The roosting site/camp at Commonwealth Park has been occupied from time to time for at least 10 years. In recent years the species has been present in Canberra throughout the year although numbers fluctuate on a seasonal basis, The site is regularly monitored and numbers present are currently counted at least 4 times a year. Breeding occurs at the camp. The species is the grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), the largest flying fox in Australia, the same species that has established a camp in the Sydney Botanical Gardens. For more information see:
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=186
They are nectar feeders on eucalypts but will also eat fruit wherever they can find it.
Ian Baird
From: Susanne Gardiner [
Sent: Sunday, 18 January 2015 10:41 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] not birds but bats
I get the odd Flying Fox in my Garden in North Ainslie either sampling the plums or feasting in the neighbour's red-flowering gum tree.
Wayne
There is a fruitbat roost at Commonwealth Park. Go to the Regatta Point visitors centre and walk towards the nearest group of large trees. Follow your ears or your nose. You can't miss it.
regards
Con
On 18/01/2015 9:17 PM, Wayne Gregson wrote:
A few minutes ago driving home from Manuka through Forest I was surprised to see several dozen flying foxes winging their way towards the southern end of Red Hill.
Is this new or am I behind the times??
Where do they roost and where are they heading to feed?
