Early Birds Rewarded As Daintree's Cassowaries Come Out To Play

PORT DOUGLAS, Australia - Aug. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- While these “pre-historic” animals can often seem allusive, Cape Tribulation-based Mason Tours private guide Lawrence Mason said visitors to the region were currently being treated to lots of rare sightings. 

 “We are seeing a lot of cassowaries coming out very early and late afternoon at the moment. We are not sure why this is, perhaps they rest in the hotter part of the day, but it is an incredibly special moment for those lucky enough to see them.”

Mason said the best time of the day to spot a cassowary on the side of the road was between 6.30am and 8am and any “early birds” would be rewarded. 

 “A couple of days ago I had a male cassowary and one chick step onto the road, followed by another. There are regulars that cross the road in known locations but these were ones I had never seen before.

 “Last night there was a male and two chicks right on my driveway as I cam home.

“Unfortunately, a high proportion of visitors don’t get on the road until 9am, and by this time many of the cassowaries have retreated into the rainforest.”

For more information on sightings, visit the website www.daintreecassowary.org.au, which details locations as well as information about the endangered birds, which are native to the Wet Tropics of North Queensland. 

Mason said it was quite common to spot cassowaries up to three times a week, however for anyone “bird” spotting, he urged caution when driving.  

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SANzgT0GGvY&list=UUlR2...



“A lot of it is common sense but always stay in the car particularly when there is a male cassowary with his young, put the emergency lights on if you come to a stop so other vehicles are aware of this and try pull over so you are not sitting in the middle of the road.”  

 Mason likened seeing a cassowary in the Daintree as the equivalent of seeing an elephant in Africa. “They are definitely one of Australia’s big five.

 “There are not many birds that large in the world or are that well coloured, and although they are really obvious when they are near the road, when they walk into the forest, they just disappear.”

 Tourism Port Douglas and Daintree executive officer Doug Ryan said any chance encounter with the region’s native wildlife was a highlight for visitors.

“Cassowaries are an icon animal and to see one in their natural environment is a real bonus for tourists. The early bird catches the worm or in this situation the bird,” he added.

 ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Doug Ryan

Executive Officer

Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree

Phone:  07 4099 4588 / 0417794875

Issued by Tanya Snelling, Strategic PR, 0417 202 663