

Course

Bat Acoustics Academy: Core

Modules I–IV: recording, measuring and identifying bat calls, and what to do with the results.
Choose Europe Choose Western Asia

Taught byNils Bouillard, bat acoustics specialist

Syllabus

  1. Module I: Foundations of bat sound analysis

    Call types, the analysis workflow, good recording practice, how species are identified, call parameters and call structure.

    • How this course works
    • Course workbook
    • Bat sound analysis basics: call types and workflowFree lesson
    • Good recording practice
    • How species are identified
    • Call parameters and how they interact
    • Clutter, consistency, alternation and harmonics
    • Call structure: FM, CF, QCF and combinations
    • Module I questionnaire

  2. Module II: Sound, references and classifiers

    Doppler shift, geographical variation, detection range, jamming avoidance, references and classifiers.

    • Doppler shift
    • Geographical variation
    • Detection range
    • Jamming avoidance
    • References: tables, charts, spectrograms, ID keys, libraries and compiled sequences
    • Classifiers: pros and cons, trust, confidence metrics and building your own
    • Module II questionnaire

  3. Module III: From identification to a project

    Vetting, grouping species, family profiles, ID challenges, social calls, quality control, data storage and developing a project.

    • Vetting
    • Grouping species: taxonomic and phonic
    • Family profiles
    • Species identification challenges
    • Social calls
    • Quality control
    • Storing data and backups
    • Developing a project
    • Module III questionnaire

  4. Module IV: Analysing and publishing acoustic data

    Counts, metadata and call parameters, ecological significance, mapping, temporal analysis, comparing sites and publishing.

    • Analysing acoustic data: counts, metadata and call parameters
    • Ecological significance
    • Mapping
    • Temporal analysis
    • Comparing sites
    • Published analyses
    • Publishing acoustic data
    • Module IV questionnaire
    • Final assignment: Know Your Bat
    • Final assignment: Know Your Region
    • Global mystery set

Need to train your whole team?

A programme around your projects and your recorders, invoiced to your organisation.

Discuss team training