They are among our city's least known but most unique residents. A colony of grey-headed flying foxes clinging to existence in the geographical centre of Sydney. Parramatta Park is one of the few locations in the metropolitan area the creature calls home. The species is classified as "threatened" and its numbers have dropped significantly over the past 20 years. The park has about 4000 flying foxes that are at risk of being driven out due to human disturbance. A team of conservationists have started work on key locations within the park in order to rehabilitate and protect the flying fox's habitat and the park's vegetation

The six-month project, run by Greening Australia's Green Corps and the Parramatta Park Trust, is an Australian Government youth development and environmental training program involving a group of people aged 17-20.The Green Corps team will be involved in weed removal, erosion control, fencing off degraded areas and tree planting to restore biodiversity. Team leader Ayesha Tulloch said three main sites inside the park - including Flat Rocks and the Crescent - would be focused on.The Crescent, near Old Government House, contains substantial remnants of endangered Cumberland Plain vegetation, which the group will attempt to restore. Fencing off the flying fox community, at the edge of the park and near the Cumberland hospital site, had to be done with care - so the animals weren't disturbed. "The risk is human disturbance which mainly comes from noise - car noises, lawnmowers - and now is an important breeding time for them," Ms Tulloch said.The Royal Botanic Gardens and parks in Gordon and Cabramatta also house the grey-headed flying fox. At night, Parramatta's colony can travel to these locations for food.Although Parramatta Park's colony is thought to be the largest in an urban area, more studies are needed to find out their exact role among other groups."We know Parramatta's colony provides new individuals for other colonies - if one of the others experience loss, then this colony provides new members for them," Ms Tulloch said."It's like a giant bachelor pad, really, with these guys just waiting to get out there."Ms Tulloch said community nature tours of the project sites would start soon and be held regularly.