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Ku-ring-gai Flying-fox Reserve Habitat Restoration Project Habitat Restoration Project This long-term project was commenced in 1987 by volunteer bush regenerators with agreement of Ku-ring-gai Council. Since then a volunteer team has continued to work in the Reserve on Tuesdays. New Volunteers are welcome. Bushcare Volunteers register with Ku-ring-gai Council and a trainer visits the team periodically to induct new volunteers. 
Contract bush regenerators have been employed using various grants to advance the project and Ku-ring-gai Council provides an annual contribution for maintenance of previously worked areas. Since 2007 the Council bush regeneration team assists the project 6 days per year.
Aims of the Project restore the habitat for the flying-foxes so that they can continue to use the site. regenerate the native vegetation communities to retain the diversity of local flora and fauna living in and passing through the Reserve. minimize disturbance to the residents living around the valley
The Problem In 1985 an ecological assessment by R Buchanan identified that the roosting habitat of the flying-foxes was threatened by the death of canopy trees and by weeds such as lantana Lantana camara, privets Ligustrum sinense and L. lucidum, morning glory vine Ipomea indica and wandering jew Tradescantia fluminensis preventing the germination and survival of new canopy trees. Without intervention there would not be suitable habitat for the flying-foxes within 15 to 30 years.
Recovery of the vegetation after treatment Following intensive bushland weed management by volunteers and contract bush regenerators supported by grants, one third of the Reserve is now considered recovered and is under a maintenance regime. The regenerating canopy is closing and a multi-layer native understorey has replaced the dense weed infestation. Excellent regeneration of understorey and ground stratum plants has occurred, with planted canopy trees flourishing. Bird life is still vibrant - with variegated fairy wrens, white-browed scrubwrens feeding in the understorey, yellow robins, spinebills and fantails in the mid storey and brown gerygones, brown thornbills and spotted pardalotes through the canopy. Whipbirds and satin bowerbirds are common and brush turkeys have moved in. The flying-fox camp is now in the central part of the Reserve. Although the bushland here was previously dominated by sclerophyll species, the increase in nutrients contributed by the flying-foxes has resulted in weeds, particularly lantana and trad rapidly dominating this camp habitat. They are also contributing seed of native trees such as figs and lillypillies which are contributing to the development of a closed forest which may be more suitable for them in the future. For more information, follow the links below:
Last modified by Nancy Pallin on 2009/05/02.
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