Picture this: it’s a warm Autumn evening, and you’re heading out to check on your chooks before bed. You peek into the water pot and what do you find? A striped burrowing frog! Yes, you read that right – a frog in the chook water. And let me tell you, it was quite the surprise!

Now, you might be wondering how a frog ended up in a chook water in the first place. Well, as it turns out, burrowing frogs are quite skilled at, you guessed it, burrowing. They often dig themselves into the ground to escape the heat and dryness of the Australian climate. But when the ground is too dry, they might seek out alternative sources of water – like your chook water pot!

So, who exactly is this striped burrowing frog? Let’s dive into some interesting facts and biological information.

Firstly, the striped burrowing frog, also known as the southern sandhill frog, is a native Australian species found primarily in southern and eastern Australia. As their name suggests, they are excellent diggers and can burrow up to a meter deep in the ground. They are a small, stocky frog with distinctive stripes along their back and legs, ranging from brown to reddish-brown in color.

One interesting aspect of the striped burrowing frog is its unique breeding behavior. Unlike most frogs, which lay their eggs in water, the striped burrowing frog lays its eggs in burrows it has dug in the ground. The male frog will often guard the burrow and protect the eggs until they hatch, which can take up to six months!

Another interesting fact about the striped burrowing frog is its adaptability. These frogs are able to survive in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and even urban areas. However, their populations have declined in some areas due to habitat loss and fragmentation, making them a species of conservation concern.

Now, back to that frog in the chook water. While it might seem like an odd place for a frog to hang out, it’s actually not that uncommon. Many animals, including frogs, will seek out water sources in the Australian landscape, especially during periods of drought. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find frogs in swimming pools, water troughs, and other water sources around your property.

So, what should you do if you find a frog in your chook water? First and foremost, make sure the frog is safely removed and released back into its natural habitat. Frogs can drown in water sources that are too deep or have no means of escape, so it’s important to give them a helping hand.

Additionally, providing alternative sources of water for wildlife around your property can help to reduce the likelihood of animals seeking out your chook water. Try setting up a small pond or bird bath in a shaded area away from your chooks.

In conclusion, while finding a striped burrowing frog in your chook water might seem like an odd occurrence, it’s actually quite normal for these adaptable little creatures. So, the next time you’re checking on your chooks, keep an eye out for any unexpected visitors – you never know who might be taking a dip in the water pot!

Ah, corvid family birds! These feathery creatures are as fascinating as they are intelligent. Found all over the world, they are known for their cunning and intelligence, and are some of the most impressive birds out there. But today, we’re going to focus on those endemic to northern NSW Australia. Get ready for a fun and informative ride!

First up, let’s start with a quick refresher on what the corvid family actually is. Corvids are a group of birds that includes crows, ravens, magpies, and jays. These birds are highly intelligent and are known for their problem-solving abilities, which is why they are often the subject of many scientific studies.

Now, let’s dive into the corvid family birds found in northern NSW Australia. The first bird that comes to mind is the Australian Raven. These majestic birds are commonly found in urban and rural areas, and are known for their impressive vocalizations. They are also known for their opportunistic feeding habits, and will eat just about anything they can get their beaks on. So, if you’re enjoying a nice picnic in the park, watch out for these sneaky birds!

Next up, we have the Torresian Crow. This bird is endemic to the northern regions of Australia, and is easily recognized by its glossy black feathers and bright blue eyes. These birds are known for their intelligence and are often seen using tools to obtain food. In fact, a recent study found that Torresian Crows are the only non-primate species to make tools in the wild. So, if you ever see one of these birds with a stick in its beak, you know it’s up to something.

Moving on, we have the Australian Magpie. This bird is a common sight in parks and gardens throughout northern NSW, and is known for its striking black and white plumage. Australian Magpies are highly territorial and will defend their nesting areas aggressively, so be careful not to get too close! But despite their aggressive nature, these birds are also incredibly intelligent and have been known to form close relationships with humans who regularly feed them.

Finally, we have the Pied Currawong. This bird is found throughout eastern and southeastern Australia, including northern NSW. It is a large and noisy bird with a distinctive call that can be heard from a distance. Pied Currawongs are known for their opportunistic feeding habits and will eat just about anything, including insects, fruits, and small mammals. These birds are also highly adaptable and can be found in a wide range of habitats, from forests to urban areas.

