The valley
Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve, on the lower reaches of Stoney Creek, is 15 hectares in area. Stoney Creek rises in Pymble and follows a sinuous course eastward through the reserve to join Rocky Creek, which flows through Garigal National Park and into Middle Harbour Creek.
The valley slopes are steep, with outcrops of sandstone forming cliffs up to six metres high along some boundaries. Residential housing adjoins the reserve on the ridges. Unfortunately, gardens have contributed many weeds to the bushland below.
The forest
The vegetation is a tall forest dominated by blackbutt Eucalyptus pilularis, turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera and several blue gums Eucalyptus saligna. The forest originally had Sydney red gum Angophora costata and red bloodwood Corymbia gummifera, but they have not survived the increase in soil nutrients.
Closed forest dominated by turpentine Syncarpia glomulifera, coachwood Ceratopetalum apetalum, sweet pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum and lilly pilly Syzygium spp. is found on the lower slopes and along the creek.
Nutrients and weeds
The increase in nutrients contributed by the flying-foxes and by stormwater has resulted in weeds — particularly lantana, privet and trad — rapidly dominating the reserve. Invasive vines threaten the survival of the trees.
Seeds of native trees such as figs and lilly pillies, brought in by flying-foxes and birds, are contributing to the development of a closed forest. This rainforest-type habitat will be more sustainable for the flying-foxes in the future. More rainforest plants are being added to improve the microclimate, and more turpentines and eucalypts are being planted in canopy gaps.
Read about the habitat restoration project →
Home to a diverse fauna
As well as grey-headed flying-foxes, the reserve is home to swamp wallabies, bandicoots, brushtail and ringtail possums, water dragons and goannas. The valley is vibrant with life.
Birds include white-browed scrubwrens, eastern spinebills, eastern yellow robins, grey fantails, golden whistlers, brown gerygones, brown thornbills, spotted pardalotes, whipbirds, satin bowerbirds, wonga pigeons, brown cuckoo doves, brush turkeys and lyrebirds.
Powerful owls rear two chicks in most years, feeding on ringtail possums and flying-foxes. White-bellied sea-eagles visit the valley to feed on flying-foxes.
The invertebrates include a dung beetle which rarely eats dung — read about it at AABR.