Meet the bats of Bennelong PointA Bats in Backyard project

In the evenings across Sydney, small, insect-eating bats take to the skies above our homes, streets and parks. These long-distance flyers use echolocation to navigate and chase prey, providing natural pest control and contributing to a healthy ecosystem.

But many insect-eating bats are threatened across NSW from habitat loss, urbanisation and changes in the way landscapes are used. The Bats in Backyards project, co-delivered by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development helps to address knowledge gaps about the location of insect-eating bats, how they use different environments and what conservation measures can best support them. 

The Sydney Opera House site at Bennelong Point is part of this broader effort. 

Bats are vital to urban ecosystems. These nocturnal mammals consume astonishing numbers of insects each night and can act as natural pest controllers, reducing mosquitos and other insect populations.

Bats are sensitive to environmental changes, so their behaviour tells us a great deal about our urban landscapes. Understanding how bats live in cities is necessary for their conservation and for designing places where people and wildlife can coexist.

Beyond the postcard views, Bennelong Point also supports a diverse range of wildlife. Sitting beside the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the Sydney Opera House precinct creates a blend of green spaces and waterfront that could provide opportunities for bats to forage and move around - something this project aims to explore.

Urban areas are often overlooked as wildlife habitats. By studying bat activity in these areas, scientists can better understand how threatened bat species use busy city environments. 

The Saving our Species program has come together with the Sydney Opera House to transform one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks into a hub for conservation, learning and community participation. The Botanic Gardens of Sydney are also participating in the project.

At the Sydney Opera House, we are committed to amplifying the role of arts and culture and the creative industries in addressing the UN Global Goals, leveraging our position and brand to lead, inspire and unite government, business and communities. This includes collaborating on projects like this, which is aligned to Goal 15: Life on Land, focusing on protecting, restoring and sustainably using ecosystems and reversing biodiversity loss. 

Six bat call detectors, known as AudioMoths, have been installed across the Sydney Opera House precinct. Including one detector which is positioned high on the sails, gathering bat calls and collecting valuable data. 

Bat specialists from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development analyse these recordings to identify species and patterns of activity. Over time, this information fills important knowledge gaps about how bats are using urban environments. 

While Bennelong Point is a monitoring location, Bats in Backyards invites participation from the wider community across NSW. You can get involved by:

• learning about your local bat species,
• participating in bat surveys,
• creating bat-friendly spaces by planting native vegetation and reducing light pollution.

We all play a role in protecting wildlife that share our cities. Visit the Bats in Backyards page for details on how to participate during the monitoring season. 

You can learn more about how the Sydney Opera House is leading positive change and the commitment we have made to the UN Global Goals here.

The Bats in Backyards collaboration is a standout example of the impact championed by the Sydney Opera House’s Sustainable Environmental Action Leaders – affectionately known as the SEALs.

Established in 2015 with the support of executive leadership and the CEO, SEALs are our staff sustainability champions who help implement the Sydney Opera House’s environmental goals. They inspire colleagues to embed sustainable practices in everyday work and lead engagement initiatives that strengthen our culture of sustainability.

What began with the dedication of a single SEAL champion has grown into a beautiful collaboration involving Saving our Species, SEALs and multiple staff from across the organisation.

The Sydney Opera House is proud to empower staff to take action. Bats in Backyards celebrates the creativity, commitment and sustainable leadership of our people – and demonstrates what’s possible when shared passion turns into collective action.

Thank you to Sydney Opera House’s Global Goals Partner Honeywell for its support in this project.