Movements of Fruit-bats in eastern Australia, determined by using radio-tracking

Abstract

Results from a long-term radio-tracking study of pteropodid fruit-bats are reported. Grey-headed fruit bats (Pteropus poliocephalus) captured from seven colonies in eastern New South Wales, Australia, were fitted with collar-mounted radio transmitters to permit their movements to be monitored over the following year. The sheepskin-lined leather collars were well tolerated by the bats over periods of 6-18 months. Bats moved between major colony sites for distances of up to 750 km, with movements occurring in both northerly and southerly directions. One bat from Lismore had a feeding range of 25 km, whereas in Sydney bats flew up to 17 km each night to feeding sites. There was considerable interchange between bats in adjacent colonies.