The Grey-headed Flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus has an expansive range. However, the species actually occupies a relatively restricted and continuously changing habitat area, which is primarily defined by irregular patterns of nectar availability. A synchronous count of Greyheaded Flying-foxes in New South Wales taken in July 1988 described the distribution and abundance of the species during a time of general food scarcity, but when abundant floral resources were available in restricted patches of coastal vegetation. The population was highly concentrated into small habitat areas associated with this flowering. The species occupied 11 camps which were located at irregular intervals along the coast, north from the Sydney region. Over 99% of the New South Wales population occurred in nine camps. The total abundance of animals in the state was estimated at 85 400. These results vary substantially from recent estimations which placed the size of the New South Wales population at one million animals. Black Flying-foxes occupied seven camps at the time of the count and their abundance was estimated at 72 500. Periods of concentration are periods of vulnerability for migratory species and present appropriate circumstances in which to examine their conservation status. Critical winter habitat used by Grey-headed Flying-foxes at the time of this study is poorly reserved, primarily occurs on privately-owned land and is located in areas targeted for urban and rural residential development to cater for an ongoing, rapid increase in human population. The conclusion drawn from this study was that Grey-headed Flying-foxes are vulnerable to population decline from the ongoing clearing of their critical over-wintering habitat in lowland coastal vegetation in north-east New South Wales and south-east Oueensland. These results support their listing as VulneraMe in the 1999 Action Plan for Australian Bats.

Brower, L. E. and Malcolm, S. B., 1991. Animal migrations: endangered phenomena. Amer. Zool. 31: 265-76.
Animal migrations: endangered phenomena
Amer. Zool.
, vol. 
31
 (pg. 
265
-
76
)
Bucher, E. H., 1992. The causes of extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. Curr. Ornithol. 9: 1-36.
The causes of extinction of the Passenger Pigeon
Curr. Ornithol.
, vol. 
9
 (pg. 
1
-
36
)
Catterall, C. and Kingston, M., 1993. Remnant bushland of south east Queensland in the 1990's: it's distribution, loss, ecological consequences and future prospects. Institute of Applied Environmental Research, Griffith University and Brisbane City - Council: Brisbane.
Remnant bushland of south east Queensland in the 1990's: it's distribution, loss, ecological consequences and future prospects
Catterall, C. P., Kingston, M. B., Park, K. and Sewell, S., 1998. Deforestation, urbanisation and seasonality: interacting effects on a regional bird assemblage. Biol. Cons. 84: 65-81.
Deforestation, urbanisation and seasonality: interacting effects on a regional bird assemblage
Biol. Cons.
, vol. 
84
 (pg. 
65
-
81
)
Clarke, M. F., 1997. A review of studies of the breeding biology of Australian birds from 1986-95: biases and consequences. Emu 97: 283-89.
A review of studies of the breeding biology of Australian birds from 1986-95: biases and consequences
Emu
, vol. 
97
 (pg. 
283
-
89
)
Clemson, A., 1985. Honey and Pollen Flora. Inkata Press: Melbourne.
Honey and Pollen Flora
Duncan, A., Baker, G. B. and Montgomery, N., (in press). The 1999 Action Plan for Australian Bats. Environment Australia: Canberra.
Eby, P., 1991. Seasonal movements of Grey-headed flying foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), from two maternity camps in northern New South Wales. Wildl. Res. 18: 547-59.
Seasonal movements of Grey-headed flying foxes, Pteropus poliocephalus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae), from two maternity camps in northern New South Wales
Wildl. Res.
, vol. 
18
 (pg. 
547
-
59
)
Eby, P., 1995. The Biology and Management of Flying foxes in NSW, Species Management Report No. 18. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Hurstville, New South Wales.
The Biology and Management of Flying foxes in NSW, Species Management Report No. 18
Eby, P, 1996. Interactions between the Grey-headed flying fox Pteropus poliocephalus (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) and its diet plants — seasonal movements and seed dispersal. Ph.D. thesis, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales.
