In Abbotsford, known as Carran-carramulk for thousands of years, meaning prickly myrtle. On the lands of the Wurundjeri-willam Custodians of the Kulin Nation.
Along the bank of the Birrarung (Yarra) river in Yarra Bend Park, follow the sounds of afternoon chatters and gently flapping wings. There's a colony of roosting Grey-Headed Flying Foxes amongst the trees. A group of around 30,000 - 50,000 above the water, waiting until dusk to take off.
The bats were relocated from the Royal Botanic Gardens in the early 2000's. As their name suggests, the flying foxes eat fruit, pollen, nectar, travelling throughout the night and returning to roost in the early morning. They're important pollinators, dispersing seeds across Naarm (Melbourne) and assisting with the reproduction of plants like local eucalyptus.
They're described as a colony in their roosting places (which they return to each day) but a cauldron or a cloud in flight. A beautiful description and an amazing moment, to catch them leaving their roosts in the evening twilight.
One of the best viewing spots is the Flying Fox viewing platform in nearby Kew.
One of Abbotsford's most iconic residents.
Grey-Headed Flying Foxes roosting in an Oak Tree
