Cassowary monitoring

First shots for our Cassowary monitoring programme from the  motion-activated cameras set up near Black Mountain Road. They show a  cassowary about to cross the road. Also captured are the logging trucks which use the road. The drivers recognize the need for care and slow down at this recognized cassowary crossing, but it does highlight the danger from all vehicles for these birds.

KCons recently received grant funds for the cameras to help identify the number of cassowaries in the Kuranda region through monitoring.  Outdoor motion-activated cameras are commonly used for wildlife surveillance.  They are small portable cameras that run on batteries and can last for a month at a time running 24/7 using infra-red for night time images.

Cassowaries are in decline in Australia mainly due to human activities. We can all do our bit to help protect these magnificent animals by being CASS-O-WARY!

Find out more about cassowary research on KCons Save the cassowary page. You can also visit the sites of universities and other institutions and organizations who are engaged in cassowary research with the aim of preserving this rare and endangered bird in it natural environment.

Southern Cassowary – birds in backyards ….. [cassowary] numbers are decreasing because of habitat clearance and collisions with cars. Their fruit diet means they are commonly sighted in commercial orchards and gardens with fruit bearing trees. Interestingly, citrus fruit is not usually eaten. They can also be dangerous if cornered.

 Recovery plan for the Southern Cassowary  The overall objective of this recovery plan is to protect cassowaries, habitats and corridors from threats through better planning, monitoring and community involvement.

University of Queensland Eco-lab  A satellite tagging study upon the cassowaries at Etty Bay was recently published in the international scientific journal Endangered Species.