If you are into bats, wildlife in general or just enjoy a reasonably challenging trek and you are in the Rockhampton area then check out Mt Etna. Bat Cleft is the entrance to a cave system which is home to literally 10's of 1000's of bats including a couple of rare species. You can also see various snakes and even green tree frogs that come out to catch the bats as they emerge from the caves.
http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mo...out.html#tours

Wow! been fascinated by bats since I was about 3 - we had two called Bill and Ben, who lived in our ancient greenhouse. Fabulous creatures - we get huge ones here which fly across the garden at night, real spooky stuff

We went to Mt Etna about 2 years ago, it was quite a trek for the kids but well worth it. They put you in a harness and literally hang you out across the cave entrance and the bats fly out seemingly oblivious of the humans. It is also fascinating watching the snakes catching the bats in mid air.
We were also on the feeding flight path of the fruit bats were we used to live, a shame they didnt eat termites

If I ever get up to Rockhampton thats definitely on my agenda now!

My other bat encounter is here
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...44&postcount=2

that looks wonderful, wish I could teleport to Australia to see them as I love bats, spent many a happy evening watching the bats skimming over lake windermere - gosh that thought makes me homesick!!!

Also, if anyone ever is in Kent for some time, Bodiam castle is worth a visit for the tiniest bats I have ever seen living in the tower room

Becks

love bats.... One of my misconceptions about Australia.... Never having been here before I immigrated... Was having to put the car away every night because it would be covedd in bat shit every morning.....

Expected to see massive great fruit bats hanging from every tree...

But then again we went looking for koalas in Kings Park.... And thought we couldnt see the the Roos because it was spring, and the grass was at least 30 cm long and they would be hiding in it.....

Where we were in Queensland, there was a large colony of fruit bats which lived in the trees by the IGA. Quite spectacular to see them all take off at dusk!

We used to have huge numbers fly over every night, many would pause at the mango tree which was OK as we didnt eat them. They did all a lot of damage to the paintwork on one of cars though. I love bats we used to sit outside watching the fruit batsxgo over but also watch the little insectivorous bats flitting around catching moths.

See, I was sold on that until you mentioned the snakes

Love bats. There is a colony of bats that live in the porch roof of my parent's house. Absolutely love them. One of my favourite sites in Sydney was watching the fruit bats in the Botanical Gardens. Took so many pics

The snakes have no interest in us with all that food on the wing, on the walk back down I spotted a tiny green tree snake on a branch on the side of the path. It is amazing what so many people miss when out walking.

What are peoples views on the culling of fruit bats or driving them away from their roosting areas ? The way I see it is that these animals were often there long before we arrived but as usual we turn up and feel the need to remove all these pesky animals. I once read a newspaper story about 'problem' crocodiles in the Darwin area and they were talking to one resident and they said these creatures shouldnt be where people are living. The arrogance is incredible, crocodiles have only been there literally millions of years.

I hope that's what you meant

Edited, yes sorry

I agree in principal with you. The arrogance of man never ceases to amaze me.

However, man being the most selfish of creatures, we will continue to encroach into the wild's domain. While I don't agree with culling wild animals (in the main), it is hard to re-locate many creatures as they will endeavour to return to their natural home.

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer. Education is the way forward, but again, the arrogance, greed and selfishness of man will, inevitably win out, so the 1000s of hectares of rain-forest will continue to be destroyed and animals displaced and culled.

Its very sad, I love Australia as a country but HATE the way many things are done. Years ago a good friend contacted the relevant authorities when he heard a road was going through a particular area in Victoria, the process involved dynamiting a section of rocky outcrops that were home to large colonies of various reptiles. His idea was to get a group of like minded people together and collect as many animals as possible and relocate them to a suitable area, not the ideal solution but preferable to the alternative. Unfortunately there was no means of issuing catch permits, the laws just didnt allow it so all the animals were killed. Im not blind to the need for progress but it is the callous disregard for the original inhabitants.