Mohi Bush
HAWKE’S BAY | LAUNCHED 30TH AUGUST 2025
Mohi Bush is one of our Pekapeka Patrol monitoring projects, following a clear, step-by-step approach to building a better understanding of local bat populations.
We begin by Establishing whether bats are present and which species are using the area. From there, we work to Understand where and when bats are active, before moving into Act & Innovate, using what we learn to inform practical action on the ground. We then Build Capacity by sharing knowledge and insights, while continuing to Monitor over time to track activity and change.
This page follows the project as the work unfolds, sharing our objectives, field notes, maps and emerging insights. Right now, we're in Phase 1: Establish. Follow along as we begin to uncover what's happening around Mohi Bush, or get in touch if you're in the project area and would like to get involved.
Are bats here?
Which bats?
What are they doing?
Where?
Objectives
Each project delivers to ten key objectives. To see an overview of objective steps, .
Phase & trigger
Phase 1, in progress. Currently 18 of a planned 50 detectors deployed, rotating across sites. Winter data to be analysed. To see an overview of project phases, .
Site
Mohi Bush (5km): 78.5 km² (7,850 ha), 10 km across. DOC land, special thanks to Te Aratipi and the Palmers.
Deliverables & success criteria
Acoustic survey phase 1 findings report. To see the full breakdown by objective, .
| Activity | Description/frequency |
|---|---|
| Detector deployment | Scales progressively through each survey phase — from initial small-scale deployment (Obj 1) to broader coverage (Obj 2, 3 & 5). No live figures used. |
| Field visits | Install / service (SD swap) / retrieval — approx. monthly. |
| Data processing | The Bat Pack, with manual verification. |
| Analysis | Manual analysis to understand site use and identify hotspots. |
| Reporting | Ongoing website content, plus a formal annual report after the season (e.g. August). Includes cross-site comparison where relevant. |
| Trialling innovative techniques New |
Trials of new conservation actions/survey methods as introduced — reported annually. |
| Threat ID & conservation recs New |
Annual review of threats present, feeding conservation recommendations. |
| Landowner/partner liaison | Monthly, tied to the detector check visit — short text or video update. |
| Education & awareness | Shared content and resources — weekly. |
DOC Bat Recovery Plan – objective alignment
The 1995 DOC Bat (Pekapeka) Recovery Plan sets out five national objectives guiding bat conservation in Aotearoa. Mohi Bush directly contributes to four of these.
- Research. Our ongoing survey and monitoring work builds the evidence base needed for effective bat management.
- Status evaluation. Establishing presence, species, and distribution data contributes to national understanding.
- Protection and monitoring. Long-term monitoring supports population tracking across the species' range.
- Public awareness. Sharing this project's progress helps build public involvement in bat conservation.
The Plan's remaining objective concerns island-based short-tailed bat translocation, outside the scope of this mainland monitoring project.
Read recovery planProject objectives
| # | Objective |
|---|---|
| 1 | Establish presence and species (via acoustic survey) |
| 2 | Refine understanding of activity/distribution across the project area (ongoing survey — may reveal additional species) |
| 3 | Identify hotspots (foraging/commuting/roosting) and seasonality of activity/distribution |
| 4 | Identify threats and recommend conservation actions, based on findings from Objectives 1–3 |
| 5 | Establish a long-term monitoring site — track activity over time as a proxy for colony health and a wider indicator |
| 6 | Trial and develop innovative conservation and survey techniques (e.g. roost boxes, refined methods) |
| 7 | Cross-site comparison and standardised reporting, using a consistent graphical template — also an educational resource for other ecologists |
| 8 | Raise awareness and build community engagement — social media, blog, video sharing the project journey (runs from Phase 1, continuously) |
| 9 | Landowner and community relationship-building (runs from Phase 1, continuously) |
| 10 | Capacity building and training, delivered online — matures once there's real project substance to teach from |
Project phases
Swipe left to read←
| # | Phase | Description | Objectives introduced | Objectives continuing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Establish | Confirm presence, species, initial activity | 1, 8, 9 | — |
| 2 | Understand | Full picture of distribution, hotspots, seasonality, cross-site comparison | 2, 3, 7 | 8, 9 |
| 3 | Act & Innovate | Recommend/trial conservation actions and techniques | 4, 6 | 8, 9 |