Eby, P. and Palmer, C., 1991. Flying foxes in rainforest remnants in northern New South Wales. Pp. 48-56 in Rainforest Remnants ed by S. Phillips. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Lismore, New South Wales.
Rainforest Remnants
(pg. 
48
-
56
)
Fahse, L., Dean, W. R. J. and Wissel, C., 1998. Modelling the size and distribution of protected areas for nomadic birds: alaudidae in the Nama-Karoo, South Africa. Biol. Cons. 85: 105-12.
Modelling the size and distribution of protected areas for nomadic birds: alaudidae in the Nama-Karoo, South Africa
Biol. Cons.
, vol. 
85
 (pg. 
105
-
12
)
Frederick, P. C., Bildstein, K. L., Fleury, B. and Ogden, J., 1996. Conservation of large, nomadic populations of White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) in the United States. Cons. Biol. 10: 203-16.
Conservation of large, nomadic populations of White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) in the United States
Cons. Biol.
, vol. 
10
 (pg. 
203
-
16
)
Friesen, V. L., 1997. Population genetics and the spatial scale of conservation of colonial waterhirds. Col. Waterb. 20: 353-68.
Population genetics and the spatial scale of conservation of colonial waterhirds
Col. Waterb.
, vol. 
20
 (pg. 
353
-
68
)
Garnett, S., Whybird, O. and Spencer, H., 1999, The conservation status of the Spectacled flying fox Pteropus conspicillatus in Australia. Aust. Zool. 31: 38-54.
The conservation status of the Spectacled flying fox Pteropus conspicillatus in Australia
Aust. Zool.
, vol. 
31
 (pg. 
38
-
54
)
Holmes, G., 1987. Avifauna of the Big Scrub Region. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service: Sydney.
Avifauna of the Big Scrub Region
House, S., 1997. Reproductive biology of eucalypts. Pp. 30-54 in Eucalypt Ecology: Individuals to Ecosystems ed by J. E. Williams and J. C. Z. Woinarski. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
Eucalypt Ecology: Individuals to Ecosystems
(pg. 
30
-
54
)
Innis, G. J. and McEvoy, J., 1992. Feeding ecology of Green Catbirds (Ailuroedus crassirostris) in subtropical rainforests of south-eastern Queensland. Wildl. Res. 19: 317-29.
Feeding ecology of Green Catbirds (Ailuroedus crassirostris) in subtropical rainforests of south-eastern Queensland
Wildl. Res.
, vol. 
19
 (pg. 
317
-
29
)
IUCN, 1994. IUCN Red List Categories. IUCN: Gland, Switzerland.
Keast, A., 1968. Seasonal movements in the Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and their ecological significance. Emu 67: 159-210.
Seasonal movements in the Australian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and their ecological significance
Emu
, vol. 
67
 (pg. 
159
-
210
)
Lunney, D. and Leary, T., 1988. The impact on native mammals of land-use changes and exotic species in the Bega District, New South Wales, since settlement. Aust. J. Ecol. 13: 67-92.
The impact on native mammals of land-use changes and exotic species in the Bega District, New South Wales, since settlement
Aust. J. Ecol.
, vol. 
13
 (pg. 
67
-
92
)
Lunney, D., Curtin, A., Ayers, D., Cogger, H. G. and Dickman, C. R., 1996, An ecological approach to identifying the endangered fauna of New South Wales. Pac. Cons. Biol. 2: 212-31.
An ecological approach to identifying the endangered fauna of New South Wales
Pac. Cons. Biol.
, vol. 
2
 (pg. 
212
-
31
)
Lunney, D. and Moon, C., 1997. Flying foxes and their camps in the rainforest remnants of north-east New South Wales. Pp. 247-77 in Australia's Ever-Changing Forests III ed by J. Dargavel. Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Australian National University: Canberra.
Australia's Ever-Changing Forests III
(pg. 
