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GREY-HEADED Flying foxes

Overview
Advocacy
Some Flying-fox facts
Care and prevention of injury
Useful websites and links

OVERVIEW

A Grey-headed Flying-fox (GHFF) camp of National Importance is located in the Wolli Creek Valley in bushland close to the creek, and not far west of Turrella Reserve. Although it’s possible that the GHFF roosted in the Valley in earlier times, the current camp dates from mid-2007. At that time there were a few hundred GHFF. The camp has since grown to thousands, with fluctuations in the population occurring throughout the year/s.

Flying foxes at dusk

In November 2016 around 24,000 Flying-foxes were counted, which is the highest number yet recorded. Ongoing population information is obtained by monthly ‘fly-out’ counts; ie counting the number of GHFF as they exit their camp to feed for the night. WCPS volunteers have been conducting these fly-out counts since April 2008 (see monthly fly-out counts for more on this WCPS volunteer activity), when a research project sought to obtain data about the population dynamics and movements of the GHFF across their range. This research involved monthly, synchronised counts of as many GHFF camps as possible up and down their range along the east coast of Australia.

Since then volunteers have continued monthly monitoring of the the population of GHFF at Turrella/Wolli creek. We also contribute data to the  the National Flying Fox Monitoring Program (NFFMP) via quarterly counts.  The NFFMP is a collaborative project between Federal and State Governments, which aims to establish a reliable benchmark for the size of flying-fox populations, and to monitor population trends in later years. GHFF are listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species under both NSW and Federal legislation. It is also on the International Union for The Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) red list of threatened species. Habitat destruction is one the leading causes of their decline in numbers.

Flying foxes roost in trees

The Wolli Valley camp is generally occupied continuously throughout the year, so it is called a permanent, as opposed to a seasonal camp. However, in some years when there is good flowering of particular Eucalyptus tree species – which are significant food sources for the GHFF – they may leave their Wolli (and other Sydney) camps for other areas of NSW, or south-east Qld. This can lead to high concentrations of GHFF in those areas for the duration of the flowering period.

In common with many GHFF camps, the Wolli camp is located close to water, a section of Wolli Creek, which provides an important source of water for the GHFF. On hot evenings, they can be seen dipping into the creek to cool off, and obtain water, before going out to feed for the night. After belly-dipping into the water (which takes skill to master) they land in nearby trees, then lick the water off their belly fur. See a great video of this activity.

Flying fox over creek

ADVOCACY

In its advocacy work for the GHFF, WCPS has been involved in educational activities aimed at promoting better understanding and support for them. An annual ‘Bat Watch Picnic’ event is held in Turrella Reserve, usually in March, in conjunction with Australasian Bat Night.  Watch videos of the picnics in March 2015 and March 2016 and see photos from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 events. WCPS has also organised walks and talks, including for local schools.

Bat picnic

SOME GREY-HEADED FLYING-FOX FACTS

  • The scientific name of the Grey-headed Flying-fox is Pteropus poliocephalus.
  • They:
    • are warm-blooded, nomadic, social mammals.
    • have a wingspan of roughly a metre, and weigh up to a kilogram
    • are often called fruit bats, but they feed mainly on the blossoms (nectar and pollen) of Eucalyptus, Melaleuca, Turpentine and Banksia trees, as well as rainforest fruits (eg Figs, Lilly Pillys). They will feed on cultivated fruit when there is a shortage of their native food.
    • feed at night and generally travel within a radius of up to 30 km from their camp, visiting a number of trees along the way.
    • play an important role in maintaining forests along the east coast of Australia, as they pollinate blossoms and spread seeds during their long distance travels in search of food. They are called long distance pollinators.
    • have many different calls. These calls become louder in the mating season (March to May), when the males ‘shout’ in the face of females as part of their breeding ritual, and there are squabbles over territory. They also can be heard while out and about feeding in trees at night, as they defend their feeding territory.
    • are in great danger of dying when temperatures reach 40+ degrees C, particularly the pups. Many fatalities occur in camps due to heat stress and dehydration. See a video of a rescue of pups which took place in the Wolli Valley on 18 January 2013 when the temperature in Sydney reached 46 degrees C.
    • Justin Welbergen from Western Sydney University, along with other researchers has been studying the effects of heat stress on Flying-foxes – see Responding to Heat Stress in Flying-fox Camps (PDF) and The Flying-fox Heat Stress Forecaster.
  • Female bat with babyOnly one baby is born each year, usually around October. In urban areas at this time, and for the next few months as pups are born, female GHFF are particularly in danger of coming into contact with and dying on electric power lines as they carry the (increasing) weight of their young (up to 3 week old) pups while out feeding. Their pups however can often survive this tragedy. For information on what to do if you see a GHFF hanging from power lines download the info sheet ‘Flying Foxes on Power lines’ (PDF).
  • Despite the numbers now seen in urban areas around Sydney, overall GHFF numbers have dramatically declined. In 2001 The Commonwealth, NSW and Victorian governments listed the GHFF as a threatened species. It has been classified as ‘vulnerable’. In early 2020, after many years in preparation, the Federal Government released the National Recovery Plan for the Grey-Headed Flying-fox. In December 2021 the Grey-headed Flying-fox was added to the International Union for the Conservation Of Nature’s (IUCN’s) red list of threatened species
  •  It’s estimated that the area of habitat available for GHFFs has been reduced by 50% since European occupation. Human activities such as land clearing for agriculture and urban expansion have lead to this reduction.

Flying fox roosting

CARE AND PREVENTION OF INJURY

If you encounter an injured Grey-headed Flying-fox, do not handle the animal. Do contact WIRES on 8977 3333, or Sydney Wildlife on 9413 4300. They can organise a trained rescuer who has been vaccinated against diseases Flying-foxes can (rarely) carry (such as Lyssa and Hendra virus). Please note: Flying-foxes do not transmit Covid-19. The virus that is responsible for Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 is now a human virus, transmitted by humans. See this article for more on bats and Covid-19.

Many Flying-foxes become entangled in netting placed over fruit trees. Do not try to disentangle the Flying-fox yourself, but call the WIRES or Sydney Wildlife number listed above. You can prevent injury and possible death to Flying-foxes and protect your fruit by installing wildlife friendly netting.

Here are some videos of rescued young GHFF in the care of dedicated and vaccinated wildlife carers: eating grapes, having a bath, this amazing video of a rescued flying-fox, and the rescue of two abandoned pups from the Wolli camp. Bat counter and rescuer Meg’s Youtube channel Megabattie has many more great videos of rescues and after care. 

Further background information on and stories about Flying-foxes:

grey-headed flying fox

USEFUL WEBSITES AND LINKS

Flying foxes roost