Southern Cassowary, Double-wattled Cassowary, Two-wattled Cassowary (Casuariu

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Dec 28, 2008

Thumbnail by kennedyh
Post #5936857
Quote
MargaretK PERTH, Australia Nov 30, 2009

Was this taken in the wild, Ken?

Post #7323020
Quote
kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Dec 01, 2009

Margaret, yes it was. We were driving to Cairns with our youngest son and had stayed overnight in a motel. Duncan and I drove to a nearby park for a walk before breakfast. While walking we spotted the Cassowary in the distance, walking down the track which led to the car park.
We retreated quickly to the car park, keeping well to one side having heard they can be aggressive and waited with camera all ready and it duly arrived and walked through the middle of the car park and then off back into the forest.
The only wild one I have ever seen and a very special moment,
Ken

Post #7324364
Quote
MargaretK PERTH, Australia Dec 01, 2009

Lucky you to see one in the wild, but wise move to get back into the car, Ken. As a really young child I can remember hearing that Cassowary's were one bird that could be extremely aggressive without apparent reason or provocation and that that huge toe could be used to disembowel a person. I was reading that they are ?critically endangered in the wild.

Post #7324650
Quote
kennedyh Churchill, Victoria, Australia(Zone 10a) Dec 01, 2009

I didn't get back in the car, I just stood still well off the most likely route for the Cassowary to take across the car park (I was living dangerously).

I watched a program recently about the cassowaries and the very same area, was very badly hit by a cyclone a couple of years ago, having a devistating effect on the Cassowary habitat. As a result there have been far more cassowary sightings that normal with cassowaries wandering down the main street and into gardens in their search for food.

I think this caused a lot of concern for the future of the cassowaries in that region.

Ken

Post #7325555
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More BirdFiles Pictures Threads

Go to all BirdFiles Pictures threads
BACK TO TOP