Hear the rustling wings above. We are now standing near one of Sydney’s active Flying Fox Colonies. These amazing creatures are also known as fruit bats because of their love for fruit.
Sydney hosts three flying fox species. These are the grey-headed, black, and little red flying fox. They are among the world’s largest fruit bats. Their wingspans can reach up to one meter.
These bats are aerobatic. They often roost high in the trees. Hundreds live together creating what seems like a party atmosphere. They make a lot of noise enjoying their diet of fruit. Sometimes this fruit is even fermented.
You might see them covering their heads with their wings. It looks like they are pulling a blanket over their heads after a night of too much fermented fruit.
The Sydney Flying Fox is unique. It is the world’s largest flying mammal. It can fly between 20 and 60 kilometers per hour. They can travel up to 50 kilometers from their roosts.
The Grey-headed Flying-fox is Australia’s largest bat. It weighs between 600 grams and 2000 grams. Its body is covered in dark grey fur and lighter grey fur on the head. It also has an orange or brown collar around its neck.
The black flying fox is another large Australian bat. It is about the same size as the grey-headed fruit bat. It is completely black with no colorful markings.
The little red flying fox is smaller. It is about half the size of the other two species. This bat has red-brown fur and more translucent wings. They mainly eat blossoms from eucalypts and melaleucas. They are nomadic and follow blossoming river red gums.
Flying foxes play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They are important pollinators for Eucalyptus forests. While they enjoy fruit, their main food comes from Eucalyptus flower nectar. These trees need pollen from other trees to produce fertile seeds. Flying foxes help with this process.
Sadly, flying fox populations face threats. A heatwave in 2019 caused many to fall from trees due to heat exhaustion. This thinned their numbers. In 2011 a colony was moved from the city’s Botanic Gardens. This was to protect the heritage-listed trees.
Flying foxes have a dark side. They can be noisy, smelly, and messy. Their bite or scratch could transmit Lyssavirus. This is similar to rabies. It is best to avoid touching them. When colony numbers are high, streets can turn white from their droppings. This guano is corrosive.
Be sure to wear closed shoes. The area can be marshy. Bring good photographic equipment too. The flying foxes can be high in the trees or flying about. Watch these amazing animals. See them fly, sleep, and cover their eyes. Listen to their squawks. Remember the vital role they play in the ecology.