![Picture](/uploads/5/9/8/7/5987112/3159858.jpg?675)
Hello from the refreshed rainforest of Coquette Point, ![]() The Nutmeg Pigeons returned to their nest early this afternoon as the sky darkened and fresh winds blew from storm clouds that cooled the forest. Sheet lightning split the sky and rain fell gently. The rumble of thunder startled the cassowaries and sent the starlings scurrying for shelter in the safety of a macaranga’s broad leaves. The first summer-storm was welcome.
The devastation to a natural beach environment by vehicles is heartbreakingly demonstrated at Cowley Beach. Conservationist and campaigner Russell Constable gives an update on the situation at Cowley Beach in this video which includes Channel 7's news story on Wednesday. Russell added photos at the end of the video to show what happens to a beach when it is used as a local road. Hello from the rainforest of Coquette Point, The rainforest is waiting for rain. The large leaves on the rainforest trees are folded and bent down in a prayer for rain. The summer storms are near and the trees should not need to wait long. This is the longest dry period we have had for five years. ![]() The pheasant coucals have left their ground nests and have again taken to the trees. Every evening the birds laboriously climb to the very top of the rainforest to roost. In the early hours of the morning you can hear them call from the tree-tops and the long note ‘ooopp’ wakes the forest sleepers. ![]() The Bingil Bay community has been wathcing Bernie's progress since he was struck by a car trying to cross the Bingil Bay Road. QPWS have been overseeing his recovery within his environment and are now weaning him off supplementary food. Today he ventured south east across the gully. It is the second time I have seen him since the accident. He is beginning to get his adult colours. His foot is still swollen but he can walk without a limp now and the three claws he lost are starting to regrow. We are all very happy for Bernie surviving this round. ![]() Hello from Coquette Point, The female olive backed sunbirds are busy renovating old nest and building new ones. Meanwhile the male birds are preoccupied with territorial displays. One male bird was upset with the side mirrors of Robert’s truck. He got so upset at the reflection that in the end Robert covered his mirrors with a bag. ![]() Hi all, On Tuesday last week two metallic starlings arrived in the nursery. By Thursday there was a flock of a hundred very hungry birds. It’s so good to see them back. As nature arranges, the macaranga are in fruit and the trees vibrate as the birds feed from inside the dense foliage. Saturday the metallic starlings were showing signs of courtship. Male song imitating canaries and budgerigars, or at least that what it sounded like to me. The female with head bent tweeting. by ANNE WILKINSON. ![]() Turtles are having a hard time with so much of the seagrass lost. At this time of the year along the Cassowary Coast, turtles are breeding. Females are coming to the beaches to make the arduous trek into the dunes to lay their eggs which, in due time, will hatch and a new generation will take to the seas. It is an awe-inspiring thought to understand this has been happening for much longer than mankind has been on the earth. It is a barely changed pattern which, literally, seems as old as time. by ANNE WILKINSON ![]() The arrival of spring is greeted with mixed feelings by many people. Hot,blustery and short on useful rain, this can be a harsh season, so there is all the more reason to care for the creatures that can help humans get through it, then cope with the following rainy season in comfort. One pest that is beginning to make its presence felt is the mosquito. No one welcomes mosquitoes, so attracting those insects that can help control them seems like a good idea. Planting for insect eating birds and attracting lizards and frogs will go a long way to reduce the numbers of these pests that breed so rapidly and are so unwelcome. ![]() Hello from Coquette Point Cassowary Country (3C)! Jessie, the matriarch cassowary returned this week. I photographed her on the 13th of August, as she went off with the male bird. I have now established it was Dad 4. Dad 4 has not been sighted since that time. On her return Jessie looked very thin and I found her at the Eastern feed station Wednesday morning at 6.30am. ![]() The scramble to lodge development applications ahead of the deadline of the FNQ2031 Regional Plan in 2009 saw at one stage 35 proposals in the Mission Beach area referred to the Federal Environment agency to be assessed under the EPBC Act. To date, except for the then minister Peter Garrett's 'clearly unacceptable' decision on Lot 66, all developments assessed have been approved with various conditions and offsets. |
Archives
September 2023
Categories
All
|