New bat-friendly shutters installed in Markovci

The attic of the Church of the Visitation of Mary in Markovci, together with the bell tower, is one of the smaller, but important roost of the greater mouse-eared bat in Goričko. Therefore, in 2018 we replaced old lights with new, bat- and people-friendly lights which illuminate only the facades and roofs of the church. The mutual agreement for a long-term bat roost conservation was signed with the parish priest Mr. Dejan Horvat.
Pastor Horvat in 2020 ensured that new wooden shutters had been installed on the bell tower. The old ones were covered with plastic nets that prevented bats from flying into the bell tower. The shutters were made to fit bat-friendly standards. The openings between the individual slats are 5 cm wide, which is enough to greater mouse-eared bat to crawl through the slats and fly into or out of the bell.
In August during the regular roost monitoring, there were two greater mouse-eared bats in the attic and two in the church bell tower.