Australian Birds: Southern Cassowary

Stocky and shaggy, the southern cassowary sports a casque atop its head and disperses fruit and berry seeds in Australian wet tropics rainforests.   For this week’s featured bird, we’...

Cyclone Larry and Endangered Cassowaries

Oh, blessed freshness after the rain! Last evening’s wild storm – its black power like an invading enemy – has granted Townsville a reprieve from heat and scorching sun. This morning, lighte...

Aussie Avian Portraits III

In still-dim light just past dawn, I cycled the parkway to Aplin’s Weir, revelling in my freedom of motion and in the chorus of birdsong awakening the city of Townsville. Magpie geese honked nas...

Cassowary Country

In the darkness of 5 a.m., Vilis and I rose from our bed, packed gear for an outing, and drove north from Townsville on the Bruce Highway, our destination the cassowary hotspot centred on Mission Beac...