flying fox
My First Rescue
By Gitieby Yvonne Morrin (Bats Qld) read more »
Now I have finished my course of vaccinations, I have finally started rescuing. My first bat was entangled in fishing line with a fishing hook embedded in her side – the constriction injury was severe, and she was euthanized. Cruelty Towards Bats on The Coast
By GitieBy Gavin Miles from Bats Qld
In recent months there has been a spate of deliberate acts of cruelty towards bats on the Gold Coast. These acts seem to have coincided with the sensationalised articles from our favourite fish wrap the Courier Mail and GC Bulletin. BatsQLD members were involved rescuing in two of these cases; Cherokee (Shot with a blow dart) and Peter Sterling (Shot with a .177 calibre air rifle). read more »
Repurposing Abandoned Mines For Bats & Wildlife
By Gitie2012 sees the continuation of the Year of the Bat.
Abandoned mines although unsuitable for human use can provide much needed habitat for bats and wildlife. In the United States alone there are over 48,000 abandoned mines. Abandoned mines are like caves and non-destructive mine closures are those where features such as bat gates, cupolas and other preservation tools have been installed to help bats (or other wildlife depending on the location) use the mines for refuge.
Bat Conservation International and the US Bureau of Land Management have combined their efforts to create a guide that helps determine the best closure type for mine openings. On their dedicated site http://www.batgating.com they provide a wealth of information as well a decision matrix tool to help land managers and conservation groups evaluate a closed land mine, or a mine targeted for closure and determine the most suitable mine opening. There is also a wealth of information on closure types, materials, considerations, and other expert material.
Such re-purposing is great news for bats and other wildlife and hopefully a turning point as more unusable mines are converted to help conservation efforts across the globe. read more »
List of Resources for Understanding, Living and Management of Flying Foxes
By Gitie
The recent outbreak of the potentially deadly hendra virus is a cause of great concern to horse breeders and farmers alike. According to the Department of Primary Industries, although the virus can be transmitted from horses to humans, found in bats, there is no evidence that it can be transmitted directly to humans. Flying foxes are critical to the environment and a protected species. Culling is not only cruel but also ineffective. (Ref: Flying Foxes and Hendra Virus; The role of flying foxes in Hendra virus)
There are many effective steps people can take in reducing the risk of horses and people getting infected. See:
Reducing the Risk of Hendra Infection in Horses
Reducing the Risk of Hendra Infection in People
Flying foxes are the only flying mammals and perform the quintessential task of pollinating and dispersing seeds of many native plants. Many trees especially those with white and green fruits rely only on flying foxes for pollination and dispersal of seeds. Losing our flying foxes would also mean losing a vast range of our native plants.
Flying foxes are also responsible for nutrient regeneration and nutrient cycling within the ecosystem, (Ref: Living With Wildlife) by providing large quantities of natural fertiliser across the landscape. They also create gaps in canopies enabling ground- dwelling plants to get more sunlight and rain. read more »
Gabi's Baby Bat Creche and Adult Release at Batavia
By Gitieby Gabrielle Friebe from Bats Qld
Batavia is a bat creche recently constructed at Woodford, on the way to the Sunshine Coast on Queensland. 2010/2011 bat season has certainly presented us with a few challenges with babies, flooding, extreme weather conditions and more.

Challenges were fairly well to be expected when we think about the delay in getting the release aviary up and running due to weather with still a lot of necessary features ‘undone’. We had to fishing net the whole aviary inside, install more noodles and cover them as well of course for soft landings. read more »
Year Of The Bat - Basic Bat Physiology
By Gitie
( click here for for Year of The Bat Posters (free) )
Bat Physiology Facts
(Courtesy Batsqld.org.au and Long Grass Wildlife Refuge)

Flying foxes and Microbats are placental mammals
They are warm blooded and deliver a furred open-eyed baby and suckle their young
The baby has oversized feet and an extra hook on the thumb hook to aid in clinging to its mother
By latching on to the mothers teat located in the wing pit the baby is carried very securely for the first five weeks of its life
From 3-5 weeks the baby cannot thermo regulate
Bats mothers are meticulous in hygiene and use their tongue to lick and groom the baby
Baby bats CANNOT fly until they are 12-13 weeks old. Many calls for rescue come after a baby has been seen for days and this seriously affects its survival.
Cloudy Skies Make Greener Grass
By GitieThe birds and wildlife have had a wonderful summer this year, inf act the best in over a decade. New wildgrasses have sprung up covering the hillsides due to the extended rains and are providing plenty of food and shelter this season in contrast to years of dry, burnt summers. Check out the pics below to see what they have been doing.
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
Previous Slide 1/36 Next
Willie and Nellie learning to sing against the cloudy skies
Lush green grasses fill the paddocks
The eagles are a hunting up above
while Rainbow lorikeets are sorting
out territorial boundaries below
The babblers have moved in
having negotiated their rights
The wallabies are enjoying the rich pickings
along with Bertie Vicky Mindy and Kenny
Billy's family is happy too
Larry and Harrie are singing to glory
The Crested pigeons are thrilled to boots
Maggie's son Monty has found new friends
Kenny wants to get up close and personal
Gabriel Tuks joined the bat creche and returned to the colony
Charlie Girl is fully recovered and adores Pete
Jack is much happier now he can fly further
Wallabies relax in the shade at the Long Grass Wildlife Refuge
Jack adores Gabi
Wild grasses spring up along the roadside
the whole valley is green - for a few weeks at least
One eyed Curly the currawong
is looking healthy and well
Gumnuts are a plentiful
Butterflies delight
Billy's brood is growing up
Frieda is all black and white but still as friendly as ever
Noisy miner is planning another clutch
2 eggs in here
while the nest is being fortified
wild grasses abound
filling the bushy landscape
to the joy of the birds and animals
The galahs are keen to show their nest
and pose for the camera
The peewee too wants to be seen
read more »
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