Hobbies And Interests
Nectar and Pollen
The gray-headed flying fox̵7;s preferred food is nectar and pollen from a variety of species of tree within its habitat, with the pollen being a major source of protein. These trees include the paperbark, the banksias and especially the eucalypt, as well as other gum trees. As the flying foxes feast on the contents of the trees using their strong teeth, they also accumulate pollen when it sticks to the bat̵7;s fur. The flying foxes then carry the pollen from one area to another when they take flight, helping to fertilize the flowers of eucalyptus trees that require pollen from other tree species to thrive.
Fruits
The gray-headed flying fox also consumes various fruits. These include lilly pilly berries and figs found in rainforest environments. Cultivated fruits take second preference to nectar, pollen and fruit from native trees and are likely to be eaten only when the bat can̵7;t get to its favored foods, according to the Parks Victoria website. Gray-headed flying foxes are only interested in the juice of the fruits, but often eat the tiny seeds inside the fruit, too. The bats then pass these seeds through their digestive systems and drop them far from their parent plants. According to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust website, one gray-headed flying fox can relocate 60,000 seeds in a night.
Leaves
Gray-headed flying foxes occasionally eat the leaves on native trees. Trees these bats feast on include grevilleas, tea-trees and eucalypts, as well as figs and mangrove plants. The bat uses its strong teeth to help them slice into the leaf.
Eating Habits
Since gray-headed flying foxes are nocturnal animals, they travel during dusk in search of food. In general they stick to an area of around 10 miles around their camp, but this distance can expand to roughly 31 miles if necessary, according to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service website. Flying foxes utilize their sight and smell to search for food in the dark and return to their camps at dawn.