WONDERFUL NIGHT AT THE BAT PICNIC

In spite of threatening rain during the day, the weather turned in favour of our annual Bat Watch Picnic in Turrella Reserve, even providing a nice fresh breeze for kite-flying. Up to 400 people came on the night to enjoy the park and celebrate the bats that live in our Valley.

bat picnic
bat picnic

Thanks everyone for a wonderful Bat Watch evening – especially our lovely volunteers. So many people were kept very busy making kites, painting faces, reciting poetry and much much more. The members of the Bat Picnic Committee said, “The face painting and kites were very busy as always and I don’t think those volunteers got much of a break; sorry. The masks and egg carton bats were also popular, and we think all the small people left with one of each.

face painting
face painting volunteers

The new play equipment drew more families early on, and the playground was busy all evening. Sadly, the new composting toilets were not such a success with such high numbers of people.

Thanks to Maggie again for crafting the bat capes. There was a crowd of expectant faces around the information stall at raffle time. Unfortunately, only nine people went away as winners. If you find a broken black umbrella on your travels through the year, please think of the picnic and save it for us.”
 
A highlight of the evening was the big cheer from children in the crowd when the first of the Flying-foxes started their fly out. Everyone stopped to watch. Very exciting!
 
bat watch picnic
children cheer the fly out