NatureNet: listening to nature around EMF

Eastnor Deer Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its unique biodiversity. That biodiversity includes 14 of the 18 bat species resident in the UK, as well as many species of birds and terrestrial mamals.

Building on EMF 2024's popular series of bat bioacoustics sessions, we are proposing a larger, static installation of acoustic detectors. The detectors will be positioned in areas where we know or suspect bat activity will take place, and will contribute data to various projects and related sessions, including real-time species detection, a simulated bat cave, interactive bat walks, and a possible scientific contribution on the impact of festivals on bat behaviour.

Whilst initially focused on bats, time and equipment allowing, we hope to extend the detection and classification to other species groups, principally birds, providing interesting and educational data output during both day and night throughout the event.

If you are familiar with "Merlin" for detecting birds from their calls on your phone, come and see other tools for understanding the natural world around us.

NatureNet will be surrounding EMF, running 24/7 for the duration of the festival and maybe even a bit before/after.