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The resident pair of black-necked Storks on the
lower Daintree River (NQ) were successful in rearing four young in their
breeding effort for 2004. The nest was placed in rainforest on Halfway Island
about eleven kilometres upstream from the river mouth.
The food demand on the
parents in this instance would have been tremendous. The
four young were observed a irregular intervals for up to eight weeks after
fledging.
An instance of a male
Southern Cassowary with five chicks was
related to me in February. It was one of three males that live close to Cape
Tribulation. This is most unusual as the species normally lay up to four
eggs per clutch and not all of them may be fertile.
There have been more sightings
of Cassowaries north of the Daintree according to feedback from tour operators
that travel the road daily. I recommended to a British guest a couple of places
to try for them and they encountered three adults and two chicks in thirty-five
minutes!
Upon relating the incident to a
friend (ex-driver) he considered my chances of getting a donation for Cassowary
preservation in this instance somewhat remote.
Del. Richards, Fine Feather Tours, Mossman,
NQ.
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