It takes to the sky at dusk, leaves older offspring in a ‘creche’ tree, and can spread thousands of seeds in a single night of foraging. Meet your neighbour the grey-headed flying fox – a prolific pollinator that’s vital to our ecosystem.
Habitat loss and disruptions to their camp sites have seen a sharp drop in flying fox numbers in the past 50 years. They’re now classed as vulnerable to extinction.
With Kew’s Yarra Bend Park home to Victoria’s biggest colony, Boroondara residents can help protect them. Fruit tree netting is a leading cause of death for flying foxes in urban areas. If you net your fruit trees, make sure the mesh size is no bigger than 5 mm x 5 mm at full stretch so they don’t get caught. Victorian Government fines apply for using other types of netting.
Join our biodiversity events
Halloween Flying Fox Walk: Call in on Kew’s resident flying fox colony at a twilight walk and talk on Thursday 31 October.
Aussie Bird Count: The annual Aussie Bird Count runs from Monday 14 to Sunday 20 October. Join our Birdwatching for Beginners events on Friday 18 and Sunday 20 October.
Backyard Biodiversity: We’re running the online spring edition of our Backyard Biodiversity Program again from Monday 7 October.
Registrations are a must for all these events. Find out more at our sustainability events page.