With over 1000 participants from all fields of acoustics the conference was a melting pot of ideas for the applications of acoustics from bioacoustics to biomedical studies and optimisation of musical instruments and room acoustics.

Back in 2007, the Bat Conservation Trust published the first edition of ‘Bat Surveys: Good Practice Guidelines’, with the aim to provide some clarity on the different types of survey and survey effort needed to provide appropriate information for ecological assessments. Since 2007, new developments in equipment, methods, and legislation have meant that revision of the bat survey guidelines is needed.

Our newly appointed marine consultant Federica Pace will be presenting her work on the automatic classification of humpback whale songs at two upcoming acoustics conferences this summer.

Researchers from from the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts, USA have recently completed a study that links high levels of low frequency vessel noise to increased levels of stress hormone in one species of large whale.

It was covered by the BBC last week.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) of the US published its report last month from the marine mammal and sound workshop held in July 2010. It's online here http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/mammals_sound_workshop.htm

Baker Consultants Limited has made a significant move to expand our in-house capability in marine ecology with appointment of Dr Anna McGregor and Federica Pace. As well as being marine biologists Anna and Federica both bring new skills and expertise to our established bioacoustics team.

Having become the UK's acknowledged experts in the use of the Wildlife Acoustics’ SM2 range of full spectrum recorders, Baker Consultants Ltd has been commissioned by the manufacturer to provide field support to their UK users.

I had thought that 2011 would be a year of consolidation however it turned out to be one of continued expansion and forward planning. Not only did our client base increase along with turnover but we also expanded the in-house team with Carlos Abrahams joining us as Technical Director

New guidance has been published on the assessment and reporting required under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive including marine habitats and species.

WILDLIFE ACOUSTICS ANNOUNCES THE ECHO METER EM3 ULTRASONIC DETECTOR AND RECORDER

At the UK National Bat Conference last week, Wildlife Acoustics announced a new hand-held bat detector and recorder. As you would expect there was great excitement in the Baker Consultants office and Paul couldn't wait to get his hands on one.

Paul said: "It's a unique piece of kit, finally we have access to something that not only captures and records bat calls, but also shows the calls in real-time as they come in on the screen."