ABSTRACT The management of the Kareela flying-fox camp in southern Sydney, New South Wales, is a case study of the challenges faced by local councils trying to mitigate negative impacts from flying-foxes on their communities. When flying-foxes were discovered roosting in Kareela in February 2008, local residents and schools complained to the public land manager, Sutherland Shire Council. Concerns were mainly about the impacts of flying-fox faeces, noise and odour, and fear of disease. Initially, branches overhanging affected properties were removed to mitigate the issue. Ongoing impacts prompted council to clear vegetation from the fringes of the camp, creating a buffer area. These buffers provided physical separation but reportedly caused noise impacts to intensify during peak influxes of flying-foxes when animals appeared to be unsettled from being concentrated into a smaller area of roosting habitat. Camp dispersal was advocated by some stakeholders seeking swift resolution. Others rejected the idea, considering the high cost and poor success rate of camp dispersal attempts elsewhere. Subsequently, several key stakeholders including direct neighbours of the camp renounced their support for camp dispersal. Council proceeded with camp dispersal, which only achieved a temporary absence of flying-foxes from Kareela. During this time, a new flying-fox camp formed 3.5 km away. Flying-foxes subsequently returned to the Kareela camp 15 months after the initial dispersal. This case study demonstrates the many interacting factors involved in managing flying-fox camps that have impacts on human settlements. Moreover, the Kareela case study adds to the list of flying-fox dispersal attempts in eastern Australia that have been ineffective in permanently removing flying-foxes from a camp. The case study also highlights the importance of understanding the social and political context of flying-fox camp management, in addition to flying-fox ecology.

The protection of day roosts is critical to the conservation of threatened insectivorous bat species. However, little is known about the roosting ecology of many species and this is particularly the case for Australian hollow-roosting species, such as East-coast Free-tailed Bat Mormopterus norfolkensis . We undertook targeted surveys to capture M. norfolkensis and investigate the factors that influence roost selection. However, we were only able to capture and radio-track six individuals in two different regions of New South Wales (three in the Hunter Valley and three at Urbenville). We found that M. norfolkensis roosted in tree hollows in a range of tree species, including Grey Box Eucalyptus moluccana and Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata in the Hunter Valley and Flooded Gum E. grandis and red gum E. amplifolia / tereticornis in Urbenville. Additionally, a telegraph pole was used as a roost by a small colony of eight bats in Urbenville. As we experienced very low trap success and were only able to track bats for a brief period, roost preference is yet to be thoroughly investigated.

ABSTRACT Flying-fox camps in urban areas are a contentious wildlife management issue. Since 2012, Grey-headed Flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus have regularly occupied two camps in Batemans Bay, New South Wales (NSW). At one site, the Water Gardens, impacts on adjacent residents and businesses occur when animals roost near the reserve boundaries. During March–July 2016, a large influx of flying-foxes arrived, causing the camps to spread into neighbouring residential, recreational and industrial areas. Prior to this, impacts had been mitigated through vegetation clearing to create buffer zones and residential subsidies for mitigation equipment and services. The influx warranted additional measures such as a dispersal program and further vegetation removal, which were expedited by the Commonwealth Government granting a National Interest Exemption under section 158 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the NSW Government committing $2.5 million in funding towards the new measures. These measures moved flying-foxes from key conflict areas but also coincided with flying-fox numbers reducing as local blossom diminished. Ongoing community engagement played an important role in building community resilience to live with this threatened species, which is vital considering that Batemans Bay will likely continue to be an important area for flying-foxes.

