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Photographing Littlejohni, the Rare Northern Heath Frog, in Woodford
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 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!”
Take Action:
See the Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition and view the frog ponds at the Planetary Health Centre
Help grow connected landscapes for frogs by providing small water containers or building a pond in your own backyard that’s protected from cats and dogs. Find out how here: https://bmpluriversity.org/ponds/
Join seed saver extraordinaire Lloyd Sharp, from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers, as we launch the Upper Blue Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening group at the Food Security Fair on Sat 18 October. Lloyd will share some of his extensive seed saving experience, and there will be an opportunity to purchase and share local seeds and plants. Huge thanks to Happy Valley Seeds for donating heirloom seeds and discount cards, and to @thediggersclub for generously donating Vegetable and Flower Sowing Guides and their 2025/2026 Heirloom Seed Annual. There will be one for every attendee! The Food Security Fair is being held at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba and the Seed Saving presentation is at 10.20am. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
Nev Sweeney, renowned permaculture teacher and practitioner, from Under the Choko Tree, will be leading a workshop on how to build and use a solar food dehydrator at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Saturday 18 Oct. Nev will talk about why food dehydration is a good idea, some techniques that can be used to dry food, pretreat or not to pretreat, general tips and considerations about food drying, drying fruit and veg, testing for dryness and using dried produce. He will explain how he made a simple direct solar food dryer and a more complex indirect solar food dryer. Reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
Planetary Health volunteer, American permaculture teacher Susan Krings, has been helping to organise the inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair. If you`d like to learn more about volunteering at the Centre email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553
You can purchase tickets for the Food Security Fair in Katoomba on Saturday 18 October here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-sec...
The day will include stalls, talks and demos about growing, sourcing, cooking, preserving and enjoying plant based food and protecting habitat for wildlife. The event is part of a series celebrating the centenary of World Animal Day.
The fabulous line up of speakers and workshop tutors includes Dr Milena Bojovic on the Future of Food; Holly Davis, co-founder of Iku and author of `Ferment`; Michael from Good Fat Pastry; Nev Sweeney from Under the Choko Tree on how to build a Solar Powered Food Dehydrator; Lloyd Sharp from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers; Marnee Fox from Forage to Feast; Teya Brooks Pribac from Plant Inspired; and Erin Hall on Weaving with Weeds and Manu Prigioni from Farm it Forward.
Stalls will include EarthRising Mushroom Farm, Bibi`s Kitchen, edible native plants, the Planetary Health Cafe and more.
Each session needs to be booked individually as numbers are strictly limited.
This event is being supported by a sEEd grant from the Australian Association for Environmental Education.
At the Food Security Fair on Sat 18th October the inspiring Teya Brooks Pribac, author of ‘Not Just Another Vegan Cookbook’ and founder of Plant Inspired, will be sharing innovative but very simple culinary techniques that can help you make delicious icecream, ‘egg` sandwiches and a wide range of cheeses without any eggs or dairy. Food that’s healthier for you and the planet. You no longer need to worry if the supermarket shelves suddenly don’t have eggs, or if you can’t afford them! There are so many cooking techniques that can help us create our favourite foods, without requiring animal products! The session will end with one of Teya’s fabulous cheese tastings. Bookings essential for this fascinating workshop here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
This event is one of a series celebrating the centenary of @worldanimalday @ph_alliance
In Marnee Fox’s session on Wild Edibles at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Sat 18 October, she’ll share how to incorporate wild ingredients into your every day diet AND make it delicious. Marnee Fox is a sustainable interior decorator, stylist, foodie and weed convert. She`s also one half of Forage to Feast Australia with husband, renowned environmental educator Diego Bonetto. Building on Diego`s much-loved weed foraging workshops, Marnee takes the food found on the foraging tour to the table. Bookings essential (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
If you haven`t yet tried the deliciousness of Good Fat Pastry you`ll be in for a treat at the Food Security Fair on Sat 18 October! Join Michael, the creative baker producing these mouthwatering plant based (and mostly gluten free) treats for breakfast, where he will inspire you to rethink everything you know about baking:
"Baking is both borne and constrained by convention—as are our expectations. Since Ancient Egypt and Rome, eggs, dairy, and cereals have been used in baked goods for flavour and functionality. The enormity of cakes, pastries, biscuits, and desserts we know and love—and the countless we have no awareness of—have been discovered and created through spontaneity and experimentation. Almost always resting on the magical transformations of these key ingredients under heat and energy.
