BatCam offers glimpse into secret life of threatened flying fox species
September 19, 2024 3:56 AM Subscribe
BatCam offers glimpse into secret life of threatened flying fox species. A live-streaming camera is offering insights into a grey-headed flying fox colony in northern New South Wales, aiming to change public perception that the animals are pests, and guide conservation work.
A new initiative known as BatCam is giving people a glimpse into the normally secret world of Australia's largest native bat.
The grey-headed flying fox is listed as a vulnerable species by New South Wales and Commonwealth authorities, and is found along the coastal belt from southern Queensland to Victoria.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has installed a live streaming camera high in the dense canopy to monitor a key breeding colony in the Wingham Brush Nature Reserve near Taree on the NSW mid-north coast.
"BatCam provides an up-close-and-personal experience with these remarkable creatures," NPWS Manning's Great Lakes Area rangers acting team leader, Tabetha Kempe, said.
The camera shows those who log onto the NPWS visitor website live vision of the creatures from dawn to dusk, and its zoom function allows for close-up footage.
"We are hoping those who tune in will be able to see the flying foxes hanging upside down in their natural habitat, doing all their behaviours from socialising and grooming, and pulling themselves down," Ms Kempe said.
"Then later in the year you'll be able to see them with their pups, in the maternal roost there."
Ms Kempe said the grey-headed flying fox was often viewed as a pest, but was actually crucial to ecosystems, pollinating plants and spreading seeds in native forests.
"They are one of our key environmental species, their ability to carry pollen over a large distance is greater than any of the birds and bees," she said.
"They can travel up to 50 kilometres at night … they have excellent night vision — they are just a very, very cool bat."
A new initiative known as BatCam is giving people a glimpse into the normally secret world of Australia's largest native bat.
The grey-headed flying fox is listed as a vulnerable species by New South Wales and Commonwealth authorities, and is found along the coastal belt from southern Queensland to Victoria.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has installed a live streaming camera high in the dense canopy to monitor a key breeding colony in the Wingham Brush Nature Reserve near Taree on the NSW mid-north coast.
"BatCam provides an up-close-and-personal experience with these remarkable creatures," NPWS Manning's Great Lakes Area rangers acting team leader, Tabetha Kempe, said.
The camera shows those who log onto the NPWS visitor website live vision of the creatures from dawn to dusk, and its zoom function allows for close-up footage.
"We are hoping those who tune in will be able to see the flying foxes hanging upside down in their natural habitat, doing all their behaviours from socialising and grooming, and pulling themselves down," Ms Kempe said.
"Then later in the year you'll be able to see them with their pups, in the maternal roost there."
Ms Kempe said the grey-headed flying fox was often viewed as a pest, but was actually crucial to ecosystems, pollinating plants and spreading seeds in native forests.
"They are one of our key environmental species, their ability to carry pollen over a large distance is greater than any of the birds and bees," she said.
"They can travel up to 50 kilometres at night … they have excellent night vision — they are just a very, very cool bat."
Whoa, the flying fox truly looks like a cross between a bat and a fox!
Isn’t it incredible how animals take unique evolutionary paths in isolated regions like Madagascar and Australia?
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 6:25 AM on September 19
Isn’t it incredible how animals take unique evolutionary paths in isolated regions like Madagascar and Australia?
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 6:25 AM on September 19
I recall a wildlife conservationist once explaining that animals are regarded as cute so long as they’re novel, but there seems to be an inflection point of density and proximity to human settlement that inverts the perception to pest. Examples: the brilliance of corvids versus urban pests, American Bald Eagles versus Alaskan trash birds, I can think of any variety of American mammals: raccoons, domestic cats and dogs, etc.
Locally in India, the giant Indian flying foxes bring me joy each evening and morning. I watch their slow and deliberate rowing motions from my rooftop as they depart and return to roost. Sometimes they get close though that they look this adorable (though the roost is a bit terrifying…).
posted by rubatan at 6:25 AM on September 19 [2 favorites]
Locally in India, the giant Indian flying foxes bring me joy each evening and morning. I watch their slow and deliberate rowing motions from my rooftop as they depart and return to roost. Sometimes they get close though that they look this adorable (though the roost is a bit terrifying…).
posted by rubatan at 6:25 AM on September 19 [2 favorites]
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posted by fifthrider at 5:37 AM on September 19 [3 favorites]