DarkFlightSame-night, report-ready bat survey evidence from synced thermal + acoustic capture
DarkFlight helps ecology teams reduce the post-survey burden of reviewing footage, matching timestamps, checking acoustic evidence, clipping key moments, and preparing defensible evidence packages.
Built for bat emergence and re-entry surveys where the real bottleneck is not just field capture - it is turning raw survey data into usable evidence afterwards. Kits hired by the night, hand delivered.
“DarkFlight combines high-spec thermal imaging and a full-spectrum bat detector in a single unit. The image quality was first rate, and watching the sonograms pulse across the bottom of the screen was fascinating. A very worthy addition to the shelf of high-quality kit that will make bat surveys more accurate and more efficient.”
Richard CromptonBat Ecology Specialist, Ecology Expo
“The kit is very user-friendly and produced high-quality data, and the wide field of view on the thermal was incredible in the field. I can see this becoming our go-to thermal for hire. A high-quality setup that also integrates a bat detector, and is quick to deploy, is a big advantage on site.”
Lynden ReedArboriculturist & Ecologist, TMA Environmental Consultants
The survey may be finished, but the evidence work often isn’t.
Raw inputs
- cameras
- detectors
- field notes
- multiple surveyors, multiple angles
Post-survey tasks
- review footage
- match timestamps
- check acoustic evidence
- clip and organise the evidence
Business drag
- slower reporting
- senior time lost
- peak-season bottleneck
More cameras, detectors, and survey angles can improve capture - but they can also create more material to review afterwards. DarkFlight is built around reducing that post-survey evidence burden.
DarkFlight is not just another camera system.
Most thermal kit just captures, and leaves the evidence work for the morning. DarkFlight builds the evidence as the survey runs, so you leave site with it done. The ecologist still reviews and interprets, DarkFlight removes the mechanical drag around finding, aligning, clipping and packaging it.
Thermal and acoustic, one unit, locked in time
The wide-angle thermal camera and the full-spectrum bat detector are built into a single battery-powered unit, recording in perfect sync - every visual event already lines up with its call. Add an external detector alongside the built-in one if the roost needs it. No timestamp-matching the next day.
Evidence packaged as it happens
An emergence or re-entry is clipped on the spot, by you or by auto-detection: thermal clip, the call, sonogram, timestamp and location bundled into one event package, mid-survey.
Species ID suggested on the night
Each package gets an automated species suggestion (14 of the 18 UK species, with a confidence score). You confirm or override on the spot, so the ecologist stays in charge.
Leave site report-ready
Export the whole night to a USB stick in minutes: every event package plus the full survey, ready to drop into your report. Nothing to re-watch, nothing to stitch together.
Want the detail - the four-step night, exports, and Standard vs Pro? See how DarkFlight works → · Then review and report the survey online in Roost →
DarkFlight is strongest where the evidence burden matters.
DarkFlight is likely to be useful if your team:
- runs bat emergence or re-entry surveys
- uses IR, thermal, acoustic detectors, or multiple survey positions
- spends hours after surveys reviewing footage and matching evidence
- works on complex roosts or awkward building elevations
- needs defensible evidence for reports and licensing
- feels peak-season pressure around review time and report turnaround
It is not built for every survey.
DarkFlight may be overkill if you only need the cheapest possible visual setup, if the survey is very simple, or if post-survey review is not currently a bottleneck for your team.
It also does not replace ecological judgement. The ecologist still reviews and interprets the evidence.
Ready to put DarkFlight on a survey?
Hire a kit by the survey night, or send an enquiry with a bit about your sites and we’ll reply by email. Hired before? Book repeat nights directly on 01900 422 201 or jethro@ecordea.com.
Common questions
Does DarkFlight replace ecologists?+
No. An automated classifier suggests a species ID per package (14 of the 18 UK species, with a confidence rating), but the ecologist always reviews, overrides, and interprets the evidence. DarkFlight reduces the manual drag around finding, aligning, clipping, and packaging it.
Is this just another thermal camera?+
No. The value is not just thermal capture. DarkFlight is built around synced thermal + acoustic evidence and the workflow after the survey.
How much does it cost?+
Hire by the survey night from £300 - two DarkFlight kits (£300/night), three kits including a Pro (£500/night), or a single DarkFlight Pro (£300/night), with 5-night and 30-night blocks available. Or purchase outright from £3,250. See pricing → How much could it save you? → Map your survey coverage →
Is it suitable for every bat survey?+
No. It is strongest where the evidence burden matters: complex roosts, multiple positions, busy survey workloads, or teams spending hours after surveys reviewing footage and matching evidence.
What happens after I get in touch?+
If there is a fit, the usual next step is to use DarkFlight on one real survey and compare the output against your current process.
Still spending too much time after bat surveys turning footage, audio, notes, and timestamps into report-ready evidence?
Hire DarkFlight by the survey night, or enquire and we’ll be in touch.
If DarkFlight isn’t genuinely useful for your workflow, I’ll tell you.
Hire DarkFlight