Owners of a Glenbernie Orchard at Darkes Forest, Jo and Glenn Fahey, have been troubled by rising losses due to birds and bats. While some have told them this is due to urbanization and a loss of habitat for the animals, they believe it is caused by rising temperatures which are leaving them desperate for food. “In warmer temperatures it is harder to set fruit and the bush trees are not flowering like they used to, so there is less food for bats, birds and bees.” “We’ve never seen the bats in the numbers we have this year, we estimated we are getting about 2000 bats a night,” Jo said. The team grow apples, peaches, nectarines, apricots and raspberries on their 65ha orchard and have claimed that areas without net protection have seen 60-100% losses. “On this farm we have never had bats and birds come under the net, but they are now travelling under the net or through tiny holes because they are desperate for food,” Jo said. Source - weeklytimesnow.com.au