This beautiful young wedge-tailed eagle was part of a static display by a raptor rehabilitation centre, says photographer Erika Karlsson.

“The photograph was taken at the Balingup Medieval Carnivale, in the South West corner of Western Australia. It was a marvelous chance to see some of our magnificent birds of prey (the eagle, a falcon, a hawk and a couple of owls) eye-to-eye. Because the eagle was on a low perch I was able to get very close and take photographs from a number of different angles – although not too close since I was dressed as a multi-colored jester covered in bells (probably why the eagle was glaring at me!).”

Says photographer Samuel Sharpe: “This fellow came hopping through the house and then sat there in front of me smiling, so I quickly got my camera out.”

Fringed Jumping Spider – found on a table at Punsand Bay, Cape York Peninsula.

“I was working on Thursday Island and on my days off I went to Punsand Bay, Cape York Peninsula for lunch,” says photographer Helen Clement. “I had to travel to the mainland by ferry and one day I saw this funny little jumping spider on the table. I set up my camera and the spider was very happy to pose for me.”

Canon 450D. 60mm Macro Lens. Hand held.

Loggerhead turtle, Lady Elliot Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Photographer Heather Catchpole says: “The photo was taken in October during the turtles’ mating season. The advice on arriving at the island was to rapidly swim vertically if one of these curious creatures approached!”

“I was returning to the vehicle late morning after doing some bush-walking at Mt Gipps in south-east Queensland this last October,” says photographer Ian Hinrichsen, “when I almost walked into these two wallabies toe-to-toe. They completely ignored my presence which allowed me to take a series of photos of which this image is one. They kept on fighting for a couple of minutes. Eventually they broke up, with no obvious winner, and each went its own way with no apparent injuries.”

The photo was taken with a Nikon D300 and a 80 – 400mm lens

Tom Newman photographed these kookaburras in Sherbrooke Forest, located in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges. “This pair was untroubled by my presence and I was able to capture a brief moment of interaction, with one fanning its tail and the other looking on,” he says.

Yoori, Dingo Discovery Centre, Victoria.

Says photographer John Larkins: “In May of 2010 went on a quick sojourn to Victoria to visit Healesville Sanctuary where I heard they had a superior Dingo exhibit. After a long but pleasant journey I reached Healesville and walked down to the dingoes just in time to catch the keeper talk, after which these two beautiful animals seemed to pose for a photograph. Opal is at the rear and Kumar is closest to the camera.”

“Whilst sitting on our high-set balcony in a Yeppoon, Queensland, rural setting one evening, we were thrilled when this rarely seen sugar glider landed on the palm tree about a metre away,” says photographer Lyn Kaiser.

“I decided the next night to set up lighting with a theatre spotlight (500-W globe) and sat waiting for the glider on the off chance that it would reappear. As soon as it arrived I snapped on the spotlight and took the photo. It was surprised by my action and stayed just long enough for one photo and then hurriedly glided off into the night.”

Camera: Konica Minolta DimageZ6

An Australian icon of which over 80 per cent has disappeared, this Koala seated calmly here in the fork of a tree emerges from its slumber as it resides in the safety of Phillip Island Nature Park’s Koala Conservation Centre. As urban development continues to increase, koalas living near urban areas are increasingly being killed on Australia’s roads. “I had to wait almost an hour for this one to wake up before capturing this image,” says photographer Debashis Talukdar.

Shot with a Canon 350D with a 300mm zoom lens.

Two glossy black cockatoos fight at Callala Bay in NSW South Coast. This is a remnant patch of bush 30 acres in size, currently privately owned and managed as a wildlife refuge.

“It was great to see one of our threatened species thriving in this habitat, but the future is uncertain as the land is up for sale,” says photographer Sara Johnston.

Says photographer Chris Douglas: “This motorbike frog made its home on the back of a door standing against our back wall when we moved in, around mid December, in Kendenup WA. My husband Bob was moving the doors when the frog’s mate landed on his bare feet, and this frog was found clinging to the door.”