| 4 | Build Capacity | Training content matures now there's substance to teach from | 10 | 8, 9 |
| 5 | Monitor | Long-term monitoring established and ongoing | 5 | 8, 9, 10 |
Deliverables & success criteria
Swipe left to read←
| Objective | Deliverable(s) | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Presence & species | Brief report + map, downloadable/shareable, branded | Survey completed; species confirmed present (or absence established with confidence) |
| 2. Activity & distribution | Per-survey report + maps, shown consistently (Survey 1, 2, Cumulative) | Sufficient coverage achieved to characterise activity patterns |
| 3. Hotspots & seasonality | Hotspot map + seasonal comparison maps | Key hotspots identified; seasonal variation documented |
| 4. Threats & recommendations | Recommendations report/section | Actionable, evidence-based recommendations from Objectives 1–3 |
| 5. Long-term monitoring | Permanent site established (e.g. SM5), sited at a hotspot; feeds Obj 7 | Site operational, collecting data on an ongoing (e.g. annual) basis |
| 6. Trial techniques | Brief paper/blog + video/social content | Trial completed and documented with clear findings |
| 7. Cross-site comparison | Comparative analysis using a standardised graphical template | Comparison completed with ≥1 other site, using the template |
| 8. Awareness & engagement | Active social presence; direct public/volunteer engagement | Channels active, regularly producing content; genuine engagement |
| 9. Landowner relationships | (relationship-based) | Landowners hosting the monitoring site are on board and supportive |
| 10. Capacity building | Online training content (video, blog, social) | Training material published on the website |
Field Notes
A running diary from the field — updated whenever there's something worth logging from a site visit, detector check or survey.
Field Observations
21 Aug 2026
Following up on social calls
Data analysis ran late into last night. Several sites evidenced social calls AND interesting activity timing patterns. Set out 19 detectors today, with 3 detectors back in the same spots as the day before – with the intention of serving as a baseline as they had social calls potentially associated with roosts. I got to see some amazing areas of the reserve while tracking between detectors. I got turned back by thick vegetation a few times, but managed to deploy 19 detectors in hopefully very batty locations. This data I am excited to get back!
19 Aug 2026
What a mission! (Sites 7–24 collected)
Sites 7–24 all came out of the bush on the same day. Although set out I had split over 2 days, I usually find retrieving is much quicker. The amount of time you spend standing under trees looking for the perfect place to hang a bat detector will surprise you! I had planned to change batteries and move detectors around, but I ran out of time before dark. Back tomorrow pending what the data shows!
11 Aug 2026
I'm back at Te Aratipi Station
The first survey (Sites 5 and 6) piqued my interest. Site 5 in particular had some activity patterns that suggested bats might be roosting close by. I need more data to be sure, so 6 bat detectors are going back out – including one at Site 5 again. This might become a long-term monitoring site depending on what we find. Weather was terrible and I did not have long to deploy detectors. I will have to come back to deploy my full planned array, but for now this will have to do. Interesting to see what activity looks like here relative to the detectors deployed in Mohi Bush Scenic Reserve at the same time.
13 Jul 2026
Sites 17–24 set out
Eight more boxes into Mohi: Sites 17–24. Too many to get set in one day yesterday – the terrain is gnarly when you get off track! We'll pull them in 28 days – maybe 35 days (5 weeks).
12 Jul 2026
Sites 7–16 set out
The commercial detector season is finally over. Ten detectors into Mohi Bush Scenic Reserve – the supposed bat epicenter of our local bats: Sites 7–16. Looking forward to getting some high-resolution survey data back. I'm keen to see if acoustics can help narrow down likely roosting areas.
10 Mar 2026
Te Aratipi and Cookson cards home
Both SD cards collected after 21 nights in the field. Site 5 was markedly busier with 872 bat passes while Site 6 had 219 during the same period. As expected, none of our surveys have found Lesser short-tailed bats, which are likely long gone from this area.
18 Feb 2026
Te Aratipi Station is on board!
Two landowners, one run. Sites 5 and 6 at on land owned by the Cookson's and Palmers. Another rare piece of native bush – plenty of Tawa and Titoki here – and even springs which might prove popular with bats during the hot Hawke's Bay summers. I got a tour of the station, and had a great conversation with some passionate landowners who are as excited as I am to see if bats are utilising their piece of native bush.
