Mission Beach Cassowaries
  • ABOUT CASSOWARIES
    • Cassowary ID and tracking >
      • Sightings maps
    • World Cassowary Day 2015
  • NEWS
  • Information
    • Developments
    • Thorsborne Trail NOT FOR SALE >
      • MARGARET 'T' AO 1927-2018
    • Walking tracks
    • Birding
    • Lot 66/Garrett Corridor
    • Publications
    • Mission Beach Naturally >
      • Community Identity
    • Heritage
  • Photo Gallery
    • Fauna >
      • Cassowary
      • Birds
      • Mammals
      • Reptiles
    • Flora >
      • Flowers
      • Plants and trees
      • Fungi
    • Scenic
  • Contact
    • Privacy policy
  • Mission Beach Cassowaries

News from Coquette Point

29/5/2011

 
Cassowary proof pig traps used in the Burdekin
Cassowary proof pig trap
Hi All,

Following all the problems I have been having with pigs and Terrain’s refusal to supply me with a cage, this week we built our own pig cage. Right on cue a friend turned up from Giru who is an expert pig hunter, how lucky! He could not believe that the old, spring-door release mechanism was being used and with the approval of National Parks: especially in Cassowary Country. He quickly drew up a plan with an inward opening side-swing door. Pigs can push it open and keep coming into the cage but they can’t get out. He advised me to put a top on it as if we get a few pigs in the cage they could walk on top of each other to get out. The cage is made and set but since then, as luck would have , the pigs have disappeared.  However as sure as eggs are eggs they will be back and I am waiting.

The beauty of this pig cage is that it should not catch a cassowary. Cassowaries would not be expected to push a door open as a pig will do. So if this is the cage design used in the Burdekin, with the special intention to avoid catching wildlife why isn’t it being used by Terrain in the World Heritage Wet Tropics. I spoke to a National Park Ranger from the Burdekin and he firmly stated that the spring loaded door trap was not permitted to be used in his area. So what is going on here!  Have we lost a magnificent cassowary at Garners Beach, in terrible circumstances,  because it was more cost effective to use out of date cages? I would like to put a few people, (no names) in a pig cage out in the full sun for a day.
Mourilyan Cassie
Mourilyan Cassie
Received an email and photos of a cassowary at Mourilyan from Roger Gobel.  On first look at the pictures I was sure it was Coquette Point’s Jessie but tonight when I closely compared the markings they are different birds. Jessie’s wattle is longer on the right hand side and she has a distinct brown spot on the right hand side of her casque.  However both birds have very large casques bent to the right on a similar angle and both birds appear to be about the same age and from the length of the wattles and height of the casque both females.

Picture
Jessie
I saw Jessie Monday lunch time she was walking up the range beside the road her feathers were shiny and she looked in good condition.

Since I have varied the filling time for the cassowary feed stations I have seen the subadults return to the feed stations regularly.  In just one week they are looking healthier. Dad 4 and his chicks are still getting a feed every day
Picture
but they now are extending their hunting range and I saw them out on the front beach on Tuesday.  Must go for a walk around the front next week to see if the soldier crabs are back.


We were shifting some bricks in the nursery and found two native bee hives in the cavities. I have also noticed a hive in old borer holes in an Alexandra palm and another in cracks in the cement of the old shed. Perhaps their homes fell down in Yasi and they are taking advantage of any odd space.

Cheers for now,

Yvonne C.





Comments are closed.
    Mission Beach Cassowaries facebook page
    Follow the lives of individual cassowaries on facebook

    Picture
    Friends of Ninney Rise
    Ninney Rise
    - the inspiring
     conservation history of Mission Beach



    Archives

    September 2023
    May 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    January 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    November 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    Ash
    Birds
    Boat Bay
    Bush Tucker
    Butterflies
    Cassowaries
    Cassowary Coast
    Cca
    Coquette Point
    Cowley Beach
    Crocodiles
    Cyclones
    Cyclone Yasi
    Development
    Flowers
    Flying Foxes
    Frogs
    Fungi
    Insects
    Johnstone River
    Little Terns Nesting
    Mahogany Glider
    Mangrove Dieback
    Marine
    Mission Beach
    Port Hinchinbrook
    Rainforest Fruit
    Sediment Runnoff
    Snakes
    Spiders
    Threats
    Tourism
    Tully Heads
    Turtles
    Wildwatch
    W P S Q Tully Branch


© All content on this website (except where otherwise stated) is copyright Mission Beach Cassowaries All Rights Reserved If copying or publishing  content or information from this site please credit and link to Mission Beach Cassowaries Inc. website Except where otherwise credited, all photos on this website are copyright and must have permission to reproduce