I recently caught up with photographer Mike Swan, who was on his way home from a trip west gathering images for a forthcoming field guide: Frogs and Reptiles of the Murray-Darling Basin. Here are a few images from his far-ranging frog-chasing expeditions.
Giant Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes interioris), Lake Cowal, New South Wales. Photograph courtesy and copyright Mike Swan.
Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peroni), Healesville, Victoria. Photograph courtesy and copyright Mike Swan.
Green Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea), Lake Broadwater, Queensland. Photograph courtesy and copyright Mike Swan.
Eastern Snapping Frog (Cyclorana/Litoria novaehollandiae), Glenmorgan, Queensland. Photograph courtesy and copyright Mike Swan.
Mike’s a busy bloke — when not out in the bush with a camera he can be found working at Healesville Sanctuary in Melbourne, running an online herpetological bookshop and playing in alt-country band Low Rent.
Mike, great to know there is life in Toowomba. My daughter has just bought a one acre
property in old Glenvale, Toowoomba and am now in charge of her future garden, (w/ends). What can I do to encourage amphibians. In 1996 I took over a neglected property in Mt. Tuchekoi alive with toads and only 2 species of frog on this property, in the 7 years I was there, I
disposed of over 6,400 toads, planting wet corridors to a small dam, when I sold in 2002, I estimated I had 11 species if frog, plus an increase in snake numbers. Alas, I have re-visited this
former property of mine, everything is dry and neglected, how very sad!!
Keep up the good work!
regards Ray.