18 Jan 2026
Forestry comes off
Nineteen nights at Site 4 and 81 Long-tailed bat passes. The detector at the site lower in the catchment failed to initiate recording – not a single night of data. All I can think is operator error ...
31 Dec 2025
Forestry block
Last trip of the year – literally on New Year's Eve. An amazing spot tucked behind a fold in the hills of the Tukituki River Catchment with a large area of now very rare native bush. I picked two spots at this site for detecting: one high in the catchment next to a small waterbody, and one lower down on the tributary stream. We'll collect them in January.
10 Oct 2025
Bats confirmed!
Fifteen nights at Site 3 early in the official bat survey season resulted in 137 Long-tailed bat passes (about nine a night): 99 echolocation, 35 commuting, 2 foraging and 1 social call. Quieter than the two Mohi Bush sites.
26 Sep 2025
Bats in Maraetotara Scenic Reserve?
I set a bat detector up, on a pole again, on the true right side of the Maraetotara River – above the native bush remnant of the reserve (Site 3). A short survey planned just to confirm bats are using this location.
25 Sep 2025
First bat detectors collected
Both detectors were still operating when I collected them after 21 nights. A quick peek at the data on my laptop confirmed Long-tailed bat activity! Now to expand our search radius.
30 Aug 2025
Two detectors into Mohi Bush
I have an idea for a long-term bat monitoring project here in Hawke's Bay. If Mohi Bush is supposedly where a colony of long-tailed bats resides then it makes sense that I confirm that with hard data first. I set 3 of my 4 Wildlife Acoustics MiniBat 2 bat detectors out on the bush edge – up on poles to get the cleanest recordings possible. Fingers crossed we get bats …
The Data – Mohi Bush
Explore the latest monitoring data, see where activity is being recorded and follow what we’re learning about bats across the project area.
Survey nights
All-time detector-nights of listening effort across all sites.
Sites monitored
Species: Long-tailed bat
Bat passes recorded
1st bat after sunset · Site 12
Social call recordings
Weekly bat activity
Long term monitoring site (12) only — empty spokes = not surveyed. Destination: 52wk coverage.
Each spoke is one week of the year, length and shade showing how much activity the bat detector at our long-term monitoring site picked up. As more seasons of data come in, this builds into a richer year-round “fingerprint” for the site — and doubles as visible evidence of long-term monitoring once it shows near-full-year coverage.
Activity & distribution maps
Click a map to zoom in.
How this compares to other projects
| Project | Survey Nights | Bat Passes Recorded | Call-type breakdown | Last update | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohi Bush | 663 | 8,814 | 8 Sep 2026 | Active | |
| Rowe Bush | — | 238 | 2 Jun 2026 | Active | |
| JDP Project | — | 167 | 28 May 2026 | Active | |
| Karamu Catchment | — | 538 | 21 Jun 2026 | Active |
Call-type key
- Echolocation
- Foraging
- Commuting
- Social
Expert on the ground
Mark Roper
Founder of The Bat Co. Lab and Senior Ecologist
With more than 20 years of experience across freshwater, fish and bat ecology, Mark brings deep ecological expertise to every project. His work combines scientific rigour, practical field experience and a commitment to building better knowledge and outcomes for bats across Aotearoa.
Through The Bat Co Lab, Mark combines specialist consultancy with practical tools and innovative approaches to bat monitoring. He is also passionate about making ecological knowledge more accessible and creating opportunities for communities to contribute to bat conservation.
Our project partners
With thanks
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Te Aratipi and the Palmer family for generously allowing us access to their land as part of the Mohi Bush Project. Their support and willingness to host our bat detectors has helped make this important monitoring work possible, contributing valuable information to our understanding of the bats that call this landscape home.
We are incredibly grateful to have their support in helping us learn more about and protect these unique species.
Support bat conservation in action
Support from our community helps turn bat conservation into real, measurable action. Donations fund fieldwork, detector deployment, rapid data analysis, and community-led projects that improve understanding of bat populations and the environments they depend on. Every contribution directly supports practical, science-led work on the ground.
Want to get involved?
Do you live within the project area? Interested in having bat detectors placed on your property? Help us uncover more about the bats living in your local area.
Support the project and help make this research possible. Your sponsorship goes towards the time, expertise and fieldwork needed to monitor and protect our local bat populations.
Follow our journey.
