Hard releasing a flying-fox back into the colony: this is Gertie

Gertie is an adult female Grey-Headed Flying-Fox who was rescued 4 days ago when she was found crawling along the ground and attempting to climb a tree but falling before she got very far up.
This is typical behaviour of a flying-fox who has hit its head and is a little concussed and dizzy.
The lovely MOP watched her and guarded her until I arrived (quickly, because it was only 2 kms from home).
Gertie has done very well in care and is ready for a hard release back into the colony. Hard releases are unsupported releases, within a week of coming into care, while the bat is still in good condition and flight fit. A soft release is through a flight release aviary where they have time to build up their fitness after a longer stint in rehab. It is a supported release with food hung on the outside of the cage after the release so if they aren't fit enough to find enough food in the wild they can come back to the release cage and top up on the fruit left there for them.
Gertie flew beautifully and didn't hesitate. Since she was still lactating, I hope her baby was old enough to survive the 4 days without her, and that she can find her baby and take over baby's care as it grows up and becomes independent.
Watch out for cars and busy roads in future, and try not to come back. We'll be here if you need help, but would really prefer you don't have need of our help.
I added some extra M&M footage of our car chats after the disclaimer screen. Enjoy, and make of it what you will. I haven't seen Maggie for weeks and we had a lot of catching up.

[@KrisThroughGlass]

I'm happy that Gertie is fine and back where she belongs ❤️

[@thechariotcard]

I liked hearing about the grandsons. Thank you…

[@Megabattie]

What I do like about Maggie is that she doesn't twitter on about her grandkids all the time. She loves them and sees them but she doesn't talk about them all the time. I don't mind hearing about them because I know I won't be spammed with photos and the minutiae of the kids' lives. She's a very sensible grandmother.

[@mariekeithley3252]

What a beautiful day 💞

[@chezmoi42]

Oh, yay, Gertie's home again! Thanks for letting us share the conversation with Maggie - we love her as much as Vicki, and now I'll bet everyone wants the recipe for her cake.

[@tracyjacoby2382]

Re-watching the release of gorgeous Gertie!(love her name)🩶🦇🤗💕💕 Thank you Meg, Maggie and the wonderful Carers!🥰

[@cherylo1796]

Always love a happy ending

[@piratekit3941]

I love that Gertie went from "who are you, why are you touching me, where's my sofa?!" to "time for bingo, eh? Off I go." What a lovely old bat.

[@JadeStrawberry]

Gertie had the poifect takeoff. The park did seem packed for everyone supposedly at the beach, but the guy flying the drone was nice about it. You and Maggie talking in the car is more interesting than most shows on tv anymore.

[@kathyflorcruz552]

I don't know how ANYONE can stand overblown, dramatized fake T.V. shows anymore when you see real LIFE rescues & people like Meg & others every day from all over the world. Plus - those shows all have big sponsors - and these real life rescuers NEED all the help they can get from their viewers & private doners they can get. 💗

[@tracyjacoby2382]

Maggie is such a beautiful Human as she speak about her Doggy, hope all is well with her Canine baby!!🐾🤗💕

[@concreteinkspots]

Woohoo! Welcome back Maggie, nice to see and hear you again. Gertie looked beautiful flying off, hope her baby was good and waiting for her. 🤣 Meg you do crack me up...the thing I like about you...you don't talk about your grandkids! The two of you and your conversations 🤣💜

[@lindam2090]

I am crying for Gertie... Please be careful we love you

[@gingerjolley9027]

Absolutely glorious release! How lovely to see her return to her batty life.

[@madelineciresi4219]

Fly free beautiful Gertie 😍 ✨ ♥

[@narellemacpherson6451]

Just fabulous to see the Batties 🦇 released back into the wild after being rescued

[@LittleSister60]

That was a great release. Well done everyone involved in her rescue and care.

[@JF-kv1gm]

Yay, hooray for gorgeous Gertie!!!!

[@untermench3502]

Yay!

[@eileenlester4342]

YAY! 💜🦇💜🦇💜🦇💜

[@danterry6328]

Love to watch them fly.

[@Megabattie]

It's such a buzz to watch them fly off. The entire video was all about that yet it only took about 5 seconds. I just added the M&M chat afterwards so those of you who enjoy our chat could be entertained.

[@judithburke1539]

You two are hysterical 🤣😆🤣🤣😆. Congratulations on the perfect release!

[@Megabattie]

We are who we are. This is typical of our conversations.

[@georgia19801]

Good girl Gertie, go and live your best life.

[@MamaStyles]

I missed your banter. Glad you got to catch up and we were included.

