Latest news

Flying Foxes: Australia’s Unsung Economic and Environmental Heroes

Image by René Riegal Long misunderstood as noisy nuisances, grey-headed flying foxes are emerging as ecological heavyweights with major economic upside. New

Nature’s Gardeners: Why Seed Dispersal Matters (and How Flying Foxes Save the Day)

Image by Catherine Ryan. If trees could talk, they'd probably say, 'Help! I need to move out!' That's because plants, unlike animals, can't pack their bags and

We Need Your Help! Urgent Request to End the Shooting of Flying-Foxes in Queensland

Flying-foxes are being shot in Queensland despite humane, proven alternatives. These native animals suffer slow deaths, orphaned pups, and ongoing population

Restoring the Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve: 25 Years of Protecting Native Habitat (2000–2025)

Taken in 2025, many young trees in the the habitat grew to over 3m tall. Since 2000, habitat restoration in the Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve has evolved from

Friends of Bats Newsletter — Spring 2025

Vale Marjorie Beck – A mighty advocate for flying-foxes

Marjorie Beck was a tireless champion for flying-foxes and the natural environment. Her dedication to conservation, education, and advocacy made a lasting

It’s pup season

Food time for Finn Susan Parrish Smith is an American-Australian wildlife carer dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of flying-foxes. Living in

Where are our bats?

The colony in Adelaide's Botanic Park, image by Craig Greer The journey and mystery of flying-foxes in South Australia Flying-foxes, large fruit bats essential

Celebrating Science and Nature in Sydney

KBCS chairman Tim Pearson This year, Sydney's Science in the Swamp and Science in the Scrub fairs drew crowds of all ages to explore the wonders of science and

Flying-foxes under threat: The effects of droughts and heat events

Image by Yvette Goldberg Hot Australian summers are tough on everyone – including our flying-foxes. Temperatures over 43°C can lead to heat-related fatalities

Discover the live bat cam at Wingham Brush Nature Reserve

Get a close look at grey-headed flying-foxes with the Wingham Brush Nature Reserve's live bat cam, streaming daily from dawn to dusk. These vulnerable mammals

Friends of Bats Newsletter — Spring 2024

Friends of Bats Newsletter — August 2024

Why do we love bats?

Why do we love bats? Read more below to find out just how amazing bats are! Grey-Headed Flying-Fox.Photo credits: Fly By Night Bat Clinic - Bat Rescue Victoria

Getting to know flying-fox food: Red Bloodwoods

As February and March unfold, Sydney's sandstone landscapes ease into autumn with the enchanting red bloodwoods in full bloom. Take a leisurely stroll south to

Saving our species: Bats in backyards

Discover microbats near you! It's not too late to join the excitement of the 2023-2024 Bats in Backyards project! Following a fantastic pilot last year, citizen

Friends of Bats Newsletter — March 2024

Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve 2020

A mid-year update The extreme storm last November felled many large trees on top of the fences which had been protecting young trees and shrubs from wallaby

Meet a bat night – 28 March 2020

Meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment at 2nd Gordon Scout Hall, 5:45-7:30pm. Free, suitable for children 5+, bookings essential.

An important message from our Chair

Dear KBCS members and friends, I've sat down a number of times over the past couple of weeks to write this, but events keep on catching up with me… it was meant

Storm damage in the Reserve

The destructive storm that hit northern Sydney on 27thNovember 2019 felled many very large trees in Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve. In 2009 this tall blackbutt

Meet a bat night – 29 February 2020

Meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment at 2nd Gordon Scout Hall -- now fully booked, with a second date added on 28 March 2020.

Meet a bat night – 2 November 2019

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! (If the video above does not play, try opening this webpage in a

Blue Mountains Bat Night – 29 March 2019

Blue Mountains Bat Night is back again! This free event is coming to you later this month - be sure to check out the leaflet below for details (or download it

Meet a bat night – 6 April 2019

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! (if the video above does not play, try opening this webpage in a

Meet a bat night – 2 March 2019

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! (if the video above does not play, try opening this webpage in a

Meet a bat night – 3 November 2018

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! (If the video above does not play, try opening this webpage in a

Meet a Bat Night 3 March 2018 now fully booked

The event is now fully booked, however, if you would like to join the waiting list, please e-mail web@sydneybats.org.au or call / text 0428 981 420.

