Cassowary sits out conversation

Long chat with small male Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) sitting quietly in the rainforest along the road to Wallaman Falls today.

Any eggs under there? - No reply (but no).
Just tired, are you? -
Seen any hot females lately? -
Lot of rain this week, eh? -
See you later, mate. - Righto Tony (in my dreams!)

Others report another male with two young in the area. 

Big mornings with two Mr Bigs

Big morning near Wallaman Falls featured leisurely walk down the road with resident Mr Big, Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius). Not much fallen tucker about the place so fruitful  stops proved rare. Three birds seen together lately so breeding seems probable. Good news for the endangered species.

Another Mr Big, Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis), the continent's heaviest flyer, pauses during a morning stroll at Mungalla Station, just east of Ingham. Four birds at present call the station's paddocks home.

Biggish bird feeding big appetite at Tyto Wetlands the other day, Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica). Though striking mostly at prey in mud and shallow water, the bird didn't neglect its greens. Something for parents of fussy feeders to consider given talk of people going insectivorous?  

Cassowary paddle takes in mud pie

Toddled off to Wallaman Falls today and found Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) paddling in a mud puddle.

Showing off killer profile.

Showing off killer inside toe.

Bit of a cough or sneeze.

And finishing off with a nice bite of clay (known to counter toxins/deficiencies in diet). 

Pitta pictures not so flash

Caught up with Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) at Jourama Falls twice this week only to be caught out with too much flash when bird left the dark forest floor.

And it just would not look down at me (maybe looking down on me?).  

Why can't they simply walk up the road into shot like helpful Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) near Wallaman Falls a while back?

Or link up with me by posing at Taylors Beach, like this Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)?

Casual Cassowary walk on the mild side

Here's my new best birding buddy. We spent 90 minutes close together on the Wallaman Falls road yesterday.

He doesn't say much, so I did most of the talking. Nothing new there.

He did most of the eating, including unknown small fruit mashed by motorists.

He's got a splendid casque for butting through the forest, so he's Casca, 'my' Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
Click pix to enlarge  

Keeping company with calm Cassowary

Most tourists visit Wallaman Falls for plunging waters and super rainbows of Australia's biggest cascade, birders go hoping to see the plunging neckline and cascading colours of the rainforest's biggest bird, Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius).

Few get close in the bird's dense and often prickly habitat. Best view is usually a few seconds from a vehicle as the bird quits the road ahead. But every now and then one gets lucky. 

Like today: 15 minutes from appearance on a side track, a meander down said track, and a slow amble through trees and wait-a-while before the male dawdled off into even denser stuff. And in spite of silly hype about 'dangerous and deadly' animals from would-be Steve Irwins like 'Bite Me's' Mike Leahy (SBS doco series: about two weeks ago teased and provoked a caged Cassowary to attack, an episode the makers should be ashamed of, and an incident for which the exhibitors should lose their wildlife licence) the bird preened and fed calmly with me feeling absolutely safe 7-8 metres away.  
Click pix to enlarge  

Cassowary walks circle round me

Spent three hours looking mainly for Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius) near Wallaman Falls today and then heard one behind me in the rainforest. 

Wee bit intimidating for a few seconds. Stand tall, stand still, they say. I did, for a few seconds. Then relaxed to enjoy next 15 minutes

About 1.6 metres tall, bird - probably female - stepped to within five metres and in time - and never more than 10 metres away - circled me. Stopped several times to preen. Not sure if soft noise during preening came from bill rasping through coarse plumage, chest wattles slapping together, or gentle vocalising.


Bird then eased off through the understorey of saplings, tripping vines and barbed wait-a-while leaving no great pictures but great memories.
(Click pix to enlarge)