We rode bikes up and down the beach,
through the woods, up the hills and hiked in the rain forest in search of
the super impressive Cassowary bird. In appearance they look similar
to an EMU but they are heavier and have impressive feather colors,
helmet and neck wattle. These tall (5'7") flightless birds are armed with a
4 inch dagger in their foot, best not to mess with them or you will
get hurt!
Females are slightly larger than the
male, and the male takes on the role as sole care giver of eggs and
their young. We have heard it is quite a scene at rush hour in
Mission Beach when Daddy cassowary's walks across the highway with
their chicks en-tow to find more food.
The Cassowary is a KEYSTONE species
(like gators that create gator holes in the Everglades). As a
keystone species the important task they complete is spreading a
huge diversity (over 70) of trees that creates the rain
forest. If you think that eating and dispersing seeds is easy, its
not they are large, and well no one else can do it. Check out my
picture of Cassowary poo!
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| Stealthily walking through the woods to sneak up on our Cassowary |
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| Beautiful cool water stream |
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| Cars kill the birds as they cross the road in search of food |
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| Cassowary |
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| What do you think the Cassowary ate? (fruit?) |
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| Flower of tree growing on trunk |
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| Riding Bikes! |
No more poop photos!!! Haha! Glad to see your adventure continue!
ReplyDeleteThe Cassowary reminds me of a big turkey.
ReplyDeleteAnd apparently tops the list as the World's Most Dangerous Bird! "The cassowary has been known to kill human beings with slashing blows of its feet, as the innermost of its three toes bears a long daggerlike nail."
ReplyDeleteOMG what were you doing so close to that bird?! He is a monster - so big. Super beauty though. So glad you're doing what you love!
ReplyDelete