Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has completed its quarterly flying fox camp count in the north east section of the Kooloonbung Creek Nature Reserve.
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The count is part of the CSIRO national census and uses the area density method to collate the data.
Council's ecologist and natural resource management officers conducted the quarterly count.
The August flying fox colony camp count covered a total area of 1.3 hectares. There were 4011 Grey-headed Flying Fox in that camp along with 657 Black Flying Fox.
This is higher than the June quarterly count - and taken over 1.8 hectares - which showed 1867 and 184 respectively.
A council spokesperson says the data is integral to understanding required management practices and its effectiveness.
"The camp is also monitored on an almost daily basis to monitor and understand any changes in the camp," the spokesperson said.
"Monitoring is the process of collecting data on the abundance of a species and its distribution.
"It is a critical activity in biodiversity conservation because it provides insight into the status of a species and over time provides an indication into population trends and other ecological factors.
"This information is necessary to assess the kind of management required and to measure the effectiveness of management.
This information is necessary to assess the kind of management required and to measure the effectiveness of management.
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
"Monitoring of flying-foxes is even more important because two species, the grey-headed flying-fox and the spectacled flying-fox, are listed as threatened under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and relevant state legislation.
The results of the program will also help inform responses to public concerns about the impact of flying foxes on industry, agriculture and public health, including any potential Hendra outbreaks, the spokesperson said.
The National Hendra Virus Research Program has allocated $9 million to a number of Hendra virus, human health and Flying-fox related research projects which will continue until 2015.
The National Health and Medical Research Council has also allocated $3 million to research projects to better understand and fight Hendra virus.
FAWNA's Meredith Ryan took part in the flying fox camp count in the Pappinbarra Valley.
She said anyone seeing a flying fox either injured or in danger should contact FAWNA's 24-hour hotline 6581-4141.
"We also welcome any reports of flying fox caught in electrical wires too," she said.
"A reminder though, do not attempt to extricate a flying fox caught in any netting or in barbed wire.
"Please contact us via our hotline."
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