The photo was taken with a Nikon D40 digital SLR with standard lens.

Patiently waiting for this emu to face the sun was worth the wait, says photographer Graham Barter. “A natural environment provided this emu to be at ease for this portrait,” he says.

Blue-ringed octopus.

Says photographer Tim Hensall: “I took the photo a while ago when I worked in Victoria, guiding school groups on ‘rock pool rambles’. This day, we were at steps beach at Aireys Inlet along, on the east side of the lighthouse along Great Ocean Road. At that time, I carried my old film camera, a trusty old pentax k1000 everywhere. I used that and the macro function on the tamron zoom.

“I had to take a number of shots, but this one was by far and away the best. The teachers with the kids were really thrilled I was so into it as they said it rubbed off on the kids. I don’t think the octopus was quite as thrilled mind you, hence the beautiful blue rings being so vivid! Octopuses are one of my favourite creatures, and they’re so incredible for so many reasons. I’m still fascinated by them and always look for them on my walks where there are rockpools.”

“I have been very privileged for the past two years to be an Australian Native Wildlife volunteer with a wonderful organisation called WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Services),” says photographer Natalie Verger. “There are so many beautiful species of Australian animals and with the animals I rescue and care for, I find it easy to take their photos on my Canon 450D Digital SLR.

“This photo depicts a beautiful young female ring-tailed possum who was found one morning sitting on the front gate of a local shopping centre. After rescuing and caring for her overnight, we successfully released the possum, aptly named Gatekeeper, the next night back in the bushland next to the shops. I think this photo says it all, she was very happy to be back home.”

Says photographer Matt Cadby: “I spent a day walking around Penguin Island, Rockingham Western Australia, a small island and several times I past a sign that read ‘Osprey and Fish Eagle habitat’. I had not even seen a speck in the sky, but the just as I stepped down off the hill onto the beach, three metres in front of me was the Osprey eating a fish (starting at the head) that it has just caught.”

Canon 7D EF 70- 300mm f/4 – 5.6 IS USM lens Canon EF 70-300mm f/4 – 5.6 IS USM lens

“We live close to a reserve and often find a variety of fauna in our back yard and home, ” says photograher Kori Jones. “As I arrived home from work one day, this preying mantis was perched above the door of our flat and slowly making its way across the wall. The mantis stood out against the stucco backdrop and seemed to be just as curious about me as I was of it as I took a couple of photos.”

Canon 400D camera with a Canon Compact 50mm Macro Lens

“This picture was such a lucky capture, says photographer Josha Barton. “I was holidaying on the beautiful Sunshine Coast and due to my recent love of animal photography, I decided to take the opportunity to visit Australia Zoo. This little guy was the highlight of my day because it’s not often you find wombats wearing clothes. When I saw him I instantly thought of scenes from Narnia. I was told that he had recently needed an operation and his stylish outfit was helping to protect the wound.”

Sony A700 with a 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 zoom lens

Says photographer David Sargeant: “In the west Kimberley, we stopped at a waterhole and immediately greeted by this Mertens monitor. He habitually searches for any scraps on offer.”

Cape Bridgewater near Portland in Victoria is known for its colony of Australian fur seals and I was on a morning walk hoping for a close encounter. As I headed along the cliff top I found myself face to face instead with this equally surprised red-necked wallaby.

The cliff behind is around 11-12 metres straight down into the ocean. After taking a couple of photos, I pulled back and the wallaby happily moved back towards the dunes and joined three others.

Bowerbird

The Australian Eastern Water Dragon.

“This little fella hangs out above the stairs at the south end of Manly beach, NSW,” says photographer James Matthews. “I heard this was a good place to find them and walked up the stairs looking in the bushes. I turned around and found this little guy kicking back on a stone wall…very chilled out!”