We actually see both species of flying fox here in Canberra and tend to see more of the Grey-headeds coming into care at RSPCA.
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Tuesday, 14 January 2014 11:41 AM
To: 'boy nature'
Cc: 'COG List'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Owlet Nightjars, possum and Flying foxes
I was under the impression that we only have 1 species of flying fox here, the Grey-headed, the one I'm familiar with from Qld. But according to the Australian Bats
book by Sue Churchill (1998), that one is more coastal and high country and does not occur as far west as the ACT. The only one in the ACT (and all surrounding parts of NSW) is the Little Red Flying Fox. I'd rather call them fruit bats than flying fox (because
they aren't).
-----Original Message-----
From: boy nature
Sent: Monday, 13 January 2014 1:40 PM
Cc: CanberraBirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Owlet Nightjars, possum and Flying foxes
Walking home last night along limestone avenue in Ainslie I came across a flock of flying foxes, at the Ainslie football club playing field. There were at least 5 and probably
many more, it was very dark so I couldnt identify which species.
Also 1 brush-tailed possum,
and 2 owlet nightjars, which were very cute. I got to within 2m of the bottom one and neither moved.
Benj Whitworth