[@sitandfish]

Maggie, "I make all these plans and nothing happens". You are singing my song! 😊 🎤

[@christineaygin6701]

YES,!!! Wonderful , have a great life Gertie xx

[@Lisa-eu9fy]

Wonderful! Good luck sweetheart!💜🦇💜🦇

[@FirefuryAmahira]

Nice!! Glad the drone operator was cooperative; he sounded a bit intrigued too. 😊 And such a gorgeous take-off! Fingers crossed she finds her baby, pity we'll never know one way or the other. So I'm just going to assume that they reunited out there. ❤

[@Megabattie]

He was finishing up anyway. I'm surprised he didn't stay to watch. He kind of did from a distance.

[@waitwhat564]

Fly free beautiful Gertie❤🦇

[@wendyzuckerman553]

High fives for Gertie! I approve of Maggie cakes, but I can't in good conscience approve of Maggie T-bones. Good to hear that things still sound promising for Mrs. Winkie.

[@gundamgirl-el5od]

That sweet baby

[@LostHorizon52]

What a beautiful release !! Have a beautiful life, sweet Gertie 💞💞💞💞

[@nneeerrrd]

I love hard releases too! She flew beautifully indeed! Your chitchatting with Maggie is always nice to listen to :)

[@arinavandam9028]

Ohh wow stunning release!! Ohhh the sun wish the sun was shining here!!! Love and kisses from me from the Netherlands

[@maggieslifeisawildride512]

Yay Gertie! And you two are the biggest characters ever...Lol!

[@evelynbonner3908]

This just made my day! Way to fly, Gertie! Hope you meet up with your babies and your batty mates and live the life you were meant to live. Love listening to you two! I was a bit grumpy today as married women sometimes are, you know, but here at midnight with a batty release, a glass of wine, and Meg and Maggie, well, everything is so much better!

[@Megabattie]

Maggie and I aim to please. This is just a sample of our convo, not staged for the video. Grumpiness is allowed. I don't think I'd be a success at marriage because I prefer nobody to be around me once I have finished my day's activities. I'd probably be in prison for manslaughter (or justifiable murder) if I got married.

[@geekygirl8681]

Yay for Miss Gertie! 😁🦇

[@leciareeve8089]

God Bless You All ❤🦇❤🦇❤

[@wonderwend1]

Oh I love a bit of mad Maggie and Meg chat 🤣

[@tracyjacoby2382]

YAY Gertie!!!🦇🤗💕💕I am crying tears of happiness!!😅 THANKS Meg & Maggie, the dynamic Bat Rescue/Carer duo ladies!!😍🤩🥰

[@shannonpickin4674]

Bye Gertie! Have a great batty life! :)

[@Megabattie]

Hi Shannon Are you relatively new to my channel? Welcome to Megabattie. I put information in the descriptions under the videos - so if you have questions, look for the answers there first. I also put updates there later if I find out what happened to the animal after it has left my care. There is a community tab (like a mini Facebook page) on my channel - if you go to Megabattie home page, there is a menu bar across the top under the cover pic. Home, Videos, Playlists, Community, About. If you click on the community tab there are posts there where I can share pix and talk about some of the videos I put up and answer questions.

[@shannonpickin4674]

@@Megabattie Yes, I'm fairly new to your channel. I'm loving all your videos. I live in Michigan, so we don't have flying-foxes here, but never realized how cute they were till I started watching your vids. I have also learned quite a bit from watching them, as well. :)

[@debsmith7120]

Two of my very very favorite things in a single video: (1) successful hard release (with slow motion!!!!), and (2) a long-awaited installment of the loved (and missed!) M&M show!!! Thank you, and we are so happy that Gertie did well!! Hoping for many more similar successes and moments of joy for all involved in the rescues and rehab activities in 2022!!

[@Megabattie]

We aim to please... Well, I aim to please and Maggie comes along for the ride...

[@marionbowler5440]

Absolutely beautiful 🇨🇦🦇🍁🐘🤗

[@jps4riv]

She flew beautifully! Happy life sweet Gertie.

[@1leadvocal]

Releases always make me (happy) cry

[@adrijanacah1280]

This was so beautiful to watch!🥰😍 Thank you dear ladies and wish you both a great and happy new year!🍀🌹🍀🌹🍀

[@debbiemcclure2874]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay for sweet lil Gertie!!!!!!!!!! She looked like a sweet heart☺️. Tyfs God bless you

[@Imokanurnot]

My favorite batty videos, a beautiful release, indeed. I just love the banter between you and Maggie, the little smatterings of sarcasm are absolutely lovely! The description of that cake made my mouth just water - I wonder how large a bribe, or maybe how much torture it might take to get her to share the recipe. 🤔

[@Megabattie]

I'm sure you can find the recipe online somewhere. Maggie probably did.