247
-
77
)
Myers, J. P., Morrison, R. I. G., Antas, P. Z., Harrington, B. A., Lovejoy, T E., Sallaberry, M., Senner, S. E. and Tarak, A., 1987. Conservation strategy for migratory species. Amer. Sci. 75: 19-26.
Conservation strategy for migratory species
Amer. Sci.
, vol. 
75
 (pg. 
19
-
26
)
Nelson, J. E., 1965. Movements of Australian flying foxes. Aust. J. Zool. 13: 53-73.
Movements of Australian flying foxes
Aust. J. Zool.
, vol. 
13
 (pg. 
53
-
73
)
New South Wales Department of Planning, 1995. North coast urban planning strategy into the 21st century. New South Wales Department of Planning: Sydney.
Nix, H., 1993. Bird distributions in relation to imperatives for habitat conservation in Queensland. Pp. 12-22 in Birds and Their Habitats: Status and Conservation in Queensland ed by C. P. Catterall, P. Driscoll, K. Hulsman, D. Muir and A. Taplin. Queensland Ornithological Society: Brisbane.
Birds and Their Habitats: Status and Conservation in Queensland
(pg. 
12
-
22
)
Norton, T., 1996. Conserving biological diversity in Australia's temperate eucalypt forests. For. Ecol. Manage. 85: 21-33.
Conserving biological diversity in Australia's temperate eucalypt forests
For. Ecol. Manage.
, vol. 
85
 (pg. 
21
-
33
)
Pagel, M. and Payne, R. J. H., 1996. How migration affects estimation of the extinction threshold. Oikos 76: 323-29.
How migration affects estimation of the extinction threshold
Oikos
, vol. 
76
 (pg. 
323
-
29
)
Parry Jones, K. A., 1993. The movements of Pteropus poliocephalus in New South Wales. Ph.D. thesis, University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales.
Parry-Jones, K. A. and Augee, M., 1991. Food selection by Grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) occupying a summer colony site near Cosford, New South Wales. Wildl. Res. 18: 111-24.
Food selection by Grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) occupying a summer colony site near Cosford, New South Wales
Wildl. Res.
, vol. 
18
 (pg. 
111
-
24
)
Parry Jones, K. A. and Augee, M. L., 1992. Movements of Grey-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to and from a colony site on the central coast of New South Wales. Wildl. Res. 19: 331-40.
Movements of Grey-headed flying foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to and from a colony site on the central coast of New South Wales
Wildl. Res.
, vol. 
19
 (pg. 
331
-
40
)
Pressey, R. L. and Griffith, S. J., 1992. Vegetation of the coastal lowlands of Tweed Shire, northern New South Wales: plant communities, species and conservation. Proc. Linn. Soc. NSW 113: 203-43.
Vegetation of the coastal lowlands of Tweed Shire, northern New South Wales: plant communities, species and conservation
Proc. Linn. Soc. NSW
, vol. 
113
 (pg. 
203
-
43
)
Pressey, R. L., 1994. Land classifications are necessary for conservation planning but what do they tell us about fauna? Pp. 31-41 in Future of the Fauna of Western New South Wales ed by D. Lunney, S. Hand, P. Reed and D. Butcher. Surrey Beatty & Sons: Chipping Norton, New South Wales.
Future of the Fauna of Western New South Wales
(pg. 
31
-
41
)
Pressey, R. L., Ferrier, S., Hager, T. C., Woods, C. A., Tully, S. L, and Weinman, K. M., 1996. How well protected are the forests of north-eastern New South Wales? — analyses of forest environments in relation to formal protection measures, land tenure, and vulnerability to clearing. For. Ecol. Manage. 85: 311-33.
How well protected are the forests of north-eastern New South Wales? — analyses of forest environments in relation to formal protection measures, land tenure, and vulnerability to clearing
For. Ecol. Manage.
, vol. 
85
 (pg. 
