Entries about fruit bats

Suspended 25m above the forest floor, in the middle of Finch Hatton Gorge is a Flying Fox - a high wire!

My job was to settle people into heir harness, and hook them on to the wire at the top

They then descended the two wires, the first 230m long, to a platform and on along another 110m to the finish, where Ning or I would un-hook them

To get an idea of this unique experience, have a look at my video here

The office was a few meters walk from the house, and a pretty special place to work from

all built by Dave

complete with resident skink

As people arrived, we would give them the gear the needed, harness, gloves a pully and a break and Dave would demonstrate and give them chance to have a go before walking up (75 steps plus) to the top of the wire

Dave would set off first, ready to meet them at the platofm

and send them on to the end platform by the counter weight

Every morning Ning and I would walk the entrance

and then go down the wire,

scaring the bats to move on to other trees - and the best way to scare big fruit bats - snap branches!!

It was nice to get down to a welcome party of Lucky and Tyke!

Some mornings there was a beautiful mist over the hills at the top of the wire

The difference with this flying Fox (high wire) to many others is that you are given a break, so you can go at your own pace, stop and have a good look around, not only at the scenery in the tree top, but at the bats, which can settle pretty close to the wire

Flying-foxes (also known as Fruit Bats) are the largest bats in the world, and they’re quite different from the microbats.

They use night visions instead of echolocation to navigate, they feed on fruit and blossoms rather than insects, and they roost in large groups called camps, hanging in tree branches rather than in caves or tree hollows.

They have excellent vision.

There are about 60 species of Flying-foxes world-wide, found primarily in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

Australia has four species of flying-fox, all of which are protected species.

Flying foxes travel up to 50km to find food.

Though it seemed we weren't the only ones to enjoy the fresh oranges off the tree...

Most camps are found at low elevations, on flat land or moderate slopes and near waterways

There are only 3 species of vampire bats and they only occur in Central and South America.

Despite myths, bats are clean animals that groom themselves regularly.

Although some bats do naturally carry diseases, the vast majority of bats are not likely to harbour a disease.