Taking flight

Each night a nocturnal pilgrimage occurs on the banks of the Yarra River only 6kms from Melbourne’s CBD. The colony of Grey Headed Flying Foxes that roost in the trees, begin to stir around sunset and set off in unison in enormous numbers. The Bellbird Picnic Area, is set on a grassy hill beside the Yarra and provides the perfect place to watch this nightly phenomenon. This is surely Melbourne’s most amazing wildlife experience, and yet very few people know about it. It is the kind of unique experience that you would take overseas visitors to.

Bell bird Park – Off Yarra Blvd, Kew – Sunset every night (numbers of bats are higher in summer months)

https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Bell+Bird+Park/@-37.7974772,145.0168686,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x82ba1051b8c55450

Photograph taken on the banks of the Yarra, Melbourne © Artwork Kathy Holowko

What’s in a name?

When I found out that Melbourne might have been called Batmania, I couldn’t resist the name for the installation. Come on, it couldn’t get any cooler! It is interesting to wonder about the cultural impact this name would have had on our relationship with the local bat population. I imagine they may have become the emblematic symbol of this city rather than the largely ignored wild neighbours that they currently are. I named this work Batmania before I knew much about the history of one of Melbourne ‘founders’ John Batman. It turns out that he was a bit of a rogue trader that attempted to settle Port Phillip with questionable land treaties… alas it is our history and still a great name.

http://www.nma.gov.au/interactives/batmania/shell.html

The Bat Count

The Melbourne Mega Bat Count is a chance to help monitor the size and health of the local bat population as a citizen scientist. Volunteers meet beside the Yarra to watch thousands of bats fly overhead in very special allocated locations. It happens once a month is run by the Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology and the wonderful Urban Ecologist Rodney Van Der Ree. See the link below for details. Anyone can attend – yes that means you!