‘Fu’ fly fox
Grey-headed Flying-fox
Scientific name: Pteropus poliocephalus
Alternative name/s: Fruit Bat (common name), Sky Puppy (affectionate name)
Conservation status: Vulnerable
“Although they appear in large groups, numbers of Grey-headed flying foxes are declining because of habitat clearing. These bats are important to healthy forest ecosystems because they pollinate and disperse the seeds of many important tree species.”
Our walks to the Yarra Bend colony have lead us to take steps to work with and learn how care for Grey-headed flying foxes. Standing beneath the colony, listening to bat chat, restores our happiness*. And so it was a natural progression. At the close of day, when our shoes are waiting by the front door in readiness for tomorrow’s tread, we delight in catching sight of the distinct silhouettes of the colony gliding high against the evening sky. From the window, you can see them as they head out for their evening feed; “Look up, and you see things flying / Between the day and the night”, two lines we can agree with from D. H. Lawrence’s poem Bat (“Not for me?” Not for you? Fool.).
We recently had the pleasure of meeting BoBo and Notty, Little Dot and one-eyed Chika Dee, four Grey-headed flying fox pups, and their knowledgeable and kind wildlife carers. We learnt how to clean their wings, weigh them and measure their forearm, toilet and feed and wrap them. We saw the two older boys, Bobo and Notty, eat their first bit of apple. They were incredibly soft, not at all like Lawrence’s “disgusting old rags” hanging “disgustingly upside down”. They were the clever, beautiful, nimble, playful opposite.
We felt an immediate connection to them, those future pollinators, and look forward to being able to help out in the future. As hopefully our print, created for the RMIT School of Art Print Exchange 2020 Portfolio, Pollinator outline, conveys.
We have five artists’ proofs of this collage now listed in our online store.
Our second meeting with BoBo and Notty, Little Dot and Chika Dee, moved us further still from Lawrence’s “disgusting bat” camp. We had the chance to feed the youngest pair, Little Dot and Chika Dee, so tiny and dear. One day they’ll be flying high over head with their colony, setting to the business of pollinating.
We drove BoBo and Notty to their foster carers home. Mid transit, we pulled over to the side of the road to feed them, before tucking them up in their soft rolls, and placing them in their plastic yellow basket. Snoozing side by side once more, the two seemed so calm and relaxed we kept lifting the lid to check on them, just in case.
We’re so happy to be a part of their journey to returning to the wild. Though they’ve still some way to go before they are released. They’ve literally yet to fly. But when they can! Here’s hoping.
The wingspan of the flying fox, from wing to tip, can be up to one-metre.
The wings of the Grey-headed flying fox feel soft and flexible, and as we clean them, we are awe-struck and slow in our work, not wanting to hurt them. But the wings are strong, incredibly strong. It feels a little bit like the webbing between your thumb and forefinger, but much, much finer still. You can see the light pass through it, and it reveals the incredible structure. You can see how they are hands. Developed for flight! They are that beautiful mix of softness, flexibility and strength. This is why it is so important that any netting over fruit trees needs to be wildlife safe. If you can poke your own finger through the net, it is not safe for wildlife.
Backyard fruit tree netting is one of the major causes of death to local wildlife, with many animals needing to be euthanised as a result of their entanglement injuries. Please consider alternative ways of protecting boughs of fruit (washing bags zipped or tied over fruit are a safe option), or leave fruit trees uncovered.
(Please note: we have been vaccinated to handle bats. You need to be a qualified, vaccinated carer to handle bats. If you find an injured animal, call Wildlife Victoria (03) 8400 7300, or your local wildlife group.)
* “The Chinese word for bat is ‘fu’, and the word for happiness also is pronounced ‘fu’.” ‘Bats in Chines Art’, Bats Magazine (Volume 6, Issue 4) 12th January, 1988, Bat Conservation International, accessed 26th November, 2020.
Image credit: Gracia Haby & Louise Jennison, Pollinator Outline (detail), 2020