311
-
33
)
Queensland Regional Forest Assessment Steering Committee, 1997. Forest ecosystem mapping and analysis. Queensland Department of Environment: Brisbane.
Ratcliffe, F. N., 1932. Notes on the fruit bats (Pteropus spp.) of Australia. J. Anim. Ecol. 1: 32-57.
Notes on the fruit bats (Pteropus spp.) of Australia
J. Anim. Ecol.
, vol. 
1
 (pg. 
32
-
57
)
Regional Planning Advisory Group, 1994. The regional framework for growth management for south east Queensland. Queensland Government: Brisbane.
Richards, G. C., 1995. A review of ecological interactions of fruit bats in Australian ecosystems. In Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour of Bats ed by P. A. Racey and S. M. Swift. Symp. Zool. Soc. Land. 67: 79-96.
Richards, G. C., and Hall, L. S., 1998. The conservation biology of Australian bats. Are recent advances solving our problems? Pp. 271-81 in Bat Biology and Conservation ed by T. H. Kunz and P. A. Racey. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington.
Bat Biology and Conservation
(pg. 
271
-
81
)
Sommerville, D. and Dodds, S., 1995. Narooma Forestry District Apiary Management Results. New South Wales Agriculture: Goulburn.
Narooma Forestry District Apiary Management Results
Sommerville, D. and Rienstra, R., 1997. Beekeeping in the Inverell State Forests. New South Wales Agriculture: Goulburn.
Beekeeping in the Inverell State Forests
Sommerville, D. and Robertson, I., 1998. Beekeeping in the Casino State Forests New South Wales Agriculture: Goulburn.
Beekeeping in the Casino State Forests
Spencer, H. J., Palmer, C. and Parry Jones, K., 1991. Movements of fruit-bats in eastern Australia, determined by using radio-tracking. Wildl. Res. 18: 463-68.
Movements of fruit-bats in eastern Australia, determined by using radio-tracking
Wildl. Res.
, vol. 
18
 (pg. 
463
-
68
)
Stace, P., 1996. Protein content and amino-acid profiles of honeybee-collected pollens. Bees 'n Trees Consultants: Lismore, New South Wales.
Protein content and amino-acid profiles of honeybee-collected pollens
Thomas, D. W. and LaVal, R. K., 1990. Survey and census methods. In Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats ed by T. H. Kunz. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington DC.
Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats
Tidemann, C. R., 1995. Grey-headed flying fox Pteropus poliocephalus. Pp. 439-41 in The Mammals of Australia ed by R. Strahan. Reed Books: Chatswood.
The Mammals of Australia
(pg. 
439
-
41
)
Tidemann, C. R., Kelson, S. L. and Jamieson, C., 1997. Flying-fox damage to orchard fruit in Australia — incidence, extent and economic impact. Aust. Biol. 10: 179-86.
Flying-fox damage to orchard fruit in Australia — incidence, extent and economic impact
Aust. Biol.
, vol. 
10
 (pg. 
179
-
86
)
Webb, N. and Tidemann, C., 1995. Hybridisation between black (Pteropus alecto) and grey-headed (P. poliocephalus) flying-foxes (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae). Aust. Mammal. 18: 19-26.
Hybridisation between black (Pteropus alecto) and grey-headed (P. poliocephalus) flying-foxes (Megachiroptera: Pteropodidae)
Aust. Mammal.
, vol. 
18
 (pg. 
19
-
26
)
Woinarski, J. C. Z., Whitehead, P. J., Bowman, D. M. J. S. and Russell-Smith, J., 1992. Conservation of mobile species in a variable environment: the problem of reserve design in the Northern Territory, Australia. Global Ecol. Biogeog. Lett. 2: 1-10.
Conservation of mobile species in a variable environment: the problem of reserve design in the Northern Territory, Australia
Global Ecol. Biogeog. Lett.
, vol. 
2
 (pg. 
1
-
10
)
This content is only available as a PDF.