Garden birds..Aussie style!

Just awaiting delivery of replacement parts for the moth trap. God its frustrating, after waiting all winter and with a cold spring too, outside at night its like moth-city now and I've broken me bloody trap! Anyway not much else to report, saw a Hobby whip through low over the pond Monday morning but in the evenings I keep getting distracted by a certain international sporting event! Just thought I'ld post a couple of pics of these garden visitors we had daily (without fail!) at one of the accomadation's we stayed at, at Mission Beach, Queensland.

Cassowaries


This was Cassie the dominant female who held a territory throughout our stay... you were safe as long as you didn't walk around with food in your hand ( or you were another Cassowary!)



This is the male, Charlie, he would be tolerated at a distance by Cassie- even though they mate every spring!
Cassie's 'casque' (head shield) and wattles are bigger and longer respectively than on Charlie.


Like any female, she had perfected her 'if looks could kill' stare!


This is poor old Colin, the two year old son of Cassie and Charlie, not particularly liked by either of his parents and seemingly dispised by his mother! He would creep down the drive and jump at the mere sound of a foot step on the shingle in case it was his evil mum. If she did see him she was after him like a shot making low, farting noises as she went! He also ran like a girl.


A rare sight out of the breeding season, Cassie and Charlie together (yes thats a full size wheelie-bin!). Usually solitary during most of the year, we were treated to such an occurance due to Cyclone Larry which devastated this area in March (much of which was still evident) and destroyed almost all the fruits that were growing in the rainforests where these birds feed. Basically they were starving.