There are 15 species of Green Tree Frogs found around Australia, a few of which have adapted very well to humanization, and many of which can be found around Port Douglas and Tropical North Queensland. Atheistically theyre a joy to watch and have become quite an icon, they provide a free insect control service in our gardens, and are utilised widely in medical research.

The two most recognised and encountered are the Common Green Tree Frog, and the Giant, or, White Lipped Green Tree Frog, growing to 14cm in body length. Green tree frogs are not always green; they can change their colour from light green to brown, blue, or almost black.

They love shaded humid areas like our letterboxes, bathrooms, and strangely our toilet cisterns. Their big, bulging eyes and wide smiling mouths look right at you with an innate ability of silently saying, 'gidday mate, who's looking at who?' They have special skin patterns on their feet and bellies, which help to stick and climb walls.

Described as a nocturnal carnivore, wild Green tree frogs may live for over 10 years (if theyre very lucky) feeding predominately on insects, although a large one may even eat small birds and rodents. The oldest known lived for 23 years.

They breed during the wet season and heavy rains trigger the males to start calling with a deep repeating, "crawk". Females will lay their eggs on the surface of still water, up to 3000 at a time as a floating raft. Once the males fertilise the eggs they sink and achieve full metamorphosis in 38 days.

To create a frog friendly garden you'll need a few basics. Multi layered native plants creating shade, humidity, and hiding places. A shaded pond that ideally fills temporarily with rain water (not tap water), and is elevated to keep out cane toads which will poison the water and eat the frogs and tadpoles. Add emerging aquatic plants, or a sloping float on the side so the frogs are able to get out. The tadpoles are fond of boiled lettuce for food, and playing music of frog calls on hot, humid nights will attract any locals. Most importantly stay chemical free, as frogs absorb moisture through their skin, they are easily poisoned, plus eating insects affected by chemicals may also kill the frogs.

Because frog skin is so absorbent they secrete their own toxins for protection from bacterias and fungi. Scientists have utilised the toxin caerulein, from the Common green tree frog, to synthetically produce treatments for abnormal blood pressure, and to block schizophrenia symptoms. Research is on-going to develop mosquitoe repellents and sunscreens. There is an Ecuadorian frog, which amazingly produces a painkiller 200 times more powerful than morphine.

The Green Tree Frog, as with all nature, provides us with many things to appreciate, but like other frogs worldwide their numbers are steadily declining. Hopefully this is one little beauty that will help inspire us to take frog leaps ahead as guardians of the planet instead of us feeding gluttonously as exploiters.

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