AN OUTBACK HAVEN

GREATER BILBY, MACROTIS LAGATIS

STATUS: VULNERABLE

The Arid Recovery Reserve is surrounded by a feral predator proof fence, which allows the native inhabitants to live naturally. Feral species are continuing to have a dramatic impact on our wildlife. Safe haven reserves like this are important to safeguard susceptible native species until a solution can be found.

Arid Recovery Reserve, South Australia

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM, 1/160, f/10, ISO 1000, handheld Speedlite with soft box

AUSTRALIAN SEA LION FAMILY PORTRAIT

AUSTRALIAN SEA LION, NEOPHOCA CINEREA

STATUS: ENDANGERED

The endangered Australian sea lion is one of the most playful of all the pinnipeds. I waited until all the other snorkellers had exited the water and the high energy games calmed down. The sea lions settled and became comfortable with my presence, enabling me to shoot this intimate family portrait.

Hopkins Island, South Australia

Nikon D810, Nikkor 14–24mm f/2.8 ED, 1/250, f/16, ISO 800, two INON Z240 strobes, Aquatica digital water housing, homemade 16.8-inch acrylic port

KURANDA TREE FROG

KURANDA TREE FROG, LITORIA MYOLA

STATUS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

The Kuranda tree frog (Litoria myola) is found only within 1350ha around Kuranda, Queensland. Although their population varies year to year based on rainfall, fewer than 1000 breeding adults are thought to exist. Habitat destruction, fragmentation and upstream disturbances threaten this frog’s survival.

Kuranda, Queensland

Nikon D800E, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 ED, 1/320, f/7.1, ISO 100, Nikon SB900 on hot shoe, Nikon SB700 off -hand

NUMBAT DREAMING

NUMBAT, MYRMECOBIUS FASCIATUS

STATUS: ENDANGERED

A young numbat looks out from the safety of its burrow in a burnt-out stump. The numbat is now rarer than the giant panda; their main threats are predation by feral cats and foxes and land-clearing. Sadly, the numbat will remain in the threatened species category for a while yet.

Dryandra Woodland, Western Australia

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS USM, 1/200, f/8, ISO 500, handheld

ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION

GOLDEN-SHOULDERED PARROT, PSEPHOTELLUS CHRYSOPTERYGIUS

STATUS: ENDANGERED

The golden-shouldered parrot inhabits open forested grassland and builds its nest in the taller magnetic termite mounds. It is listed as endangered (CITES I), with population surveys pointing to a total wild population of about 2000 birds, with about 300 breeding pairs. Their numbers are decreasing.

Far north Queensland

Canon EOS 1D Mk IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS, 1/1600, f/10, ISO 1250, tripod from a hide

HOODED PLOVER

HOODED PLOVER, THINORNIS CUCULLATUS

STATUS: VULNERABLE

I selected this image because it shows the beauty of the hooded plover and its habitat, but also the harshness of where it lives and breeds. Nests are often simple scrapes on the beach where there is little protection from mother nature, often resulting in nests being washed away.

Killarney, Victoria

Canon 1DX, Canon 500mm f/4L IS II USM and Canon 1.4 extender III, 1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 320, Wimberley gimbal head on skimmer pod

MIND YOUR MANNERS

FAIRY TERN, STERNULA NEREIS

STATUS: VULNERABLE

The fairy tern’s courtship ritual involves the males bringing gifts of fi sh prior to mating. One male was doing his best to woo a rather indiff erent female. When a second suitor arrived the female tried to snatch the fi rst off ering, putting a swift end to the budding romance.

Nairns, Western Australia

Canon 7D Mk II, 400mm, 1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 640, handheld

TURTLE REFLECTION

GREEN SEA TURTLE, CHELONIA MYDAS

STATUS: ENDANGERED

On an early morning snorkel off the south-western shelf at Heron Island, this green sea turtle actually came out of the deep to look at us. We were more surprised than it, I think. It hung out with us for a while and then faded back into the blue.

Heron Island, Queensland

Nikon D7200, Tokina 10– 17mm, 1/160, f/13, ISO 320

MAYBE 2 IN A 1000

HAWKSBILL TURTLE, ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA

STATUS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

As the sun sets over the Bismarck Sea, two newly hatched hawksbill turtles swim past my waiting camera. They have a long, hard struggle ahead of them to reach maturity; only one in a thousand will survive.

Lissenung Island, Papua New Guinea

Nikon D500, Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8 E ED fisheye, 1/15, f/22, ISO 320, two INON Z240 strobes, Aquatica digital water housing and 4-inch glass port

FITS THE BILL

EASTERN CURLEW, NUMENIUS MADAGASCARIENSIS

STATUS: ENDANGERED

A slow approach on my belly got me close enough for great views of this eastern curlew. Sadly, these wary, migratory shorebirds, once common in Australia, are now listed as endangered internationally and critically endangered in this country.

Stockton Sandspit, Newcastle, New South Wales

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4X III, 1/3200, f/8, ISO 500, handheld with beanbag support

The AG Nature Photographer of the Year Awards are sponsored by Coral Expeditions.