Support
What we support
Specific areas of interest for NightWings Foundation include:
On-ground works such as:
- tree planting projects
- hazard mitigation initiatives
Protection of flying-fox campsites
Protection of vegetation containing important food sources
Conservation of old growth forests
Lobbying against development proposals that will impact roost sites or natural food sources
Advocacy to local and State Government
Education and public awareness campaigns
Who we support
Distribution from NightWings Endowment takes place every financial year to Australian organisations that are endorsed as Deductible Gift Recipients, or registered income tax-exempt charitable entities.
Funds are currently allocated to two categories: General Donations and Grant Sponsorship.
1. GENERAL DONATIONS
Discretionary amounts are awarded to selected eligible beneficiaries. Around January of each year, the Trustees nominate organisations whose activities align with the goals of NightWings Foundation and demonstrate a clear benefit to both bats and the community. Annual distribution of General Donations to recipients takes place before the end of June.
These deserving organisations are examples of previously selected General Donation recipients:
Daintree Life aims to replace weed-filled areas with native rainforest trees in the Daintree region (home to the endangered Spectacled Flying-fox).
Bat Conservation & Rescue Qld is a volunteer organisation providing a 24/7 rescue service, bat rehabilitation, community education and advice.
2. GRANT SPONSORSHIP
ABS Research Grant
An annual grant of $5,000 is sponsored by NightWings Foundation for Australasian Bat Society (ABS) members to undertake applied research projects that inform the conservation of bat roosting and/or feeding habitat, or projects that improve the public perception of bats.
The next funding round will be available in 2027. Further information and the application process can be found on the Australasian Bat Society website.
Why we support
There are currently more than 2,000 nationally threatened species and ecological communities listed under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
The list includes the Southern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus oriaenae bassanii) and Christmas Island Flying-fox (Pteropus natalis), both Critically Endangered.
The Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) is listed as Endangered.
Unfortunately, legislation has proven ineffective at protecting essential ecological processes and biodiversity. Deforestation in Australia ranks amongst the fastest in the developed world. Recent research undertaken by RSPCA Queensland and Greenpeace Australia Pacific revealed that an average of 100 million native animals are killed, injured or displaced each year from land clearing in Queensland and New South Wales. According to the Deforestation Report, the vast majority of clearing was for agricultural purposes (particularly beef production).
As their natural habitat declines, flying-foxes are drawn to roost and forage within or close to urban areas which leaves their colonies increasingly exposed and fragmented. Encounters with man-made hazards such as barbed wire, fruit tree netting, powerlines, and the potential for community conflict, increases accordingly. Persecution and displacement from urban areas, deforestation and extreme heat events are significant survival threats to bats.
Bats are often feared or widely reviled both politically and socially. The desire to assist these misunderstood and much-maligned animals provided the motivation to establish NightWings Foundation.
Bats are protected native wildlife in Australia. It is an offence to kill or injure them, or to interfere with their roosts.
If you find a bat in distress and need advice or assistance