Photographing Littlejohni, the Rare Northern Heath Frog, in Woodford

Litoria littlejohni, photographed in Woodford NSW by Andy Klotz

Litoria littlejohni, photographed in Woodford (Photo: Andy Klotz)

When the Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition opened at the Planetary Health Centre in March it featured photos of 20 different local frogs. We were thrilled, however, when Andy Klotz and other members of the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society recently managed to photograph another frog in Woodford: the rarely seen and endangered Litoria littlejohni, also known as the Northern Heath Frog or Orange-bellied Tree Frog. We’ve added a photo of that frog to the exhibition and created a new Frogs of the Blue Mountains video in which you can listen to its call here. 

Key Points:

  • There have been dotted sightings of the endangered Litoria littlejohni (the Northern Heath Frog) from Woodford to Lithgow.
  • Frogs are under threat because of the Chytrid fungus, habitat loss, bushfire and predators.
  • We can all help grow connected landscapes for frogs by introducing water bodies for frogs into our yards.

We interviewed Andy to learn more about the Littlejohni and how they managed to find its small local population. 

Peering into a damp sphagnum moss bog might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but for 10-year-old Andy Klotz it proved to be a catalyst for a life-long passion.

In that Kosciuszko moss, decades ago, the young boy managed to locate an endangered Corroboree frog: a frog that most people struggle to find.

Andy Klotz photographing a Peron’s tree frog in the Planetary Health Centre pond

Andy photographing a Peron’s tree frog in the Planetary Health Centre pond

Photographing Littlejohni in Woodford

His quest for the small and hidden things – including snakes and spiders – has continued throughout Andy’s life. Having ponds around his house and having grown and sold water-plants for years, has meant that frogs have been frequent visitors in his life, allowing him to continue his observations. Joining the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society has connected him with a team of like-minded enthusiasts.

It was while night-spotting in Woodford recently, that they found a small population of the rare, endangered frog: Litoria littlejohni, otherwise known as the Northern Heath Frog. Littlejohni is a quiet frog, but playing the FrogID app induces it to call.

View our video of the Northern Heath Frog and the 20 Other Frogs of the Blue Mountains here:

According to Andy there have been dotted sightings of Littlejohni from Woodford to Lithgow. From the Herpetological Society’s observations, they appear to particularly favor still water bodies with Gahnia Sieberiana growing along the banks. “You’ll find one frog per Gahnia plant,” said Andy. The frogs will “perch on the arching leaves over the water and call, and the moment you come near they’ll scuttle back down into the thatch at the bottom, which they’re the same color as.”

Gahnia, known as red-fruit saw-edge, is a tall native plant. It is also the habitat and food source for the Swordgrass Brown butterfly. The butterfly’s green larvae dangle from the leaves and appear to serve as a food source for the frogs, pointing to a complex, inter-connected micro-ecosystem.

The Society is aiming to plant more Gahnia plants around water bodies to test whether their presence will increase Littlejohni numbers.  

Gahnia Sieberiana

Why Littlejohni is endangered

When asked why he believes the frog is endangered Andy described several reasons.

He said that since the 70’s many have been killed by the Chytrid fungus which is a worldwide threat to frogs. Littlejohni and the Golden Bell Frog are particularly prone to being killed by it. Some species, like the Striped Marsh Frog, are immune to it, but they do carry and spread the disease.

“It’s really good practice, when you’re going out on these trips, to spray your shoes and hands with a mixture of 70% methylated spirits and 30% water,” says Andy. This kills the Chytrid fungus and most bacteria that can harm frogs and other species.

Increasing urban development and habitat loss are another threat. With habitats no longer connected, isolated populations are being forced to inbreed. Fires and predators also reduce their populations.

Litoria Littlejohni or Northern Heath Frog (Photo: Andy Klotz)

Re-connecting landscapes for frogs

“There are some good programs going on,” enthuses Andy, telling of a Sydney program in which artificial ponds were built, and then loudspeakers, playing the frog calls, lured the frogs over a distance of three kilometres. Residents reported the frogs moving through their backyard ponds to reach the artificially created breeding ground that was created. It included netting to deter storks, and salt in the water to prevent Chytrid fungus.

“Frogs are amazing. They travel and they’re adaptable,” said Andy.

Andy encourages everybody to consider creating habitat to help reconnect landscapes for frogs. Attracting them to your yard provides the bonus of them reducing the number of mosquitos and pest insects in your garden.

Finding frogs

“The best times to frog hunt are in the dark and when there is water about,” Andy says. Frogs can be found all year round in different locations and the best times are after, or during rain, particularly if followed by a warm night.

They can be found in a variety of habitats: from damp leaf litter, to shallow ditches, to two metres up a tree. Andy and the Society use a variety of techniques including sprinkling water to simulate rain and playing the frog’s call via the Frog ID app to lure them out.

“If you have a couple of you, you can hear from a few metres away from each other, point in the direction of where you hear the frog, and then you walk to where the frog is and shine your light beam and you go – that’s where it is!”

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