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Cassowaries are one of the most dramatic birds on the planet: almost as big as ostriches, colorfully marked, and with an ominous (but mostly undeserved) reputation for aggression. They are also key species for the ecology of the rainforests they live in, as prime vectors for the seeds of many tree species. Unfortunately they are in decline in their small range in far northeast Queensland, where we encountered this one on the Atherton Tablelands. I was looking at some small bird in the undergrowth when I noticed the cassowary casually strolling down the road towards me. I froze and took photos, hoping my wife would follow me to see the bird (she did). Things got a little tense when it seemed to take a very strong interest in our blue shirts (perhaps because the color resembled its neck coloration, or because some of the species' favorite fruits are blue). A couple of times I had to hide behind my tripod to keep out of peck range, but that seemed to work. Eventually it wandered off into the forest. To my mind, much more impressive than the other Australian ratite, the emu. |
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