BOUND TO THE WIRE

LITTLE RED FLYING-FOX
Pteropus scapulatus

A little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus) hangs, perished from entanglement on barbed wire that surrounds an electricity station. Unfortunately, barbed-wire fencing kills many Australian native animals, including bats, birds and macropods.

Timber Creek, Northern Territory

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF16–35mm f2.8 II USM, 13, f/7.1, ISO 640, tripod, two off-camera Canon 580EX II speedlites, handheld, backlit by moonlight

END OF THE LINE

EASTERN QUOLL
Dasyurus viverrinus

Country roads + speed × darkness = the end of the line. And not only for this poor eastern quoll, but for so many other native mammals across our country. In places like Bruny Island, more needs to be done to limit drivers’ speed at night. Too many
animals lose their lives every night, not only to speed, but carelessness,
and, even more sadly, wanton cruelty.

Bruny Island, Tasmania

Canon 5D Mk IV, EF 16–35mm f4 L IS, 1/100, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 600RT-EX flash (off camera), handheld, additional fill light with Wolf Eyes torch

THE RESOURCEFUL FINCH

AUSTRALIAN ZEBRA FINCH
Taeniopygia castanotis

Zebra finches are very industrious when it comes to building nests. These
finches will choose any location they believe will provide the best protection for their nest. In this instance, they have chosen a water bore control panel at a remote  goldmine in the Great Sandy Desert in Western Australia.

Telfer, Western Australia

Nikon D7200, Nikkor 80–400 f4.5–5.6 G, 1/1600, f/9, ISO 640, Hoya circular polarising filter, handheld

A POSSUM’S LOOKOUT

COMMON BRUSHTAIL POSSUM
Trichosurus vulpecula

A common brushtail possum mother and one of her young peek out of
a roof space. These possums were waiting for the sun to go down before
heading out into the night to forage for food. Across Australia, these possums often prefer to live in the roofs of houses rather than in the trees.

Yallingup, Western Australia

Nikon D850, Nikkor 24–70 f2.8, 1/250, f/16, ISO 640, Nikon
SB-700 flash with godox TTL wireless flash trigger, handheld

GASPING FOR AIR

EUROPEAN CARP
Cyprinus carpio

In a drought likely contributed to by human-induced climate change and widespread over-clearing, thousands of carp struggle to take a breath in the last pools of water. Ironically, carp are an introduced species that have wrought havoc on our waterways, killing off native species. In the end, they too will die.

Lachlan River, near Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales

Canon EOS-1D X Mk II, Canon EF 100mm f2.8 L macro IS USM, 1/640, f/6.3, ISO 800, handheld

THE HAND OF MAN

LITTLE PENGUIN
Eudyptula minor

During Victoria’s duck-shooting season rescuers found spent cartridges, dog prints and freshly shot protected species, along with this little penguin, which the zoo vet said had injuries consistent with dog attack. Instead of a catchlight in the penguin’s eye it is captured in the droplet of blood.

Point Wilson, Victoria

Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 L IS II USM, 1/1600, f/8, ISO 400, handheld

TRASH OR TREASURE

SATIN BOWERBIRD
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

Satin bowerbirds have taken advantage of human presence by decorating their bower with bright blue objects. They meticulously place each piece of rubbish around their courtship arena and even parade around with objects in their bill to impress females. In this instance, one person’s trash is another bird’s treasure.

Gold Coast, Queensland

Canon 5D Mk IV, Canon 16–35mm f4 IS, 1/30, f/5.6, ISO 4000, tripod

THE WATERING HOLE

The Menindee Lakes were deliberately drained in 2016–17 and New South Wales has experienced a lengthy drought. Animals and birds desperately seek food and water and there is very little left due to these human-made and natural events. Lake Cawndilla is now just a drying lakebed scattered with the remains of our native animals.

Cawndilla Creek, Menindee, New South Wales

DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, 20mm, 1/640, f/2.8, ISO 200, ND4 filter

IN THE CAN

GOLDEN PYGMY GOBY
Lubricogobius exiguus

Golden pygmy gobies require a hard surface on which to lay their eggs. In the sandy areas they inhabit, this would ordinarily be a rock, disused shell or even a leaf. Sadly, trawling of these habitats leads to a barren, featureless landscape resulting in no other option than to live among the trash of nearby human habitation.

Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Nikon D800, Nikkor 105mm macro,
1/125, f/11, ISO 100, twin INON Z240
strobes, handheld, Subal underwater housing

INVASIVE SPECIES

GENTOO PENGUIN
Pygoscelis papua

Hikers from an expedition ship head uphill to explore a wildlife landing site in the Antarctic region. Visitor site numbers and guide-to-guest ratios are set by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators and a balance is struck between environmental protection and an opportunity to experience the continent firsthand.

Robert Point, Roberts Island, South Shetland Islands

Canon EOS 5D Mk IV, EF 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 L IS II USM, 1/400, f/22, ISO 400, handheld

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