The Orthodox parish in the village of Kunkowa (100km SE of Kraków) renovates the church, inhabited by a colony of the Lesser horseshoe bat. The shelter is important for the Natura2000 site Ostoje Nietoperzy Powiatu Gorlickiego(PLH120094) established to protect bats in the Gorlice County.

Renovation work has been finished in the main part of the attic, and goes on only in a small part over the presbytery. As the deadline for completion of the work is 15^th April, the Parish asked for extension.
Representatives of PTPP “pro Natura” as a biological supervisor of the works and of the Regional Director for Environment, the statutory conservation authority, paid a site visit in Kunkowa. Taking into account all the circumstances, they worked out a solution that would allow the completion of the work without disturbance to the bats.

First of all, the part of the attic, where bats concentrate, and where the flight  entrances are located has already been refurbished. Also, the cold weather in the mountains delayed the arrival of bats into the attic. Additionally, the colony in question utilise two church buildings, and thus can wait through the less quiet period in the nearby shelter.

The contractor was instructed that the extension permit lasts until end of April when the scaffolding must be dismantled. The space where the work continues should be well isolated with a curtain from the main attic.

Taking into account biology of the bats in mountainous areas, the construction work should not last longer than 15 April, when the first bats arrive to the Summer quarters, however in the exceptional cases such as in Kunkowa, it is possible to continue with the work a bit longer. However, between May and September the colony should have as little disturbance as possible.