So, there you have it! These are just a few of the corvid family birds found in northern NSW Australia. As you can see, these birds are highly intelligent and adaptable, and are an important part of the local ecosystem. But they’re also a lot of fun to observe and interact with, so if you’re ever in the area, be sure to keep an eye out for these amazing birds. And remember, if you’re having a picnic, keep an eye on your food – those Australian Ravens are sneaky!

We found an alien caterpillar on Sid’s mandarine tree, so of course we took multiple photos and tried to find out just what planet this interesting specimen hails from. We eventually discovered that this is the caterpillar of the Orchard Swallowtail butterfly. These little munchers are identified as a pest because they eat the leaves, flowers and sometimes even fruit of citrus trees. At the moment Sid is coping with the load of life relying on him for sustenance, but we will remove some of them if it looks like he is suffering. Meanwhile, we are watching the different instars of development these caterpillars go through with interest. They begin life as tiny, spiky dots who eat their way up to larger spiky lengths of bad attitude who have a disagreeable colour scheme and shoot two red stinger looking things out at you from their head end if disturbed. Eventually they lose most of the spikes and become a lovely shade of green and silver before spinning a chrysalis and gradually losing their identity to become a butterfly (just like Mum or Dad).

During this adventure I have discovered that both caterpillars and butterflies are very hard to photograph. Most of our captures are blurry or not at a useful angle, please forgive me.

While we were out collecting fire wood, we came across a bright little frog (or more accurately, a toadlet). My daughter found a bright red blob of a frog under a piece of wood on the ground, it was raining at the time which seemed to make the colour even more jewel like. I quickly took him into the humpy and tried to find out what kind of miracle he was. Eventually I decided to take a few photos and return him to his home (before he charged me with kidnaping).

It turns out he is a Red backed toadlet, a fairly common species in our area. I have never seen one before, but I’m glad to have met one now. They are a ground dwelling frog that takes advantage of the damp places in the bush preserved by having bark and debris laying on the ground. They spawn into muddy holes and the tadpoles are washed into puddles or waterways when it rains. They take two months to develop into frogs. Nature is indeed amazing.

These amazing little toadlets are not rare or endangered, but they do deserve to live undisturbed and respected. We will be leaving some damp, mulched areas near the dam in future. Places where these little frogs can lay their eggs uphill from the water and have the rain wash their babies into a water source that will hold for two months. We may get to see more of these little living rubies in the future.

The Butterfly House website says this is Agriophara plagiosema, an inconspicuous moth species that doesn’t even rate a common name. To me, moths seem to be endlessly surprising and beautiful; they sit in plain sight with their intricate patterns and colours and go largely unnoticed by everybody. There are so many species and variations that each moth really does qualify as an individual based on appearance.

Moths are a useful part of our ecosystem. Moths pollinate many plants, especially night flowering types. They also provide food for birds, lizards and marsupials. I once raised a Muscovy duck on moths and other night insects by turning on an outside light and catching the swarms of insects in a plastic bag (I then popped the duckling inside the bag, providing food for the duck and entertainment for everyone else), that duck became a massive lump called Baby who looked about the size of an average cattle dog.

These days, we leave a small light on outside to attract interesting insects and the geckos and frogs are quick to come and enjoy the bounty. This little beauty is just one example of the diversity around us all the time.

I couldn’t resist sharing this beautiful sunset with you. The sky was glowing with orange and pink light, so much so that the air seemed to have an orange tint to it. The evening was just cool enough to be pleasant and the day’s work was done… heaven.

With all the rain we have had over this Summer (so lovely to be able to say that), the frogs are beginning to breed up again. They sing from the dam and yard every night; calling for mates while the puddles last. Every bucket and bowl left out to fill with water is hosting tadpoles of one kind or another.

I found this pretty little frog on the clothesline beside the front door. She is a Dainty Green Tree Frog.

I love having so many different kinds of frogs around the humpy. It indicates a healthy environment (even if it is messy). We encourage the frogs by leaving containers for them to breed in, placing piles of rocks near the water for adults to hide in and sometimes we feed the tadpoles lettuce and fish food if they are in a smallish container.