[@lisalaribeel8132]

What's the name of this cake, so we can look online?

[@norapaquette1057]

So wonderful to see a release, my first.So uplifting.Thankyou ladies.💜🐾

[@Megabattie]

There is a playlist on my channel - Hard Releases. Lots of happy releases there. Are you new to my channel? Welcome to Megabattie. I put information in the descriptions under the videos - so if you have questions, look for the answers there first. I also put updates there later if I find out what happened to the animal after it has left my care. There is a community tab (like a mini Facebook page) on my channel - if you go to Megabattie home page, there is a menu bar across the top under the cover pic. Home, Videos, Playlists, Community, About. If you click on the community tab there are posts there where I can share pix and talk about some of the videos I put up and answer questions.

[@norapaquette1057]

Oh, thankyou Meg for this and all the endless work you do.Yes I am new so thankyou for the info as I intend to be a big fan.Love animals of all sorts now including these amazing creatures. Again for all you do....Thankyou to all you lovely women including Vicky the nurse.LOL💜🐾❤🦇

[@PK-oy4fe]

Gertie....I pray you find your baby immediately so you can raise him/her to follow in your brave wingsteps! Beautiful flight! It was an honor to get to know you!😇❤🖤🦇🖤❤

[@LS-um3zq]

Beautiful flight and beautiful park.

[@catherinehubbard1167]

Two delights have improved my day: a successful flying Fox release and M&M discussion. Thank goodness Maggie agreed to shield your fragile little body from T-boning vehicles with her mighty “hulk and bulk”! As a bonus, I got a taste of summer sunshine.

[@carolynnunes3922]

So well said! Ditto! Amen!

[@irisjankowska9726]

Meg you are the BEST! Little bat is so sweet

[@lessliejohnson6932]

Meg,dearest friend, I love listening to you and Maggie joking back and forth. It gave me sweet giggles. And what a release! It must be such a rush when you have a successful release. Miss Gertie will enjoy a wonderful life I'm sure!🦇🥰🦇🥰🦇

[@mypetcrow9873]

I so love it when I hear you women talking together. You both are very entertaining! I can’t be the only one that enjoys this. Please put more of this into your videos when you can!

[@Megabattie]

I got told by someone that Maggie and I aren't funny and to stop including us, and that we weren't comediennes so this bit of the videos was a failure. I put up M&M when we're together and when there's something to put up. I put it up at the end of the video so people don't have to watch it unless they choose. I don't care if people don't like it - they're not obliged to watch. Enough people want to see us together for me to keep adding the clips whenever there is something worth putting up.

[@sonialignani]

@@Megabattie Very well, you don' t care about people Who don' t Like you!!! They can go elsewhere, and stop the video!!! I Adore you and Maggie and your videos make me smile!!!

[@ChefMimsy]

YAY! Freedom!

[@menslady125eif2590]

Now Gertie can tell all her friends about you!

[@julianneboys4062]

Love it! All of it!!🤣 Meg, you don’t say a lot do you? Ask the questions with a little side note. Always entertained by yours and Maggie’s catch ups.

[@Megabattie]

Maggie was catching me up with her life. I'd already caught her up with my life and my father's continuing bowel issues (gruesomely detailed and an ongoing saga of my last few months of life).

[@julianneboys4062]

@@Megabattie sorry to hear your dad is unwell. Thankfully he has you for support. And I’m sure not one gruesome detail was withheld from Maggie, lol. Also, good to hear Freya has recovered from her double hip replacement. A kelpie not able to be active would be terrible.

[@Megabattie]

@@julianneboys4062 Freyja had one hip replacement in January 2021, but the second hip needs to be replaced in March this year.

[@julianneboys4062]

@@Megabattie sending positive vibes to Freya for her second op😘

[@liviobabich952]

Freedom ! 😙 I am happy, thanks Meg !

[@suzanrudulph4141]

That was beautifully done!

[@Linnet09]

Great flight! Good to know she's back in the wild.

[@Kim-lc3fv]

Yay! Return of "The Meg and Maggie Show"! I've been wondering about Maggie. Nice to get the update and hear you two bantering again with each other. Congrats on Gertie release as well. Fine flight and high 5! Greetings from San Francisco where I am escaping the Copenhagen darkness through January. 🌞

[@Megabattie]

I think Europe at the moment sounds dismal, with winter dreariest and covid rampant...

