Cassowary Crossing

No apologies for this picture as it is true to life. Most sensible creatures, on finding themselves observed by a row of cars, will make tracks for the woods. Most of the photographers in the cars will just about have unearthed the camera from their bag/front glove/under the seat to get a fleeting picture of the creature's backside. In this case two backsides - the black a male and the brown a female Southern Cassowary.Casuarius casuarius johnsonii
I was really pleased to get even this view as I have tried on 3 previous visits to spot one. There are less than a couple of thousand in Australia. They are so locked into the Jungle that without them it would be a very different and less diverse place. By eating fruit dropped to the forest floor they are the major means of seed dispersal. Seed germination will often only be successful if it has been passed through the gut of the bird and growth is stimulated by the accompanying dollop of manure.
This couple will only be together until the female lays her 3-5 eggs. Then he will incubate them and look after the stripy chicks.