Yet as the realm of food is one of creativity and sensory inquisitiveness there are inherent possibilities for alternatives—in replicating the familiar as well as creating novelty. This path can follow the complexities of molecular gastronomy or the simple pragmatism of substituting with what`s on hand. Find whatever works for you."
Spaces are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
One of the highlights of our Food Security Fair on Sat 18th October is our Weaving with Weeds workshop at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. In this relaxing and enjoyable workshop Erin Hall will help you identify common invasive weeds that are ideal for basket making, and teach you the basic skills to weave a range of different objects. At the same time you`ll be removing and repurposing weeds that are destroying habitat for our wildlife! Places are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
We’re thrilled to announce that tickets are now available for Ferment the Season with Holly Davis at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Saturday 18th October at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Holly will demonstrate how to ferment the season to create more nutrient rich and digestible food. She is the co-founder of Sydney’s Iku Wholefoods and author of ‘Ferment - A Guide to the Ancient Art of Culturing Food’ and ’Nourish: Sustenance for Body and Soul”. Learn the foundational principles and several techniques for fermenting seasonally abundant produce. Fermentation increases nutrition and eating a little ferment with every meal has unlimited benefits for our overall wellbeing and the planet! Places are limited so book early here (Food Security Fair link in profile for tickets): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed to our celebration of the centenary of World Animal Day, and our tribute to the life of artist, poet, author, Animal Liberation founder, and animal rights activist, Christine Townend, at the Planetary Health Centre yesterday. At a packed event we feasted on delicious plant-based food, inspiring art and poetry, and memorable conversations, as we shared our love and respect for the extraordinary world of animals of which we are a part. Join us for further celebrations at our Food Security Fair on Saturday 18 October. Register here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
We`re thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for our inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 18 October! Register here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
The day will include stalls, talks and demos about growing, sourcing, cooking, preserving and enjoying plant based food and protecting habitat for wildlife.
Our fabulous line up of speakers and workshop tutors includes Dr Milena Bojovic on the Future of Food; Holly Davis, co-founder of Iku and author of `Ferment`; Michael from Good Fat Pastry; Nev Sweeney from Under the Choko Tree on how to build a Solar Powered Food Dehydrator; Lloyd Sharp from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers; Marnee Fox from Forage to Feast; Teya Brooks Pribac from Plant Inspired; and Erin Hall on Weaving with Weeds. Stalls will include EarthRising Mushroom Farm, edible native plants, the Planetary Health Cafe and more. Each session needs to be booked individually as numbers are strictly limited.
This event is being supported by a sEEd grant from the Australian Association for Environmental Education.
This Saturday 4 Oct, on the centenary of World Animal Day, you can meet other people passionate about protecting our wild neighbours, and contribute to restoring habitat for wildlife with them, by coming along and joining our dedicated team of Planetary Health Bushcarers as we regenerate the bushland at the Planetary Health Precinct. Learn more and register to attend (1.30pm) here: (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-bushcare-spring-summer-2025
Woohoo! We are so thrilled. Katoomba poet David Brooks has just won the Prime Minister`s Literary Award for Poetry with his book "The Other Side of Daylight: New and Selected Poems". Come and celebrate with us this coming Saturday night when he`ll read from his work for a World Animal Day celebration at the Planetary Health Centre. Bookings here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/world-animal-day-raising-the-bar-for-nature
(apologies for dodgy screenshots ... we`ve been watching the awards streaming on YouTube tonight)
The Murray crayfish disappeared from large parts of its range over the past 40 years. Now a community-driven reintroduction program is bringing the iconic species back.
