General News
22 July, 2025
Bat population spread wings
Maryborough's grey-headed flying foxes have migrated north possibly to end up in NSW or even Queensland.
Phillips Gardens will be quieter after Maryborough’s grey-headed guests, a colony of protected bats, took flight and migrated north after a few months in the park.
The colony may go as far as NSW or even Queensland, according to Central Goldfields Wildlife Rescue (CGWR) co-founder India Armstrong, as a part of their normal migration.
Arriving in April and growing over the following weeks Ms Armstrong said the small colony became a pop-up attraction in the heart of Maryborough.
“I think we’re so lucky to get them migrating through town ... it’s fantastic to see that little colony there,” she said in April.
Alongside many in the community Ms Armstrong would head down to Phillips Gardens several times a week to observe the bats — from them resting in the trees, to their brief flights during the day, or heading off to feed at night.
“Every single time I went [there were] always groups of people and families there which I didn’t previously see down at the park,” she said.
While established colonies, which roost in the same spot year-round, can become contentious for surrounding residents, Ms Armstrong was pleased with Maryborough’s hospitality.
“I think it was quite endearing actually to see how well the majority of the community handled having the bats here and how many people enjoyed going down and seeing them,” she said.
A Central Goldfields Shire Council spokesperson said over the months the flying foxes roosted in the park the organisation only received one written complaint this year.
“Though we understand that a few may find their presence a temporary annoyance, the responses to our social media advisories appear overwhelmingly tolerant of their visits,” they said.
It’s understood that the colony’s arrival was likely motivated by the search for food in dry conditions.
It’s a localised example of a broader trend identified by multiple organisations, including a 2001 NSW Scientific Committee, which found population decline was primarily due to habitat loss limiting roosting and foraging sites.
“I think the number one thing is for us to learn how to coexist with them because they are so beneficial to the ecosystem,” Ms Armstrong said in April.
While the small colony has moved on she encourages the community to continue taking steps to accommodate any flying-foxes that may remain in the area.
“It would be great to see more people in the community making wildlife safe [choices],” she said.
Ms Armstrong encourages locals to choose wildlife friendly netting for their fruit trees and to even leave a branch out for any foraging bats.
“At the moment they are quite hungry so our recommendation if possible is to allow some [fruit tree] branches to be free from netting. Sacrifice some fruit,” she said in April.
“It’s going to benefit them and it isn’t going to change their patterns or encourage the flying foxes to stay in your yard or in the region.”
Through helping one species, a keystone pollinator at that, the whole ecosystem can benefit. It’s a sentiment Ms Armstrong encourages the community to adopt for all local wildlife.
While it’s difficult to predict if the colony will return a Central Goldfields Shire Council spokesperson said they’ll be ready.
“Council installed temporary signage supplied by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) at Phillips Gardens for education purposes earlier this year,” they said.
“If they return to council land in the shire, signs will again be installed to explain their protected status.”