The Grey-Headed Flying-Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) is a large bat - technically a mega-bat - that is native to Australia.
The Grey-Headed Flying Fox is endemic to the south-eastern forested areas of Australia, principally on the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range. It is Australia's largest bat, with the adult wingspan reaching up to 1 m and weighing up to 1 kg.
These pictures were taken in the Botanic Garden in Melbourne - which is pretty much in the middle of the city. These bats are at a roost site - which is rather smelly and noisy as a result. Their breeding range has been moving southward in recent times and it was not until the 1980s that Grey-Headed Flying Foxes routinely visited Melbourne, with a permanent roosts only established since the 1990s.
A great animal to see on my walk around the Gardens today. SM
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteI love them. Plenty around Sydney - including the botanic gardens there. However, due to death of flora exhibits, staged efforts have been under say to relocate the roostery. YAM xx
They are actually peaceful. I read the majority of them reside in Bendigo Rosalind Garden
ReplyDeleteSo much bigger than bats here in eastern Canada. Incredible!
ReplyDeleteWonderful animals. I am not sure of the exact species but we saw a huge roost in Sydney, near a spot where we found a Barn Owl roosting in a palm.
ReplyDeleteHi David we saw Grey-headed Flying-fox in Sydney they are quite big. Dx
DeleteWe have a lot of the very little bats here which I think are the Pipistrelle. They come into our barns at night and pee over everything but where they roost I have yet to find out. Hope all is well, cheers Diane
ReplyDeletefantastic behavior.....
ReplyDeletegreat shots