January 2024 Wildlife Photography Contest Advanced Winner

In late summer the Pacific tree frogs on Vancouver Island emerge in search of food before hibernating for the winter. You can find them sitting perfectly still for hours on the surrounding pond vegetation in hopes that a fly or other insect will land close enough to be grabbed.

Finding the frogs can be a challenge as they blend in with the colour of the reeds so incredibly well. Either perfectly green on a green reed or in this case the mottled brown patches on the frog blend perfectly with the discolouration on the aging reed. The tree frogs can change colours over periods of hours and weeks.

The colour changing morphs are triggered by a change in background brightness or seasonal light fluctuation. The colour change has been a useful survival feature for the Pacific Tree Frog.

“I was lucky to spot this frog despite his camouflage with the environment.”