Following up on Stephens observation, whilst undertaking a survey in Wollongong (second last week of May), we have also found a new Flying-fox colony. The colony we found is located to the west of Squires Way (northern side of Cabbage Tree Creek) Wollongong, approximately 2 kilometres north of the Wollongong CBD. Discussions held with Council indicate that the occurrence of this colony was unknown. The colony currently consisted of around 10 individuals and they were roosting in several Causuarinas. The colony is occupying a Casuarian Woodland that dominates this part of Cabbage Tree Creek. Other colonies in the Wollongong region are know from Dunmore (Shellharbour LGA) and the Escarpment. I doubt these animals are from the Royal Botanic Gardens colony, but could be individuals that were displaced from the site at Kurnell where the Desal Plant is being constructed.

A new Grey-headed Flying-fox colony has become established at Tarban Creek Reserve, Hunters Hill in the last week. I take the family dog for an extra-long walk in the reserve every Saturday and first noticed the colony today. It's hard to tell how many flying-foxes were roosting because it was too wet to get close with normal footware after the heavy rains of the last few days, but there were at least 100, probably more.

Tarban Creek Reserve is near the junction of the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, about 10 km NW of the Sydney CBD. The colony is along a small tributary of Tarban Creek on the right-hand side of the pedestrian bridge as one accesses the reserve on foot from Manning Road, Hunters Hill.

I'm wondering if these are individuals that have moved on from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney after attempts to rid them from the gardens. Does anyone know if numbers in the botanic gardens have dropped recently? This colony is approximately mid-way between the Gordon and RBG colonies, as the Australian Raven flies.