[@Kim-lc3fv]

@@Megabattie yes indeed. Last year I was stuck there. This year I made it over to California for the holidays by arming myself with multiple test & vaccination certificates.

[@edmontonhermit1156]

Glad to see Gertie successfully released. Always cause for celebration. 😊 glad the drone guy was so co-operative. (After the gennessee choir bit, I half expected Siri to say "Calling sentimental paw cringer" and then add it to your shopping list. 😆)

[@TrippNBalz]

Beautiful sight!! Well done Gertie and you lovely ladies

[@lynfl9814]

These two ladies could do stand up comedy! So, entertaining. Gertie did fly beautifully; so, heart warming to see her fly to the colony.

[@melissajarvis4829]

You two are a hoot! Lovely release. Very much enjoyed this video. Thanks for sharing!

[@drkatel]

Ahh, beautiful flight to freedom, Gertie! And I was happy to hear your side conversation about Mrs. Winkie’s progress.

[@EveHyland-in8jb9ti9y]

Mags and Meg video, Happy New year Mags all the best for 2022! What a beautiful, beautiful area, absolutely stunning and so was the Gerties release, what a great ending. 🦇❤️I enjoyed your catch up in the car. 😊 Sending blessings to you both from Scotland. 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌹

[@victoriavillagra9011]

Gracias 🙂 💞💕💖

[@gsdalpha1358]

Now that's a positive way to start the New Year! A perfect release topped by entertaining M&M conversations - lol! Thank you :-)

[@theresahart212]

I love these sweet little beings…I love the Miss Meg and Maggie team too.🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🥰

[@laurametheny1008]

Watched those ads for you Meg. Gonna have to switch em out. The same ones over and over. Ugh. Lol. This was fabulous! I do hope she finds her baby asap. Was Mrs. Winky the MOP? Was she a carer too then? Didn't quite get that. Nice to hear Maggie again. You two are quite the bees knees together😈🐝 Did you have a nice bubbly New Years ladies? Totally dead here. No one could go out because of the weather and my granddaughters car has broken wiper motor now. Of course. Never ends. Sorry I didn't know you didn't like hearing about grandkids. I don't have a whole lot of interaction with anybody else tho..so🤭 thanks for the very pleasant vid! Stay safe🦇😍

[@Megabattie]

Mrs Winkie was the girl I cut out of netting last week. I put up the video yesterday I think. Winkie from Winkurra St. Caroline (who had Gertie in the car) was the carer for both of them. She was giving me an update on Winkie as well as bringing Gertie.

[@Laura-tp8wz]

Yeah!!! 😇

[@critters16]

Beautiful 🥰

[@sonialignani]

Wow, Gertie is back !! I Hope She finds her baby and it' s Always a pleasure to see Maggie and you together!!!

[@ICountFrom0]

Yay Gertie, and thank you for including the news about Winkie.

[@forestkeeper75]

Good job, ladies!

[@dariafriedrich4]

It must have been a wonderfully amazing moment. I also love your conversations with Maggi (although I don't understand much by ear). And I really like it when you sing to the little bats together.

[@julesa.5887]

Maggie, you need to ask for a raise. 😊

[@Megabattie]

I double her wages every year. She's quite cheap really and deserves the occasional raise.

[@carolynnunes3922]

Great video!

[@tamarrajames3590]

YAY Gertie…beautiful flight topped off by the much missed M&M show. What could possibly be better? I love hard releases and the slow motion replays.🥂🖤🇨🇦

[@ellizaarahim]

What a way to start the first working week of 2022! Here's to Gertie finding her way back to her colony and baby. Live well and prosper dear batsies. p/s What a nice M&M get together too - the conversations you have are Netflix comedy special worthy!

[@TinySwanGrandAdventures]

Have to agree that Toblerone is really good! Love the M&M show so much and that release went perfectly! Yay for a survivor and quick release! Stay safe out there Gertie!

[@drnobody7934]

Gertie, Gertie, fly away home Have a batty life and go get u sum!!!!

[@puppypundit]

I fixed the title for you "Adorable Australian ladies banter with some bat content"

[@Megabattie]

Pretty much, yeah. 6 seconds of bat flying off and 14 minutes of chat

[@kathyflorcruz552]

Great for Gertie!! And I hope the best for Maggie's little girl too. 💗

[@dany.adelfinger]

Yay, Gertie, I hope you're going to be reunited with your baby. And I'm glad that the carer thinks Mrs Winkie will be releasable after some healing. I know that yoghurt cake recipe, it's yummy, but what left me surprised is that you don't say Bundt cake but Gugelhupf which is a German word 🙃. Cool! Anyway, best of luck to Maggie's Freya for her upcoming hip replacement.

