Yvonne Cunningham's regular updates are a wonderful diary of life at Coquette Point. From now on they will be posted here. You can read past updates by clicking the icon to the right.
Dad 4 waiting for a feed
This week, by accident, I was missed for the midweek cassowary food drop. However, I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what would happen with the cassowaries if there was no food in the two feed stations: no food Wednesday, Thursday or this morning Saturday. As a result ‘Dad 1’ has left the area and I saw him at the top of the range when I went to town at midday Wednesday. ‘ Dad 4’ spent most of Wednesday and early Thursday waiting by the food station. He would leave the chicks in the mangroves and do sorties between the feed stations.
Blush satin ash (Acmena hemilampra)
Eventually sometime on Thursday he left with the chicks. He was at the top of the range 9am this morning according to the newspaper delivery man. Big Sis has remained in the area but on the move all the time, she spends a lot of time in the mangroves. National Parks have made a huge commitment to supplement the food supply for these birds. I have been checking on scats, at Coquette Point, and have seen only a few Alexandra palm seeds in them.
I was greatly cheered today to see a blush satinash Acmena hemilampra flowering.
I was greatly cheered today to see a blush satinash Acmena hemilampra flowering.
Cassowary 'Big sis' eating worms
These trees set fruit quickly and should be dropping ripe fruit by Spring. Some pandanus have fruit and they will be ripe in a month. Alexandrae palms seed is ripe but very little is on the ground after woompoo and Indian koel feed. Other than that little else is showing promise of fruit.
Dean, who works in the nursery, was shifting some old pots this week and Big Sis came to investigate.( I have told everyone to ignore the cassowaries if they enter the nursery area.) There were dozens of worms under the pots and Big Sis ate the lot.
Dean, who works in the nursery, was shifting some old pots this week and Big Sis came to investigate.( I have told everyone to ignore the cassowaries if they enter the nursery area.) There were dozens of worms under the pots and Big Sis ate the lot.
Dad 4 apparently felt threatened by my compost bin this week. I was quietly working in the vegetable garden when Dad 4 attacked the compost bin. He knocked it over with a few good kicks and then chested up to it ruffling his feathers.
Dad 4 chesting up to compost bin
In the end the compost bin won and ‘ Dad 4’ left with his chicks.
Cheers for now,
Yvonne C.
Cheers for now,
Yvonne C.
