Possible Flying Fox Dunedin

[Hypno]

Reddit report with photo

https://www.reddit.com/r/NewZealandWild ... din_not_a/

[SomesBirder]

They were just above 30cms I think. I saw at least three. Two in the image and one above. But there could have been more as it was hard to see.

I'll be reporting to DOC.

Mind-blowing, if this isn't a hoax or a mis-ID.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Miss-ID from the photo seems hard. Hoax possible, but I don't see why it would be, given they have turned up a few times. I imagine they might not survive long, going into winter. Will be interesting to hear updates.

[Michael Szabo]

Location now given on the Reddit thread as 'Chingford Park in April'.

[Hypno]

Post is here now also

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/282847085

[SomesBirder]

It looks like the iNaturalist page for the observation no longer exists. Someone there was insisting that the report is a hoax.

[David Riddell]

A hoax is the most likely explanation. I was in Chingford Park in late March looking for the Dunedin peripatus (found two!) and I couldn't imagine it would be any kind of habitat for fruit bats - far too chilly. Possibly one hopelessly lost vagrant for a short period, but the report claimed there were at least three.

[Johkey3]

Update: The DOC have launched a formal investigation and a group will be heading there soon.

[Neil Fitzgerald]

Thanks for the update!
I don't think three is much less likely than one. They hang out in groups and if a weather pattern brought one, maybe it could bring three. We get small flocks of vagrant birds.
I hope you don't mind me saying, but the description was not bad for someone who doesn't know bats, and that means a lot. If someone wanted to create a hoax, AI would be easy (and probably something we will need do worry more about). The negativity on iNat was unhelpful.

[Johkey3]

The DOC weren't able to find anything with their field search, which they said isn't surprising as finding flying animals is challenging. They could have flown to another park, so they are still investigating.

There was another report yesterday in Dunedin that someone saw a bat with the same description, so they're taking that as a lead.

They don't think it has flown over from Australia but hitched a ride on a vessel, so they're investigating that too.

They told me that they're disappointed with the reporting of the ODT as it is misleading.