Western Australia, Day 10

Townsville: A wedding party stood beneath the majestic rain trees at the corner of the Townsville Golf Club in late afternoon. The white-clad bride and her groom were small, formal figures sheltered under vast, spreading boughs. Deliciously warm air swept over me as I cycled past them, the waning sunshine underlain by whispers of enticing coolness. The parkway en route to the Bush Gardens was cluttered with families and dogs soaking up that late sun. The voices of young children soared out sweetly. Young men shouted while kicking a soccer ball around on a playing field. Small, fluffy dogs panted as they raced along the paved path. On the far side of the river, the parkway was speckled with the movement of cyclists and walkers. Fishos seated on the grassy shore cast lines out into placid water. I had come for birds, but it was people that caught my eye, and the shapes of trees, one a rain tree with a hundred uplifted branches gilded by the setting sun. Crickets played their insect violins mezzo piano, offering peaceful accompaniment to a colourful, bare-limbed parade of winter life in a tropical city. If this is winter, I thought, bring it on!

Western Australia: Today, the research crew brought in the camera traps and packed all the gear in preparation for driving from Yakabindi to Cunyu, the second station at which they sampled biodiversity. Whereas Vilis was able to e-mail me from Yakabindi, he and Janis were truly incommunicado at Cunyu.