NEXT GALLERY: Animal behaviour shortlist

See the shortlisted photos from the 2016 AG Nature Photographer of the Year Animal Behaviour Category here.

Conservation Superstars

Brown teal, Anas aucklandica

Status: Vulnerable

These birds represent a successful conservation story where huge obstacles were overcome to put in place actions that have reversed the declines of many once-threatened species. To see them happily dabbling amongst the giant kelp was one of those ‘holy grail’ moments for me.

Enderby Island, New Zealand

Nikon D800, Nikon 80-400 VR ED 4.5-5.6, 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 3200, handheld

Mount Lewis Spiny Crayfish

Mount Lewis spiny crayfish, Euastacus fleckeri

Status: Endangered

The Euastacus genus is Australia’s largest family of freshwater crayfish, occupying rivers and streams in the eastern states. When threatened most species will raise their claws to show the bright colours below. The Mount Lewis spiny crayfish (Euastacus fleckeri) is one of the larger and more colourful spiny crayfish species.

Mount Lewis, Julatten, Queensland.

Canon 6D, Canon 16-35 mm L, 1/60, f/16, ISO 2500, 2x Yongnuo 565EX speedlights, handheld

Palm Grove Dingo

Dingo, Canis lupus

Status: Vulnerable

Having spent an hour following this dingo, I waited until she went to lay in the cool shade of a grove of small palms. I wanted to capture an intimate portrait of this rare wild dog in its forest habitat, hoping it may change people’s perceptions of this species.

Fraser Island, Queensland

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 300 mm f2.8 IS II USM, 1/500, f/3.5, ISO 2500, handheld

Hanging on

Mallee emu-wren, Stipiturus mallee

Status: Endangered

The secretive mallee emu-wren faces a tough struggle for survival. The species is now restricted to several national parks in western Victoria. This shot was taken when one emu-wren left its spinifex cover, alighting momentarily between the branches of a stunted tree.

Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, Victoria

Canon 5D Mk III, Canon EF 600 mm f/4 IS II USM + 1.4X III, 1/1000, f/8, ISO 2000, monopod

Four in Flight

Carnaby’s black cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus (Zanda) latirostris

Status: Endangered

A small family of five endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoos (four in flight, two female adults and two juveniles, and one other in the tree) take flight from feeding atop of eucalypts in the Fitzgerald Biosphere, southern Western Australia.

Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia

Sony ILCE-7R, Leica Elmerit-M 90 mm f2.8, 1/2500, f/4.0, ISO 125, handheld, Metabones Leica M to E mount

Close Encounter

Grey nurse shark, Carcharias taurus

Status: Critically endangered

The Australian east coast grey nurse shark is a critically endangered species. Historically, they were hunted nearly to extinction during the 1950–60s by spearfishing and the commercial fishing industry. They were the first shark in the world to be afforded protective status in 1984. Their numbers have since not recovered.

Montague Island, New South Wales

Nikon D810, Tokina 10-17, 1/160, f/10, ISO 250, Inon Z 240 strobes, handheld

Buller’s Albatross

Buller’s albatross, Thalassarche bulleri

Status: Near threatened

The boat was rocking in a large swell; it was pouring with rain; and I was being sick overboard when this stunning Buller’s albatross came in close. Sometimes a photo is worth the pain. Buller’s albatross is a common by-catch from long-line fisheries in the Southern Ocean.

Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

Canon EOS 7D Mk II, Canon EF 300 mm f/4L IS USM, 1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 640, handheld

Acidic Survivors

Cooloola sedge frogs, Litoria cooloolensis

Status: Endangered

Cooloola sedge frogs (Litoria cooloolensis) are a small, endangered species that specifically occupy acidic wallum lakes in south east Queensland. It was encouraging to see this pair in amplexus, the male clasping on to the females back in preparation for egg laying and external fertilisation.

Cooloola National Park, Queensland

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, EF 100 mm f/2.8L macro IS USM, 1/160, f/18, ISO 160, Canon 580EXii speedlite with soft box, handheld