It's that sad time of year when the male Cassowary finally abandons
his two by now quite well-grown chicks, and this year June 13 was the
day, after constant association with the male since we first saw them
as tiny stripy chicks back on Oct 27 05. The bonds do loosen towards
the end as they range farther apart, but the piercing distress call
of the chick always brings the male back in a hurry, sometimes with
just a quiet reassuring low, dry, double gruff note if close-by
already. When they are ready to move off, the male gives a much
louder, deeper less dry triple series of more elongated deep notes
asa signal, then away they go.
Jun 13 was the last day we saw the male near the chicks, and the
shrill and emphatic rising distress calls now bring no response, as
the clearly anxious youngsters cast about wondering where the parent
has gone. The chicks squabble amongst themselves, one giving a gruff
loud hiss if the other impinges too close, but they are still
together for a while. What will happen next is the male will be away
for a few days, but when he returns he will have forgotten about his
chicks and will now see them as rivals to be chased off, which will
mean vicious chases and fights until the chicks are finally driven
away. Prospects for survival are grim this year as food is scarcer
than usual due to the battering the forests took over the wet, and
without supplementary feeding I would be amazed if either make it,
especially as the territories along the prime habitat of Black
Mountain Road are all occupied so they will have to go farther afield
into more disturbed and less optimal habitat.
Happens every year, but still quite a sad time for us as we see them
most days for months.
This year is also interesting as we have a sub-adult male (whom we
name Harry) now coming most days, and fighting with the long-
established dominant male when they meet. The female is also showing
interest in him rather than driving him off as she did when he was
less well-coloured in 2005, so the prospect arises of two sets of
parents and chicks interacting here at some point, we shall see.
I was looking at HANZAB Vol 1 the other day, and noted the statement
that the adults colour can change with mood, which we find surprising
as we have never seen this in our 8 years here, with hundreds of
sightings of cassowaries and many different kinds of behaviour. I
would say that they get a brighter colouration in the breeding
season, females particularly, but we have never noted colour changes
with mood (is this the same as blushing?). Has anyone else actually
seen cassowaries colour change?
Good Birding
Phil and Sue Gregory
www. cassowary-house.com.au
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