Bioluminescence is nature’s magical light show!
From glowing fireflies to radiant jellyfish, many creatures have the incredible ability to light up the night.
Some use it to attract mates, while others dazzle predators or lure prey. Glowworms and bioluminescent fungi contribute to this nighttime spectacle, turning dark spaces into a twinkling wonderland.
Nature’s glow is nothing short of enchanting, filling the night with a mesmerizing, otherworldly light.
Just a couple of weeks ago, we woke up to the breathtaking sight of fireflies flickering outside our bedroom window in Goodwood, just outside of Childers.
And when one person spots them, the whole house is instantly awake, drawn in by their magical glow.
This marks the third time we’ve seen fireflies on our property, and I still remember the first time I saw them—I couldn’t resist hopping online to learn more about Australian fireflies. I always thought they were a southern U.S. phenomenon, lighting up the swamps of Louisiana.
To my surprise, fireflies are spotted all along the east coast of Queensland and Northern NSW!
I tried capturing some photos and video footage of the fireflies on my phone, but the result was pretty disappointing—just a small flicker of light against a pitch-black backdrop.
Afterward, I found some great tips on photographing fireflies on Lesley Ballantyne’s website, with helpful advice from Helen Lessels. Helen suggests starting with a daylight photo of your location to establish a “background,” then adjusting your camera settings as it gets darker. She used 5-second exposure and Adobe Photoshop to stack multiple firefly photos onto the background image, to show more than just one or two glowing dots.
Lesley Ballantyne’s website is an absolute treasure trove of information for anyone wanting to learn more about Australian fireflies, with even Bundaberg and the Burrum River getting a mention!
There’s a good chance that the fireflies we spotted were Australoluciola australis (Fabricius). Lesley describes this species as “golden yellow underneath, measuring 5-7 mm long,” and notes that it can be found along the eastern coast of Queensland in mangroves, as far south as Bundaberg.
She even mentions a population on an island in the Burrum River.
In fact, Australoluciola australis was the very first firefly Lesley ever saw!
It’s moments like these that make you truly appreciate living in a region so abundant with natural wonder and beauty, where surprises are always just around the corner.
The Childers/Bundaberg area never fails to amaze, offering new and incredible experiences that remind us how lucky we are to call this stunning place home.
For more information, you can head to Lesley’s website on:
https://lesleyballantyne.com/australian-fireflies
Published March 2025