tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post7295658056193067794..comments2024-02-10T18:50:01.193+10:00Comments on Gully Grove: Our bush orchardChris http://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-66983916678390015102011-07-07T15:48:27.202+10:002011-07-07T15:48:27.202+10:00I'll defintely take photoes if I can. They'...I'll defintely take photoes if I can. They're quite a large bat, about the size of a cat. But they're so gentle and placcid in nature. I guesstimate that a minimum of 12 months to two years however, before plants are large enough to fruit and attract them.<br /><br />I'm really looking forward to the warmer weather. I've put in quite a few more plants that I want to see grow. :)<br /><br />Some natives can grow quite fast.Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-13435864800408449502011-07-05T21:04:28.932+10:002011-07-05T21:04:28.932+10:00Interesting. We don't have that type of bat ar...Interesting. We don't have that type of bat around here as far as I know. Just the carnivorous ones. Infact other than mice and bugs, nothing really bothers our fruits and veg. Bats are a good antidote to that. <br /><br />I know you'll keep us updated on the progress of your orchard. Do tell if you see a bat!LindaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624659670781181099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-45218254284934096572011-07-05T11:24:43.377+10:002011-07-05T11:24:43.377+10:00Hi Linda, it's great to hear you're going ...Hi Linda, it's great to hear you're going to be encouraging the native wildlife to your patch of land too. <br /><br />The Flying Foxes I'm refering to (bats) are exclusive fruit and nectar eaters. In the countryside where farmers grow commercial crops, they often wage war with these bats to save their livlihood. <br /><br />Even backyard growers have to go to great lengths to protect their bananas and paw paws from being munch on by these (I think) wonderful creatures.<br /><br />If the side of your house or top of your car happens to be on one of their regular flight paths too, you'll get regular (and quite large) splattings of black bat poo. They're just a bit of a nuisance (like possums getting in your roof). Most people would rather they stayed away, than cause a nuisance.<br /><br />I know fruit farmers pretty much loathe them though. <br /><br />We do have smaller carnivorous bats (I've seen them at dusk) and they tend to nest in old trees with little holes, so we're keeping a lot of old trees around for them too. :)Chris https://www.blogger.com/profile/13715819899708384147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284944855633609232.post-5623184524235687142011-07-04T22:36:07.272+10:002011-07-04T22:36:07.272+10:00Thats a lot of information Chris. Thanks for shari...Thats a lot of information Chris. Thanks for sharing it. About the bats, I don't know if you have flies like we do (or other nasties) but bats are excellent for that. Also bat guano happens to be a very precious commodity (price wise). For us, we can just build bat houses which we hope to do soon. Our non food trees are mostly natives to our area and the bats just need encouragement. Are your bats not thought to be helpful?LindaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03624659670781181099noreply@blogger.com