Never before have so many bats hibernated in the ring kiln of brick factory Rusthoven in Wirdum as this year. This makes it the largest winter home for bats in the province after the Akerk in the city of Groningen.
Volunteers from the Bat Working Group Groningen, who carried out a count last Sunday, come to a number of 55. That is double compared to last year.
Of the bats counted, the bearded bat appears to be the most numerous with 26 specimens, followed by the water bat. The volunteers counted three long-eared bats. Another three bats were hiding so deep they couldn’t be seen very well.
According to the Bat Working Group, the increase is the direct result of measures taken by Het Groninger Landschap on the ring kiln. After the thorough cleaning and repair of the roof of the ring kiln in September 2021, more sleeping bats were found than ever before during the winter count of early 2022.
Climate is more stable
In the autumn of 2022, most doorways will then be bricked up. This makes the climate in the ring kiln more stable. Furthermore, two doorways are fitted with a metal fence, allowing the bats to fly in and out and guided tours are also possible in the summer. The bats then stay in other places.
The Bat Working Group and Het Groninger Landschap say they are hopeful that the importance of Rusthoven as a winter residence will continue to increase in the coming years.