ABSTRACT The Large-footed Myotis Myotis macropus is a threatened echolocating bat that uses a specialised ‘trawling' foraging strategy to hunt for aquatic prey. While the species is well known in freshwater habitats, in 2014 it was recorded for the first time roosting and foraging in a sheltered bay on Sydney Harbour in the Port Jackson estuary. To investigate how widely distributed M. macropus was within the estuary (Parramatta River, Lane Cove River, Middle Harbour, harbour islands, west Harbour and east Harbour), 56 sampling sites were surveyed acoustically. Of these sites, 24 were in harbour bays/coves, 20 were in tributary bays, seven were along tributary channels/creeks, four were on the margins of harbour islands and a single site was located on a freshwater lake. We also investigated relationships between M. macropus activity and environmental variables to identify those that should be targeted for management. Radio-tracking of M. macropus at one known roost was carried out to assess roost fidelity and identify key foraging areas within the estuary. Myotis macropus was widespread in Port Jackson, being present at 92.6 % of sites, but with high activity (>90 passes night −1 ), including feeding buzzes (≥24.5 buzzes night −1 ) concentrated in a few ‘hot spots’. Greatest activity was recorded in east Harbour (~70 passes night −1 ), west Harbour (~15.5) and Lane Cove River (~14), while lowest activity was on the Parramatta River (2) and Middle Harbour (10). Activity, including feeding, was significantly greater in harbour bays/coves when compared with other habitats. Radio-tracking revealed that bats roosting in west Harbour showed 100 % fidelity to the roost site over a three week period and were only recorded foraging in this zone and the nearby (1.2 km) Lane Cove River. Historical Zinc concentrations in surficial sediments was negatively associated with M. macropus activity, though heavy metals were also correlated positively with total suspended solids (TSS). While heavy metal concentrations in sediments were not associated with feeding activity, increased TSS was negatively associated with M. macropus activity and feeding. Best subsets regressions found that M. macropus activity was associated with TSS (−ve), mangrove cover (+ve), seagrass cover (+ve) and total water extent (−ve). We recommend further research on the negative association between TSS, heavy metals and M. macropus activity to identify the sensitivity of this species to past and present pollution events.

This paper reports upon an operation to displace camps of Black Flying-foxes Pteropus alecto using non-lethal methods from the town of Batchelor. The flying-foxes showed a preference for camping in African Mahogany trees Khala senegalensis . Flying-foxes were dispersed by a team of Parks and Wildlife staff and community volunteers using a combination of smoke, non-lethal plastic shot and noise. The flying-foxes ceased roosting in the town during the operation but continued efforts were required to ensure that flying-fox camps did not re-establish within the town. The use of methods for dispersal, the removal of camp trees and public relations are discussed.

During March 1997 we surveyed for Myotis macropus at 18 water bodies along the Murray River in River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis forests in the Millewa and Perricoota/Koondrook State Forests, using Anabat II detectors and harp-traps. Although no M. macropus were caught, they were recorded by Anabat detectors at two sites, one at Moira Lakes Flora Reserve and one on the Murray River at Barmah Bridge. These records were within 7 km of each other and near a previous record on the Murray River (Hoye 1995). Despite the rarity of M. macropus in these forests, high levels of microchiropteran activity from 12 other taxa were recorded. On average, one bat pass was recorded for every minute of sampling in the first hour after dark. Eight taxa ( Vespadeius vulturnus , V. regulus , V. darlingtoni , Chalinolobus gouidii . C. morio , Mormopterus sp. and Tadarida australis ) were recorded at more than 70% of sites, while four species ( Scotorapens balstoni , Nyctophiius gouldi , Nyctophilus geoffroyi and Myotis macropus ) were recorded from less than 40% of sites. River Red Gum forests are particularly important to bats as a mesic habitat in a predominantly semi-arid landscape. Further studies on M. macropus are required to determine the reason for its rarity in an area with abundant surface water.

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.

A short terrestrial vertebrate survey was conducted in November 1994 in the coastal wetlands surrounding the Cairns International Airport. Six discrete habitat types were recorded for the study area: sand ridge woodland; beach dune low woodland/shrubland; mangrove-intertidal; eucalyptus woodland: clavpan/saltmarsh and disturbed habitat. The survey utilized direct and indirect sampling techniques including live-mammal trapping, hair-tubing, spotlighting ultrasonic bat detection, bird census, active searching and predator scat collection. A total of 129 terrestrial vertebrate species (Seven amphibians, 23 reptiles, 85 birds seven non-volant mammals, seven bats) were recorded including three amphibians and seven reptile species from the records of the Queensland Museum. The diversity of the fauna assemblages and habitats recorded are discussed and number of important environmental features of coastal wetland habitats for terrestrial vertebrates are identified.