[@1999bmwm3baby]

You girls are so entertaining!!

[@Dena-c2y]

Good Girl 😂❤❤

[@suzyQ1999]

Go, sweet Gertie! Nice flying. I'm crossing fingers that you are with your baby now. It was excellent to hear from Maggie. I hope her dog will be okay. What kind of dog is she?

[@Megabattie]

Maggie's dog (Crazy Freyzie doodah Day) is an Australian Kelpie. That's a kind of sheep dog with high energy and needing lots of walking and exercise. She's also very smart.

[@francesfarmer736]

Yay for Gertie! ……Hope she has a long life🦇👏👏👏……….Since I’m in the US….I just have American female Siri(boring)…….how can I get a French or Italian male Siri that speaks English with an accent 😂

[@Megabattie]

I'm sure you can set it to Aussie English or ask for another Siri voice. I don't delve into Settings, because changing one thing always has unintended consequences.

[@crochetology12]

Lovely start to 2022! Live a long one, Mrs Gertie!

[@Songbirdstress]

Thank you. These are my favs. Needed that.

[@lavenderlilac8920]

Go Gertie!! I hope she finds her baby ok. What a great release that was!🦇

[@Megabattie]

I love hard releases - it makes me feel good and totally buoyed up for weeks.

[@BaronessErsatz]

MEG!!!!!!

[@melissamartin8266]

Maggie and Meg together again, like Thelma and Louise minus the cliff.❤️❤️🦇❤️❤️

[@Alli_Sea]

Lovely take off Gertie! Well done ladies! Congrats to all of Gertie's carers. So enjoyable to hear you and Maggie chatting again. Maggie's Kugelhopf cake sounds delicious 😋 Those pans produce such a pretty cake - especially when the icing is drizzled down the sides.

[@Megabattie]

LOL you've got it around the wrong way. Meg was talking to Mandi, videoing and uploading. Maggie made the cake. Maggie also put her body between me and any car wanting to T bone me. She uses her bulk to protect my fragility. Fortunately she's never had to put her bulk to the test.

[@Alli_Sea]

@@Megabattie OH dear. Just a typo on my part.

[@Megabattie]

@@Alli_Sea Happens to me all the time

[@Alli_Sea]

@@Megabattie Thank you Meg for protecting my literary fragility 😁

[@Megabattie]

@@Alli_Sea i blame autocorrect for blowing everything out of proportion

[@howcanikeepfromsinging]

I can tell you and Maggie have a good relationship 😆 Go Gertie!

[@Megabattie]

Yes, we actually like each other, but would kill each other if we had to live together. Our relationship works for us.

[@howcanikeepfromsinging]

I think many friendships only work in doses!

[@Megabattie]

@@howcanikeepfromsinging Our friendship works because it's batty only. I don't socialise with her friends or vice versa. She is part of my batty life only and the parameters work very well. We wouldn't be friends if we had to coexist under any other rules.

[@kennethschultz6465]

Wonderful creatiurs We also hawe bats in Denmark 🇩🇰 🖖 🇩 🇰 🖖 🇩🇰 ♥️ ♥️ 👍

[@mbr7156]

Fun fact: there is a (statistically significant) correlation between "road rage" and people that name their cars -- (the obvious factor being that we name things that matter/vice versa, so anything happening to/ while in your car feels verrry personal).That being said, my car is named "Rita".. short for "Guerita"/ little white girl... >ahem

[@KrisThroughGlass]

I just be the exception to this rule. I never named a car but ...

[@chezmoi42]

How very interesting. My first car was Maggie MG (a '73 BGT), the next was Wanda Honda, while my husband loved his Dolly Dart (a '65 Dodge model) for 18 years. I don't remember any road rage, even though they mattered greatly to us.

[@NanciesArt11]

My Family had a '67 Yellow Mustang named Charlie ( male version🙃) , we also had a '71 Matador with No name. 🤔🙂

[@Megabattie]

Mmm, I don't really get road rage. I get annoyed, but I play classical music when I drive and that keeps me grounded, so to speak. Without the music I get anxious and stressed. I like to name things in my life - maybe you've noticed?

[@mbr7156]

@@Megabattie i think your names... and the process by which you arrive at them... is a lovely indication of just how much these creatures --- winged and otherwise -- matter to you. your resilience (and humor that informs it) is a treasure.

[@tinawitte420]

Wishing that flying fox mate a nice flying fox fate! 😋

[@libbywood2846]

Noice, very noice!!!