Six insect-eating bat species have been recorded at the Sydney Opera House and surrounds, highlighting the surprising biodiversity living in the heart of the city.
Over 7 nights in March, researchers detected more than 14,000 ultrasonic bat calls across the Sydney Opera House precinct, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and The Domain. Insect-eating bats use ultrasonic echolocation to hunt, navigate and communicate.
Although these frequencies are usually too high for human hearing, each species has a unique acoustic signature, which was captured by acoustic detectors known as AudioMoths and later analysed to identify the species present.
Researchers were thrilled to see threatened species surviving in one of Sydney’s busiest areas.
One of the survey’s most significant discoveries was the detection of the vulnerable eastern bent-winged bat on a monitoring device installed 67 metres above ground, right at the top of the Sydney Opera House sails.
The survey also found high bat activity along Sydney Harbour’s foreshore, particularly the vulnerable large-footed myotis, a species that forages over waterways.
These tiny bats, including three threatened species, were detected as part of the Bats in Backyards project, which is managed by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program in partnership with NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
It’s good news for locals, who can thank these tiny flying mammals for consuming mosquitoes and other insects. One bat can eat between 600 and 8,000 insects in one night, depending on its species and size. Bat species included:
- Gould’s wattled bat
- Eastern bent winged bat (threatened)
- Little bent-winged bat (threatened)
- Large footed myotis (threatened)
- Ride’s free tailed bat
- White-striped free-tailed bat.
The findings provide insights into how insect-eating bats use this highly urbanised landscape and highlight the important role harbour foreshores, waterways and green spaces play in supporting wildlife and threatened species.
Insect-eating bats play a critical role in our ecosystem by eating and helping to control insects including agricultural pests.
The Bats in Backyards project is collecting valuable data about bat distribution across NSW, thanks to a collaboration between citizen scientists, the NSW Government Saving our Species program, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Sydney University, and Impact Ecology.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Saving our Species Executive Director Ingrid Emery said:
“From the sails of the Sydney Opera House to the ponds and gardens of Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, we’ve gathered valuable new information about how bats use highly urbanised environments, showing that threatened species can live in some of the busiest parts of Sydney.
“It’s not every day we can place an AudioMoth acoustic detector atop a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in the name of threatened species conservation.
“These results highlight the importance of protecting and connecting urban habitats, and importantly, the project has helped connect thousands of visitors with the remarkable wildlife living alongside them every day.”
Sydney Opera House Environmental Sustainability Manager Alexandra Morgan said:
“It’s been wonderful to be part of this project and to support research that deepens our understanding of biodiversity in and around Sydney Harbour.
At the Opera House, sustainability is something we work to embed across everything we do, and I hope this work encourages other treasured public places to see the role they can play in conservation.”
Botanic Gardens of Sydney Director of Horticulture and Living Collections John Siemon said:
“Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and The Domain continue to provide an important refuge for wildlife in the centre of the city. These findings reinforce the value of green spaces for both people and nature.”
