The Bats of Batemans Bay

 

We were first alerted to the flying foxes on our first evening at Batemans Bay when the boys were out playing on a rope swing as we were cooking tea.  They called out that they could see a bat and then quickly realised there were literally thousands flying across the sky heading inland.

The following day the kids and I were exploring the town and went to check out the museum and neighbouring water garden.  As we were coming up to the garden we could smell a distinct smell and Paige said it smelled like a zoo.  As we neared we could here the chattering of all of the flying foxes and realised they were hanging in the trees and the more we looked the more we saw, till we estimated there must be around 10000!

We found a pamphlet near by which explained they were a native flying fox to Australia and how to live with them in urban areas.

We went home and didn't tell Dan but took him back to the garden later that day and the kids were really excited to wait until he realised what was going around him.

The following evening we organised ourselves to go up about 5.30pm close to take off time.  We could hear the chatter and then all of a sudden realised many more were flying around, without a noticeable change in the volume of their noise.  They continued to take off and fly in circles around the roosting trees for over 15 minutes before starting to take off over the skyline.

At one stage Rylee thought we saw a moth or little bird flying around but then realised it was a baby bat.  It was flitting around so much quicker than the adults and even though we couldn't get a good look at it in the fading light it still seemed very cute like all baby animals.

To top it all off last night while watching a movie, we heard a loud twanging noise like metal wire being plucked.  We went outside to find a bat trying to land in the rigging!  Dan kindly persuaded it not to by shaking the rigging so it couldn't land and it flew off.

 



 

 

The Bats of Batemans Bay

We sit and wait for the bats to take flight

When they do it is a wonderful sight

A hundred or more arise from the trees

Swooping, circling and flying with ease

Amongst them flies an iddy biddy one

Patiently waiting for Mother to come

Until finally it is time to leave

What amazing things nature can achieve

Paige

 

Flying high in the sky

Aren’t they afraid they’ll fall and die

They’re sly as a cat

They’re smelly as a rat

Eating fruit to get fat

Wings wrapped as if a shroud

Softly, softly, don’t be loud

If you’re not quiet

They’ll cause a riot

Oliver

 

Batemans Bays Bats

Hanging hanging from the tree

I wonder how on earth they pee

Dribble dribble towards their face

In their mouth what a disgrace

Flapping flapping then they fly

I wonder where they go to die

Rylee