Stafford Bat Colony

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Watching nearly 20 000 flying foxes or bats fly out of "camp" at sunset can be quite exciting, and a little eerie. During the day, you can see them all hanging around - strange black shapes scattered through the trees of Sparkes Hill Reserve by Kedron Brook.



Up close they are pretty cute and nothing to be afraid of (although, it is highly recommended not to touch them). Locals have mixed feeling about the noisy, smelly colony which includes Black Flying Foxes, Little Red Flying Foxes and the endangered Grey Headed Flying Fox.



Actually, flying foxes play a vital role in our eco-system. Certain Native Hardwood trees, such as Lillipillies, Figs, Palms and Quandongs, only produce fresh pollen at night and this is the time when they are fertilised. Therefore, the survival of our native trees depends on these furry night visitors.



Bat Care Brisbane rescues around 100 flying fox orphans each year, often because their parents have met their end on electrical wires. They request people to report any bats caught in overhead wires for this very reason.


So next time you see those black shapes flying over, wish them well in their important regeneration work. Or go and visit the bat "camp" at sunset to see them flying out for dinner.

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