Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
The Common Brushtail Possum previously inhabited a variety of forest and woodlands, but today is frequently seen in parks and suburban gardens.
They make nests in hollows, holes in stream banks, rabbit burrows, roofs and sheds. They eat succulent shoots, flowers, fruit, buds, bark of native and cultivated shrubs and trees, occasionally meat, birds' eggs and nestlings.
Insectivorous bats (microbats)
These bats roost in tree hollows, under bark, in caves, stormwater culverts, buildings and roofs. Their diet consists mainly of moths and other flying insects. The common bent-wing bat, which has been listed as a vulnerable species under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, and Gould's wattled bat have both been identified in the City of Randwick. Populations of bats in Randwick City Council have declined since European settlement, as a result of habitat destruction and predators, such as cats and sometimes foxes.
Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
Commonly heard during dusk in the canopy of Port Jackson Fig Trees, (squabbling over figs), these bats roost in the Botanic Gardens of Sydney and make their way around the suburbs of Sydney in search of native fruits, orchard fruit (when their preferred fruit is not available) and nectar and pollen from the blossoms of native trees, especially gum trees. Flying foxes can travel up to 50 km each night from their camp to their feeding areas. These bats are important to forest health, as they pollinate and disperse the seeds of many important tree species. Unfortunately, in a sign of suburbia's impact on our native animals, many flying foxes don't make it back home, as they mistakenly perch on power lines and electrocute themselves.
For a colour brochure with pictures in PDF format, click on the link below.