not birds but bats

[Matthew Willis <>]

A couple of years ago some representatives from the Regatta Point colony took a liking to the eucalypts in our front yard. For about a week they would arrive just after dark and spend the next six or so hours feeding and squabbling loudly. All quite fascinating, except that no one in the family could get any asleep until they decided to depart for the night.

On Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 11:13 PM, Ian Baird <> wrote:

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 [mailto:m("yahoo.de","susemi92");" target="_blank">]
Sent: Sunday, 18 January 2015 10:41 PM
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">
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. 

 

Susanne

 

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From: Con Boekel <m("boekel.com.au","con");" target="_blank">>
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">
Sent: Sunday, 18 January 2015, 22:15
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] not birds but bats

 

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?

 

Wayne Gregson