Bat fun: Family event celebrates ‘eco superheroes’

Bring out your bat wings and join Frankie the flying-fox, our batty mascot, for an afternoon of flapping good fun.

The free, family friendly Ninth Annual Australasian Bat Night will be held at the Maleny Showgrounds, from 1pm on Saturday, October 14, 2023.

You’ll also get to see native animals up close, enjoy a guided roost tour, watch the outdoor movie, listen to local bat experts share their knowledge and lots more.

Sunshine Coast Council Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez encouraged the community to come along to learn about the amazing things Frankie and our other ‘Little Aussie BAT-tlers’ do to keep our environment healthy.

“The free evening will provide an exciting and educational experience offering a chance to learn about our ecosystem superheroes – flying foxes and microbats,” Cr Suarez said.

“Flying foxes are incredibly important to the 600 other species depending on them and play a critical role helping to keep our native forests healthy.

“Bat Night offers a chance for us to learn more about these important winged creatures and ways we can co-exist with them to live in a wildlife friendly biosphere.”

Tickets are available at events.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au by searching ‘bat night’.

Bat Night 2023 Program

Speakers:

1.30 – 2.00 – Bat Rescue – caring for bats

2.15 – 2.45 – Stuart Parsons – research on bats

3.00 – 3.30 – Dr Ludo - threats to bats, stats on bats coming into Wildlife hospital

3.45 – 4.15 – Robin Rowland – microbats

4.30 – 5.00 – Susie Haddock – living in co-existence with flying-fox

5.15 – 5.45 – Clancy – bat ecology.

Quick Bat Quiz with prizes at 6.00pm for kids before movie.

Movie @ 6.30pm – “Over the Hedge”

Guided Roost tours with ecologists and First Nations guides - ½ hr tours with bus transport from showgrounds to library.

1.15pm

2.00pm

2.45pm

3.30pm

Book on a tour on arrival.