Since 1994, training courses in the acoustic ecology method are organised in France, Switzerland, Italia, Belgium, and Romania… The 
objective is to train chiropterologists in the auditory identification of bats in the field (heterodyne, time expansion), the manual analysis of computer-generated representations of sound sequences, and methods for quantifying bat activity (habitat studies).
Every year from 1994 to 2006, a four
day training course was organised in France, under the supervision of Michel Barataud and Yves Tupinier. Around fifty bat naturalists from all 
over France, Belgium and Switzerland, attended
regularly, in order to be able in turn to supervise inter-regional training sessions. Local training courses therefore take place since 2007 in the north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west of France (get in touch with your local branch for more information). Local supervisors meet every 3-4 years to exchange information and views on new technologies and methods.
Michel Barataud, keep on to organize learning courses for professional bat workers (environmental expertise businesses, associations, National Parks, National Reserves, management staff of Natura 2000, sites, etc.). Each course lasts 5 days, and includes indoor lectures and exercises during the day, and outdoor field applications at night. Programs are fitted with different levels of particular learning process linked to this method, from level 1 (auditory identification in heterodyne and time expansion x 10), aux level 2 (computer analysis and survey methodologies) and level 3 (identification of acoustic complexes: Myotis, Nyctalus/Eptesicus/Vespertilio, etc.).
The French courses take place on the premises of the CPIE Brenne-Berry.
STAGES NATIONAUX DE FORMATION A LA MÉTHODE D’ÉCOLOGIE ACOUSTIQUE (pour bénévoles et professionnels) :
Course level 1 (auditory identification) : every yearone or two sessions between mid-June and early Julyone or two sessions in SeptemberEven if the scheduled internships are fullregister now to be in an eligible position for the following yeara session at the beginning of Decemberother sessions can be organized in wintercontact the CPIE Brenne-Berry, une à deux sessions entre mi-mai et fin juin.
Course level 2 (computer-based identification, study methods) : every yearone or two sessions between mid-June and early Julyone or two sessions in SeptemberEven if the scheduled internships are fullregister now to be in an eligible position for the following yeara session at the beginning of Decemberother sessions can be organized in wintercontact the CPIE Brenne-Berry, une à deux sessions en septembre. Même si les stages programmés sont complets, inscrivez-vous dès à présent pour être en position éligible pour l’année suivante.
Course level 3 (identification of acoustic complexes: Myotis, Nyctalus/Eptesicus/Vespertilio, etc.) : every yearone or two sessions between mid-June and early Julyone or two sessions in SeptemberEven if the scheduled internships are fullregister now to be in an eligible position for the following yeara session at the beginning of Decemberother sessions can be organized in wintercontact the CPIE Brenne-Berry, une session début décembre ; selon la demande, d’autres sessions peuvent être organisées en hiver (contactez le CPIE Brenne-Berry).
The trainees will be guided and supervised : Michel Barataud
For information on French courses :
CPIE Brenne-Berry,
35 rue Hersent Luzarche
36290 AZAY LE FERRON - FRANCE
Phone : 02 54 39 29 03
e-mail :