These large flightless birds play an important role in the dispersal of rainforest plant seeds and Cassowary populations face a variety of threats as habitat disappears, human contact with cassowaries is increasing.
The southern cassowary (Casuarius Casuarius) is one of the most striking and certainly by far the largest bird to be found in the Australian rainforests.
To describe the cassowary it is a large flightless land bird, impressive in size, with course glossy black plumage, tall helmet and brilliant red and blue neck and wattles as distinctive features.
Their diet generally consists of any fruit that drops to the rainforest floor, but they will eat almost anything edible. The cassowary is active during the day and forages for food from sunrise to sunset, generally eating most in the early mornings or late afternoons.
For 12 months the male takes the sole responsibility of rearing the chicks, after which time the young birds will seek out their own territory. The sub-adult mortality rate is high as opportunities to establish new homes are limited, particularly in areas where habitat has been affected.
Cassowaries blend with their surroundings extremely well as people who are lucky enough to see one in the wild will tell you. Now you see them, one step into the forest and they have disappeared into the shadows. Dung or a footprint is sometimes the only hint that a cassowary is near. The sheer size of the 3-toe footprint up to 180mm in size makes track recognition easy.
Cassowaries are often seen at the rear of Cassawong Cottages at Mission Beach
Cassowary with a single chick. Some males are known to raise as many as 3 chicks.
Small chicks with the distinctive young bird striping
