Four species of bat were recorded along the Royal Canal in the course of the survey carried out by Bat Eco Services: Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus), Leisler’s Bat (Nyctalus leisleri) and Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii). These species were recorded foraging or commuting along the canal corridor, along tree lines and hedgerows and over the canal surface itself.
Collins Bridge and Cope Bridge were identified as providing potential bat roosts, while a building at Leixlip Spa had roost potential and a house at Pakenham Bridge provided a roosting site for soprano pipistrelles. The remaining bridges had no bat potential owing to the lack of suitable crevices for bats. A number of large, ivy-covered trees within the study area were identified as Potential Bat Roosts.
So, who knows maybe one day you will be lucky to see the bat colony travel along the canal.
About container
I found this container during my first ever CITO event. When I saw it I new it will make a great cache one day.
Royal Canal
The Royal Canal was a man-made waterway constructed to connect the River Liffey in Dublin with the upper River Shannon. Works commenced in Dublin in 1790 and lasted 27 years at a total cost of £1,421,954. The total length is 145 kilometres (90 miles) and has 46 locks. Whilst the canal was originally built for freight and passenger transportation, the railway era in the mid 1800’s signaled the demise of canal use and in 1961 the canal was officially closed to all navigation as it had fallen into disrepair. Thankfully in recent decades, much of it has been restored and is now enjoyed by people from all walks of life.