They're linked to the terrifying unknown of the night sky, but a massive colony of bats in the Northern Territory are frolicking about in broad daylight, splashing in water and flying between trees.
Senior wildlife ranger John Burke estimates 40,000 to 50,000 little red flying foxes are roosting at Nitmiluk National Park after arriving in April.
"The little red flying foxes turned up en masse, it's nothing for them to have a colony of up to 100,000," he told AAP on Thursday.
It's predominantly a "creche colony", of females with young pups that are learning to fend for themselves, so it's difficult to predict how long they will stay.
"The weather will heat up shortly, the bulk of females prefer to find somewhere with a bit more food," Mr Burke said.
While their roosting locations differ year to year, Mr Burke says a "super-colony" of about one million little red flying foxes lived along 2km of riverbank about a decade ago.
The little red flying fox is the smallest of Australia's flying fox population and known for its reddish brown fur.
Unlike other flying foxes and bats, little red flying-foxes often hang off trees in clumps and their combined weight can decimate trees.
"It's nothing to have 30 or 40 in a clump," Mr Burke said
"Trees almost split in half from the weight."
Due to their high numbers the Northern Territory's Parks and Wildlife Commission has developed an educational talk focused on the bats' behaviour and their role in pollinating many native trees.
The talk is carried out at night when the bats fly out.
Director of Australian Bat Clinic Trish Wimberley said the creatures are vital pollinators of eucalyptus and native plants.
"Bats are our giant bees. Bats do the night shift, bees do the day shift," she said.
