The grey-headed flying fox, our night-time forest gardeners, are crucial to the health and survival of our native trees and rainforests - but are vulnerable to extinction.
Conservation Status in NSW: Vulnerable
Commonwealth Status: Vulnerable
A sky full of flying foxes at dusk is a familiar sight across the Port Macquarie Hastings region, as colonies set out on their nightly journey. The grey-headed flying fox can travel up to 50 km in a single night in search of food.
As they move between flowering trees and fruiting forests, pollen sticks to their fur and seeds pass through their digestive system. This makes them powerful pollinators and seed dispersers, helping forests regenerate, stay genetically diverse and support healthy ecosystems. In fact, a single flying fox can disperse tens of thousands of seeds in one night.
Despite their importance, grey-headed flying foxes are under threat, with habitat loss and climate pressures contributing to their listing as a vulnerable species.
Identification
The grey-headed flying fox is one of Australia’s largest bats, with a wingspan of over one metre and a body length of 23–29 cm.
It has a dark grey body, a lighter grey head, and a distinctive red-orange collar around its neck. Its wings are black and leathery, and fur extends down its legs.
Like all flying foxes, it has a clever adaptation that allows it to roost upside down with ease. Special tendons in its feet lock into place, meaning it can hang without using energy – even while sleeping.
Habitat, camps and breeding
Grey-headed flying foxes are found along Australia’s east coast, including right here in the Port Macquarie Hastings region. They live in a range of environments, from rainforests and eucalypt forests to urban areas where food is available.
During the day, they gather in large groups known as roosting camps. These camps are often located close to water, in areas with dense canopy, and within reach of reliable food sources.
These sites are more than just a place to rest. Camps are where flying foxes socialise, breed and raise their young. Each year, females give birth to just one pup, usually in spring. The young are completely dependent on their mother for several months, making safe and stable roosting sites critical for the survival of the species.
At night, they leave the camp to feed, often travelling up to 50 km, although most feeding happens much closer to home.
Diet
Grey-headed flying foxes feed on nectar, pollen and fruit from a wide range of native trees and plants. They are especially drawn to flowering eucalypts, melaleucas and banksias, as well as the fruits of rainforest trees and vines.
As they feed, pollen sticks to their fur and is carried between trees, while seeds pass through their digestive system and are spread across the landscape. This process helps forests regenerate, stay genetically diverse and adapt over time.
Because they follow flowering and fruiting cycles, flying foxes are highly mobile and play a vital role in connecting ecosystems across large distances. They may also visit urban gardens and fruit trees when natural food is scarce.
Under threat
Grey-headed flying foxes are listed as vulnerable to extinction, with populations declining over time.
One of the biggest pressures is the loss of habitat. Clearing of native forests for urban development and agriculture has reduced both feeding areas and safe roosting sites. This means flying foxes are more likely to move into urban areas, where conflict with people can occur.
Climate change is also having an impact. Extreme heat events can cause mass die-offs, particularly in young animals, while changes to flowering patterns can affect food availability.
Flying foxes can also be injured or killed through interactions with human infrastructure, including powerlines, netting and barbed wire.
Together, these pressures make it harder for flying foxes to recover, especially as they only raise one young each year.
What we can do
Supporting grey-headed flying foxes starts with simple actions at home and in the community.
Giving roosting camps space is one of the most important things we can do. Avoid disturbing camps, especially during spring when mothers are caring for their young.
If you see a flying fox on the ground, never touch it — contact a trained wildlife carer at FAWNA for help. Call the 24 hour rescue hotline on 6581 4141.
Planting native trees and flowering species can also make a difference, helping to provide reliable food sources for flying foxes and other wildlife.
For those with backyard fruit trees, using wildlife-safe netting (with a fine mesh) can protect your crop while preventing injury to animals.
Flying foxes are also supported locally through Council programs and initiatives. The Kooloonbung Creek Flying Fox Camp Management Plan guides how camps are managed, balancing community needs with conservation outcomes, while education initiatives like Frankie’s Fan Club help build awareness and understanding of the important role these animals play.
You can explore more through ConnectEd, including virtual tours and local flying fox resources, to learn how these animals contribute to the health of our region’s ecosystems.
By understanding their role and making small changes, we can help ensure these important pollinators continue to support a healthy ecosystem for many years to come.