The felling of a tree at Brightview, south-west of Brisbane containing a colony of 29 Saccoliamus flaviventris provided an opportunity to obtain data on morphology, ectoparasites, and sex ratios from 13 individuals killed during the tree felling. This is the largest known colony of this species. The limited availabilitv of roost tree may be the cause of this large aggregation bf bats. The importance of checking mature or dead trees prior to felling is demonstrated by the between the sexes, but significant differences occurred between bats from Brightview and Mt. Isa. Incidental observation on echolocation call structure and flight behavior are also presented. The dimensions of the wings of S. flaviventris are similar to Nyctinomus australis , resulting in similar flight patterns for these species, Both species fly straight and rapidly above the canopy, although observations suggest they fly at different times of night, possibly due to differences in prey type.

The responses to a questionnaire by the participants to the Eighth International Bat Research Conference in July 1989 showed that there is a strong consensus among researchers about the conservation problems facing bats, particularly regarding the issues of habitat loss and ignorance and prejudice about bats. There was broad agreement that if bat conservation does not achieve a higher profile, then bat habits will be unknowlingly degraded, such as by forest logging, that species' ranges will contract, and species will go extinct In priority order, the issues identified were: effects of a fragmentation of habitat; effects of logging; surveys of bats at specific locations, or habitats; and effects of mining. For government wildlife agencies, the top priorities were surveys of bats of threatened habitats, insisting on bat studies in environmental impact statements, and education programmes. Priorities in ecological studies were considered to be habit selection and roost selection, followed by studies of movements and diets. Respondents agreed that there was a value of bat research to broader conservation issues: rainforest plant species benefit from seed dispersal by fruit bats; surveys of bats can assist in the identification of high value areas for nature conservation; and a drop in bat species diversity can indicate a degraded habitat What emerged from the results was the clear need for greatly increased attention to specific areas in bat conservation, and that bat conservation should move into the public spotlight.

ABSTRACT Historically, reports of insectivory in family Pteropodidae have largely been anecdotal and thought to be an incidental corollary of flying-foxes feeding on plant products. More recent direct observations of flying-foxes catching and consuming insects, as well as advances in techniques that increase our ability to detect dietary items, suggest that this behaviour may be deliberate and more common than previously thought. Usually, multiple insects are consumed, but it appears that flying-foxes hunt and eat them one at a time. However, we have collected and photographed oral ejecta pellets under trees with high flying-fox activity, some containing evidence of multiple masticated insects. Further genetic analysis proved that these pellets came from Grey-headed Flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus . We propose that flying-foxes use an array of insect feeding strategies, most likely in response to variation in insect abundance and activity, as well as abiotic factors such as light and temperature.

Bruxner Park Flora Reserve and the adjoining Ulidarra National Park, on the NSW north coast, comprise a dual-tenure conservation area of 1090 ha dominated by rainforest and old-growth moist eucalypt forest. A field survey of the area's vertebrate fauna over the period 1996-2005 detected 224 native species and nine introduced species. Incorporating records from secondary sources, the Bruxner-Ulidarra conservation area is known to support 230 native vertebrate species (39 mammals, 124 birds, 36 reptiles, 21 frogs and 10 fishes), including 20 species that are currently listed as threatened under NSW legislation. One hundred and ninety vertebrate species (79% of the total) were recorded during a systematic survey, with the remainder of records from opportunistic survey (18%) or secondary sources (3%). The effectiveness of the systematic survey effort in detecting the full inventory of species known from the study area ranged from 100% for freshwater fishes to only 61% for reptiles. Many reptile species were cryptic and/or at low density, and the resulting low detectability could easily have been mistaken for low reptile species diversity. This study demonstrates that a range of complementary survey methods over an extended period of time is needed to adequately sample the largest proportion of an area's total suite of vertebrate fauna. Suggestions are made concerning how to optimise results from vertebrate fauna inventory surveys.