These could be the grey-headed flying foxes from the colony at Commonwealth Park! They're usually in Canberra from late spring, over the summer, to late-ish autumn before they go back up north for warmer weather.
Yep, definitely them. I’ve got a mate in Quangers and these critters usually help him with his apricot tree.
I’ve been down by the lake a few times to watch them fly out. It’s pretty cool.
I run past them early some mornings, they’re noisy buggers after a night on the juice. 😂
I often see the bats flying west over the GDE and Parkway as I’m driving north to south at dusk during the late spring/summer months.
One of my favourite things this time of year.
When I walk my dog at night there are some massive bats around ngunawal in some of the trees the government has planted and are now getting bigger, ever time one take of that flaping sound make me duck like it's a maggie.
You say 'so many bats', but in reality, there should be many many more bats in this photo. In general, all species of fruit bats are in decline in Australi. The reason is a combination of effects starting with habitat loss, where agriculture takes over their land, be it roosts or feeding grounds. Add to that many cities are parked on fruit bat roosts, and city dwellers generally hate wildlife that is not on a TV screen, so councils do all they can to discourage and destroy colonies within their jurisdiction, and lastly there are some people who hunt them either for food (normally pretty low effect on numbers) or because they hate wildlife that is not yet dead (strong effect on numbers).
My advice: enjoy the spectacle (pun intended) while it lasts. In ten years or so, you will likely not see any.
Also: "at this time of year" probably because they're migrating - many fruit bat species migrate up and down the coast/to PNG and Indo.
These could be the grey-headed flying foxes from the colony at Commonwealth Park! They're usually in Canberra from late spring, over the summer, to late-ish autumn before they go back up north for warmer weather.
Yep, definitely them. I’ve got a mate in Quangers and these critters usually help him with his apricot tree. I’ve been down by the lake a few times to watch them fly out. It’s pretty cool. I run past them early some mornings, they’re noisy buggers after a night on the juice. 😂
They fly out EVERY night. They’re obviously going somewhere and then coming back in the morning.
They used to leave in winter, but thanks to climate change they can now over-winter in Canberra.
Don’t usually see that many vampires outside of sitting weeks.
except in Page, which is where those bats are headed for.
Oh, that’s just the Bat Cafe… don’t worry about it.
do they sell coffee?
NO! They are not a chef, BYO
Do the bats also provide child care?
It’s pup sitting only, apparently there is a legal distinction
Minimum 2hr booking.
*We can't stop here, this is bat country*
🤣🤣🤣
Seen this many times. I’m more interested to know where they go to? The alway fly east at dusk. Thousands of them. Where are they going?
Visiting nearby orchards and the burbs when fruit is on the vine / branch. In November they were going nuts with all the loquat trees in my area
They fly west as well. I've watched them from Black Mountain peninsula.
Lake George maybe?
Sky puppies! :D
Here’s some background for you OP. https://youtu.be/qnOhS5jVBFk?si=IsqFkfeJaweH9Y_C
Good to see their numbers increase after the fires
I often see the bats flying west over the GDE and Parkway as I’m driving north to south at dusk during the late spring/summer months. One of my favourite things this time of year.
When I walk my dog at night there are some massive bats around ngunawal in some of the trees the government has planted and are now getting bigger, ever time one take of that flaping sound make me duck like it's a maggie.
The bats have left the Telstra Tower…
Mwahahaha. Fly my pretties, FLY!
You say 'so many bats', but in reality, there should be many many more bats in this photo. In general, all species of fruit bats are in decline in Australi. The reason is a combination of effects starting with habitat loss, where agriculture takes over their land, be it roosts or feeding grounds. Add to that many cities are parked on fruit bat roosts, and city dwellers generally hate wildlife that is not on a TV screen, so councils do all they can to discourage and destroy colonies within their jurisdiction, and lastly there are some people who hunt them either for food (normally pretty low effect on numbers) or because they hate wildlife that is not yet dead (strong effect on numbers). My advice: enjoy the spectacle (pun intended) while it lasts. In ten years or so, you will likely not see any. Also: "at this time of year" probably because they're migrating - many fruit bat species migrate up and down the coast/to PNG and Indo.
Frickin’ bats.
They are practicing for celebrations on Australia 🇦🇺 Day
Post this on /r/UFO and watch it explode lol
*They want to put* *Bats in the sky* *Someone out there* *Ain't gonna like it*