FL Acoustic Survey Training - Punta Gorda: 22-26 March 2023

Agency & Institution Registration Discount: Local, state, or federal government employees, as well as students and faculty of education institutions qualify for a generous discount. Select the appropriate registration above to view course fees. Registrants must provide current government, institution, or student ID, email for more information on rates and availability.

VENUE DETAILS

5-days / 5-nights, plus daily lunch (lodging and other meals on your own), in Punta Gorda FL

Dates: Wednesday thru Sunday 22-26 March 2023. Class begins promptly at 9am on the 22nd and will conclude by midnight on the 26th. Lunch is included all 5 days and students receive a 90-minute break for dinner.

Location and Directions: Hurricane Charley's Raw Bar & Grill 300 West Retta Esplanade; Punta Gorda, FL 33950; Phone: (941) 639-9695. All lectures and demonstrations will be conducted in the conference room. 

Airport(s): The closest airport is Punta Gorda (PGD), which is about 5 miles (10 minutes) by vehicle. Local taxi fares from the airport to the venue are approximately ~$20. Other nearby airports include: Tampa International Airport (TPA - 100 miles; 1-3/4 hours) and Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers (RSW - 40 miles; 45-minutes).

Lodging: Participants must make their own lodging arrangements. Lodging is available at locally including an upper scale Four Points Punta Gorda located one block east of Hurricane Charley's. Also consider the Budget Inn Punta Gorda three miles south on Rt. 41 or the Baymont by Wyndahm off I-75.

Meals: Lunches are included each day. Day-long coffee/tea/filtered water will be provided in the lecture room. All breakfasts and dinners are "on your own" and students should plan accordingly.

Pre-course Preparation: This training is ideal for students needing specific, focused experience with non-contact survey methods for bats using full-spectrum bat detectors. Active, Passive, and Mobile Transect deployments will be highlighted. We will take nightly field trips to nearby natural areas, to deploy bat detectors and collect acoustic data. Students should be prepared to hike over sandy and/or swampy terrain, at night, carrying personal gear and up to 25-pounds of field gear. The elevation at our field sites will be less than 100-feet above sea level. Depending on recent rains, the area can be sloppy to flooded. Students should bring appropriate field gear, including wet-weather clothing and muck-boots (Wellingtons) or hip-waders to take full advantage of the field components planned. Several different models of bat detectors and supplies for deploying external microphones will be provided, but students are encouraged to bring their own bat detectors, if available, to help with designing recording schedules, refining settings, and troubleshooting for successful in-field use.

No prior acoustic-survey work is necessary. Approximately ten-days prior to the start of class, students will receive a complete list of what to bring and how to prepare for class, but feel free to contact us at any time if you have specific questions about the class or how to prepare. A sample agenda for our acoustic survey training course is available for download HERE.  

How to Register: Please register by ordering online. NOTE: To register multiple people, please checkout each person individually so that we can obtain the proper contact information for each participant. Use the Student Registration Details link to provide complete student information for our records.