About this publication
Bat calls of NSW - region-based guide to the echolocation calls of Microchiropteran bats
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Southern freetail bat (Mormopterus species 4). Photo: NPWS
May 2004
This document is a region-based identification guide to the search phase calls of insectivorous bats from NSW, using the Anabat system. This is based on a library of more than 1200 reference calls, collected from 31 species throughout NSW over the last four years by the authors and individual contributors.
Development of the guide was a collaborative effort between the NPWS (part of the Department of Environment and Conservation) and Forests NSW.
For each species found in NSW there is a description of the known call characteristics, including:
- call shape
- characteristic frequency
- regional notes
- similar species that may be confused on call
- ways to distinguish between similar species
- instances where species cannot be separated on call.
The guide provides high quality information to help consultants and researchers to identify species. It will also help people who hire bat consultants, allowing them to understand and monitor results provided to them without requiring an extensive knowledge of how Anabat works.
Topics include:
- the collection of reference calls
- selection of good calls for analysis
- identifying call characteristics and features
- ways bats vary their calls that could lead to errors in identification.
Documents to download
Download the guide
- Bat calls of NSW (PDF - 1.4MB)
Download Anabat files for each of the species
The following reference calls are Anabat system call files. Note that you do not need the Anabat files to use the call guide. If you have a broadband internet connection, you may wish to download all the Anabat files in a single 3.2MB document:
If you have a dial-up internet connection, you can download reference calls for bats in particular regions of NSW:
- Anabat system call files for all species referred to in 'Bat calls of NSW'
- Far West NSW (ZIP - 149KB)
- North East NSW (ZIP - 872KB)
- Riverina (ZIP - 347KB)
- Southern NSW (ZIP - 740KB)
- Sydney (ZIP - 659KB)
- Western Slopes and Plains (ZIP - 478KB)
Contribute to the guide
This guide will be updated as new data becomes available. Feedback from bat researchers who have collected reference calls that contradict or add to species descriptions is invited. For more information contact Michael Pennay.