Back last November, DH and I spent 3 days in North Queensland, visiting family. DH had a few things he particularly wanted to see during our short stay, and one of these was to see a cassowary up close. A cassowary is a native bird which lives in the tropical rainforest areas of FNQ, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and islands in between PNG and Queensland. . They are a similar build to emus but have a colourful 'lump' on their heads. ( they are related to rheas, emus and ostriches)
Lump was my word but apparently it is a 'keratinous skin covered casque' which increases in size with age.
My cousin said that cassowaries could always be seen walking around nearby Etty Bay. She suggested we take a picnic tea down to the bay and DH could get lots of photos of the birds that just might be there. We got there before sundown and it was definitely a beautiful spot for a picnic tea.
The waste bins even have cassowaries emblazoned on them...
Oooh...and there could be other creatures hereabouts too!
It wasn't long before we saw a cassowary striding around the picnic area...
While DH walked around taking photos, my cousin and I set up the picnic table...
Just as we started to eat, all of a sudden a cassowary decided that our food looked too good to pass by...
It was quite insistent; my brave cousin flicked a teatowel at it and eventually it did move away! Phew! I'd heard stories of cassowaries becoming angry and had been know to kick out at people and dogs with their strong legs and feet.
So after that drama, we enjoyed our salad and chicken in peace.
Just before the sun went down, we saw the 'stinger' nets being wound in. Without the nets, people in the far north of the state can't swim in the ocean for a majority of the year because of the dangerous marine stingers.
Obviously the nets get put out each morning and then brought in each evening.
The next night we were in Cairns as the next day we were flying home. We walked along the waterfront in the late afternoon, enjoying the views...
and the lovely sea breezes!
We decided that somewhere on the waterfront would be a nice place for dinner. DH had always found the RSL club (Returned and Services League) in Cairns to be good, so that's where we went. I think it was one of the nicest RSL clubs that I've ever been to. We chose a table on the footpath but didn't expect any of the drama/entertainment of the previous night. Then I heard bagpipes...and drums! Across the road were some bagpipers and drummers who proceeded to play for the next 30 minutes or so...what fun!
And our food was pretty good too!
Lump was my word but apparently it is a 'keratinous skin covered casque' which increases in size with age.
My cousin said that cassowaries could always be seen walking around nearby Etty Bay. She suggested we take a picnic tea down to the bay and DH could get lots of photos of the birds that just might be there. We got there before sundown and it was definitely a beautiful spot for a picnic tea.
The waste bins even have cassowaries emblazoned on them...
Oooh...and there could be other creatures hereabouts too!
It wasn't long before we saw a cassowary striding around the picnic area...
While DH walked around taking photos, my cousin and I set up the picnic table...
Just as we started to eat, all of a sudden a cassowary decided that our food looked too good to pass by...
It was quite insistent; my brave cousin flicked a teatowel at it and eventually it did move away! Phew! I'd heard stories of cassowaries becoming angry and had been know to kick out at people and dogs with their strong legs and feet.
So after that drama, we enjoyed our salad and chicken in peace.
Just before the sun went down, we saw the 'stinger' nets being wound in. Without the nets, people in the far north of the state can't swim in the ocean for a majority of the year because of the dangerous marine stingers.
Obviously the nets get put out each morning and then brought in each evening.
The next night we were in Cairns as the next day we were flying home. We walked along the waterfront in the late afternoon, enjoying the views...
and the lovely sea breezes!
We decided that somewhere on the waterfront would be a nice place for dinner. DH had always found the RSL club (Returned and Services League) in Cairns to be good, so that's where we went. I think it was one of the nicest RSL clubs that I've ever been to. We chose a table on the footpath but didn't expect any of the drama/entertainment of the previous night. Then I heard bagpipes...and drums! Across the road were some bagpipers and drummers who proceeded to play for the next 30 minutes or so...what fun!
And our food was pretty good too!
5 comments:
that is certainly a spectcular bird and yes a kick from those legs could do a lot of damage. Interesting to read about the nets not sure I would have felt safe even when the nets are there and as for the crocodiles would hate to get close to one of them!Your meal looks very tempting.
The Cassowary certainly got up close and personal, didn't it. Lovely part of the world. Love the photo of you and oh my, those prawns look pretty darn good!
What an interesting post from your side of the world! I enjoyed reading it immensly. You got specatular photos of the bird. It's very colorful. I got up close to an ostrich some years ago, and would rather apprciate large birds from a distance. The seaside photos look very inviting. Thank you for your visit and comment at my blog.
This armchair traveller loved your post, Maria, thank you for sharing your adventures.
That bird got awfully close, didn't it? Glad you got to enjoy your meal and not have to share.
Stinger nets!! Great idea to keep swimmers safe.
God bless.
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