Grey-headed flying foxes, otherwise known as fruit bats, play an incredibly important role in the health of our ecosystem, helping to pollinate trees and disperse seeds over great distances.
Appearance
Grey-headed flying foxes are quite distinct in appearance from other bats due to the orange-red fur covering their neck and shoulders. Thick brown-black fur covers the rest of their body. They are one of Australia’s largest bats with a one metre wingspan. Body span ranges from 23 to 28 centimetres in length, with males generally larger in size than females.
Distribution and habitat
At dusk, these bats are a common sight across the Melbourne skyline as they depart from their roosting site at Yarra Bend, travelling tens of kilometres in search of food. In addition to the Yarra Bend colony, there are many other smaller colonies across the state. Some of these locations include Doveton, Geelong, Warrnambool, Bairnsdale, and Mallacoota. Flying foxes also move around and set up temporary camps that may last only a few months, as they follow available food sources.
Diet
The grey-headed flying fox primarily feeds on the fruits, blossoms, and nectar of native trees, including eucalypts, tea-trees, and banksias. Utilising their highly developed sense of smell and keen eyesight, they forage primarily during the night. Additionally, they may consume fruit from introduced species, such as backyard fruit trees (apples, pears, figs, etc.).
Behaviour
While they are considered nocturnal due to their nightly feeding, grey-headed flying foxes are still relatively active during the day. If you pass by a colony on a walk or hike, you can hear just how chatty and communicative they are during daylight. When it comes to feeding, flying foxes separate individually or into family groups to forage, rather than moving together as a colony. As they are unable to stand upright, flying foxes drink water by flying low over the water source and wetting their chest. They then fly back up into the trees and lick the water from their fur.
Breeding season
Grey-headed flying foxes have a slow breeding cycle.Females give birth to a single offspring each year, typically in early to mid-spring. In Victoria, birthing season is typically between September and November. The newborn pup clings to its mother’s fur, under her wing, and nurses for approximately 12 weeks. Following this period, the young bat remains at the roost and is gradually weaned over the subsequent months. Observing a mother with her pup, whether hanging or in flight, is a remarkable experience. However, there are occasions when pups may accidentally fall from their mothers and require assistance. It is critical during breeding season (spring to summer) that deceased bats are reported so they can be checked for live pups that may be hidden under the wing.
General fun facts
- Flying foxes play a very important ecological role in regenerating native plant species by pollinating flowers as they feed and dispersing seeds as they move away after feeding. A single flying-fox can disperse up to 60,000 seeds in one night!
- Bats don’t get dizzy when they hang upside down because they don’t weigh enough for gravity to affect their blood flow.
- A baby flying fox is called a pup.