Meet a Bat Night – 3 March 2018

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! (If the video above does not play, try opening this webpage with a

Meet a Bat Night – Saturday, 4 November 2017

BOOKED OUT Our next event will be held Saturday, 3 March 2018 and you can register now! Email web@sydneybats.org.au Make this your battiest Halloween ever!

BLUE MOUNTAINS BAT NIGHT

When: Friday 10th March at 6.30pm onwards Where: NPWS Heritage Centre, Govetts Leap Rd, Blackheath IT'S A BAT FEST!! Bat cave for the kids Bat talks Bat films

Meet a Bat Night, Saturday 4 March 2017

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! What's happening: bat encounter, bat talk, displays, kids' craft, light

Meet a Bat Night

Get to meet flying-foxes up close in a safe environment and learn much more about them! What's happening: bat encounter, bat talk, displays, kids' craft, light

Issue 119 — March 2016

MEET BATS CLOSE UP

Date: Saturday 20 February 2016. Time: 6.30 pm – 8.15 pm What's on: meet live flying-foxes up close (in a safe environment), your questions answered, displays,

What a great gift idea for anyone interested in bat conservation, or bats in general!

2016 CALENDAR: “A Year in the Life of a Grey-Headed Flying-Fox” is the brainchild of Wildlife Ecologist Jacob Sife. The calendar has a month-by-month format:

Issue 118 — December 2015

Meet a Bat Evening – Saturday 21 November 2015

Date: Saturday 21 November 2015, Time: 6.30 pm – 8.15 pm What's on: meet live flying-foxes up close (in a safe environment), your questions answered, displays,

Issue 117 — August 2015

Issue 116 — March 2015

Issue 115 — December 2014

Issue 114 — September 2014

Issue 113 — June 2014

Issue 112 — March 2014

Issue 111 — December 2013

Time to keep an eye on powerlines

You've seen a dead bat on power lines? Does it matter? After all lots of bats (and possums) come to grief on power lines. While most of the year the body could

Issue 110 — September 2013

Flying-foxes warmly welcomed at Centennial Park

Flying-foxes warmly welcomed at Centennial Park Flying-foxes rarely receive a warm welcome, but Centennial Park in Sydney is taking advantage of peoples'

Issue 109 — June 2013

Issue 108 — March 2013

Battling the heat

The recent extreme heat events along the east coast have taken their toll on wildlife, with flying-foxes being badly affected, particularly pups and juveniles.

Give a “batty” gift this Christmas!

Give a “batty” gift this Christmas! Looking for Christmas gift ideas? Here's one - a great book to read with younger children. Warambi Warambi is a little

Issue 107 — December 2012

Issue 106 — September 2012

Keeping track of flying-foxes – new research paper published

Keeping track of flying-foxes - new research paper published A recently-published research paper documents the satellite-tracking of 14 flying-foxes, with

Disturbing and dispersing bats- good or bad idea?

KBCS position on flying-fox camps KBCS does not support the disturbance of flying-fox camps, including the current noise disturbance at Royal Botanic Gardens,

Figs – a flying-fox favourite

A fig feast is taking place along the east coast of Australia from now until July. Flying-foxes and birds such as figbirds and bowerbirds are enjoying their

Issue 104 — March 2012

Issue 103 — December 2011

Turpentines – good licking

Turpentines - good licking for flying-foxes Nectar and pollen: a balanced diet for flying- foxes Turpentines will soon be flowering. Listen for flying-foxes in

Issue 102 — September 2011

Issue 101 — June 2011

Issue 100 — March 2011

Issue 99 — December 2010

Issue 98 — September 2010

Issue 97 — June 2010

Issue 96 — March 2010

Issue 3 — December 1986

Issue 2 — September 1986

Issue 1 — June 1986