Initially, when we were looking for a block of land to purchase, we thought we would end up buying land in Aura, a purposefully designed “… City of Colour, set to become Queensland’s most vibrant new community on the beautiful Sunshine Coast.” (According to the developer’s website anyway.)
But as it turns out, the only block we could afford backed onto, what was to become and now is, a major arterial road. What we ended up buying was a block of land in the previous estate (same developer) and are delighted our block backs onto a little nature reserve and, hidden within that little reserve, is a frog highway.
You can’t access the reserve by (simply) jumping the fence, but you can stroll, or ride across the bridge.
Once across the bridge, you can easily then access the edge of the reserve via a path that leads down and under the bridge.
This is not the type of reserve you go walking through though, and the most interesting thing is found before you get below the bridge – a breeding pond for the little Wallum Frog (or froglet). This little frog requires unique conditions in which to live and breed.
There are several ponds in the area and they have been specifically designed to provide seasonal wetland habitats for these little frogs. There is also tunnel built below the roadway to provide them with a safe haven for crossing from one side to the other.
The wallum frog is listed as vulnerable and it’s nice to know diversions are in place to enable street run off to flow away from this habitat and ensure stormwater doesn’t contaminate this delicate breeding area.
After visiting the frog highway, it’s always nice to enjoy the colours of the bridge returning home.
And on the other side of the bridge (eyes right), you can’t see our roof, even if you look really hard, but trust me, it’s there.
There were plans to put an access road through here (yes, we knew about it), but recently I heard another more suitable location was found. Yea for us, and yea for the little wallum frog.
In response to the WordPress Photo Challenge – Tour Guide
Isn’t it interesting how we go about protecting animals? Here they have cobblestone paths across the roads at certain highway locations so the deer will cross there. Apparently they think it’s a dried-up stream bed. At least it gives drivers a heads up when they know they’re coming up on one. 🙂
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We have lots of other wildlife corridors too – overhead wire pathways, a bit like caged in wire ladders, that were designed to let Koalas cross safely. I think it’s amazing the animals ‘know’ to use them.
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Makes you wonder how, doesn’t it? Always makes me think animals are smarter than we give them credit for…
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I think they are too
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Everything is very green! (I live in a desert and notice green right away!)
I am so glad they are taking care of the frogs. What a pretty area you live in!
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Thank you Nancy. We’ve had enough rain that everything is green – this wasn’t the case a few weeks ago though.
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