tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4577886463033186602024-03-15T02:49:41.490+08:00Ella Bay ForeverElla Bay in Far North Queensland Australia is a wilderness surrounded by World Heritage sites. It is home to endangered Cassowary, Marine turtles, Frogs and Marine Mammals. Property developer Ella Bay Pty Ltd/Satori seeks to develop at Ella Bay for 5,000 people, including 540 residences, 860 units, a golf course and four large luxury resorts. This blog features some of the amazing flora and fauna of Ella Bay and Bramston Beach, and highlights conservation issues within the region.Russell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-22878504909327955992012-11-30T14:01:00.003+08:002012-11-30T15:05:37.863+08:00One hell of a bay to give away!Don't like the Ella Bay property development being approved by the Queensland Government?
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AVmYPQvEAFU/ULhLeVAZO1I/AAAAAAAA6x4/bApGqu8ze1U/s1600/vlcsnap-2012-11-30-14h37m52s201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AVmYPQvEAFU/ULhLeVAZO1I/AAAAAAAA6x4/bApGqu8ze1U/s400/vlcsnap-2012-11-30-14h37m52s201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Want to let Tony Burke know that you would like the Australian Commonwealth Government to reject this inappropriate and undesirable urban development/resort complex?<br />
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Cairns and Far North Environment Centre have made it easy to voice your concerns in an email to Commonwealth Environment Minister Tony Burke.<br />
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You can even edit the letter and add your personal thoughts regarding this inappropriate property development before hitting the send button if you wish!<br />
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Here is the link
<a href="http://cafnec.org.au/2012/11/help-protect-ella-bay-sign-here/">http://cafnec.org.au/2012/11/help-protect-ella-bay-sign-here/</a>Ria Tanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770926654830427210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-40920756531712981842010-07-16T19:18:00.036+08:002015-07-10T19:24:05.840+08:00Are Coconut Palms Native to Australia?James Cook, Matthew Flinders, Philip King, Owen Stanley, 1770, 1830, 1848, North Queensland, Chinchilla, the Frankland Islands, Russell Island…Names, dates, places it’s all a bit of a mess and at first glance and it all appears to have very little to do with coconuts!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAPyuSxcI/AAAAAAAABC8/I2VrY5s8bYw/s1600/1+my+coconut+palm.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494462185450161602" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAPyuSxcI/AAAAAAAABC8/I2VrY5s8bYw/s400/1+my+coconut+palm.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Relax.<br />
<br />
I will explain.<br />
<br />
I’m about to introduce you to some amazing Australian history that will hopefully have you examining your ideas about the humble coconut palm on our Australian shores but before we begin this story let me make a couple of points clear.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Firstly I have nothing but the very highest regard for the explorers I will be talking about and the courageous men who served under them. It is not my wish in any way to criticise their actions as their courage, self sacrifice and commitment simply cannot be praised highly enough, they were extraordinary men.<br />
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Secondly, I am not a coconut hater.<br />
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The massive coconut tree at the start of this story is one of five that grow in our garden and I eat the nut and drink the milk of these trees and can assure you I bear absolutely no malice towards them!<br />
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This is no mean feat considering the bombarding that the coconuts give to the gardens below them and the nocturnal gnawing of the giant white tailed rats that dine on the nuts on a regular basis!<br />
<br />
I appreciate all that is good about the coconut palm but that does not blind me to the fact that they are an exotic species in Australia and my studies have convinced me that they cannot be described as an Australian native species.<br />
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Lately there has been a bit of a debate raging about the status of coconuts in Australia and whether they are native to our Australian shores.<br />
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I recently received an email from Mr Geoff Satchell titled “World Expert Reveals - Coconuts are Native to Australia (sic) Tropics” which directly stated to all recipients that “Coconuts are native to our tropical shoreline” and included an attachment from Dr Mike Foale, Honourary Research Consultant (Coconuts) University of Queensland, St Lucia.<br />
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On 24 June 2010 I received another email from Truus Biddlecombe-Sanders from the Mission Beach Community Association that stated…“Thought it might be worth circulating amongst members along with the terrific article about our prized native coconuts. World recognised experts are declaring coconuts as native to our tropical shoreline”. This had the same article by Mike Foale attached.<br />
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Let’s have a look at what Dr Mike Foale has to say in his story, “Coconut palm is a valued resource”<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAQOo5OEI/AAAAAAAABDE/fy9Ev-fMYaI/s1600/2+coconut+palm+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494462192943708226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAQOo5OEI/AAAAAAAABDE/fy9Ev-fMYaI/s400/2+coconut+palm+copy.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 308px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Dr Mike Foale states “coconut palms are a native species of the Australian tropical coast”<br />
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Something I will challenge in this story as a thorough examination of the evidence that is available does not appear to support Dr Foale’s opinion.<br />
<br />
Dr Mike Foale of course has a commercial interest in the coconut industry as a consultant, author and the inventor of the “coco split”, a product he sells for a little over $150 each (delivered) and he demonstrates it on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Coconutsplit">YouTube</a>.<br />
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Hmm think I will keep it simple and continue using my knife and pocket the change but if you want to buy one check out <a href="http://www.cocosplit.com/">http://www.cocosplit.com/</a><br />
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Mike Foale also directly admits on his video that Australia is not coconut country... no Kidding!<br />
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He says “I wasn’t raised in coconut country I come from Australia” …check <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/Coconutsplit#p/u/3/MzPyDtKmx5Q">the video</a>.<br />
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I wish he would make his mind up!<br />
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Dr Mike Foale states that coconuts were sighted on Russell Island near Gordonvale…. Well Russell Island is absolutely nowhere near Gordonvale.<br />
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I know this as I look at Russell Island nearly every day from our home at Bramston Beach near Innisfail!<br />
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Here is a photo of Russell Island taken from our home at Bramston Beach.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAQvwHwEI/AAAAAAAABDM/4V_RuNZ_CiY/s1600/3+Russell+island.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494462201832390722" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAQvwHwEI/AAAAAAAABDM/4V_RuNZ_CiY/s400/3+Russell+island.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Even better here is a photo of Russell Island with our coconut palm trunk in the foreground!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAQ2wGY2I/AAAAAAAABDU/trJAUh-sJvI/s1600/4+Russell+island+with+coconut.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494462203711349602" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBAQ2wGY2I/AAAAAAAABDU/trJAUh-sJvI/s400/4+Russell+island+with+coconut.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I hope Dr Mike Foale’s coconut knowledge is better than his geography but as a professor of coconuts I think it must.<br />
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I will talk a lot more about Russell Island and the Frankland Island group to which it belongs later on so I won’t go into much detail now.<br />
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Dr Mike Foale wrote a nice book called “The coconut odyssey bounteous possibilities of the tree of life” which you can download <a href="http://www.stanceequine.com.au/mediaroom_detail.php?Coconuts-for-better-health---Dr-Mike-Foale-66" style="color: red;">here</a>...it is a very good book!<br />
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In this book Dr Mike Foale states:<br />
<blockquote>
“Although the coconut was to be found on tropical coasts worldwide before European settlers came to Australia in the late 18th century, it was, remarkably, absent from the tropical coasts of the continent” </blockquote>
Yet Dr Mike Foale totally contradicts himself in a <a href="http://coconutters.blogspot.com/">recent internet posting</a> by stating:<br />
<blockquote>
“Coconut palms are actually a native species of the Australian tropical coast.”</blockquote>
In the same book Dr Mike Foale states the following:<br />
<blockquote>
“The early European mariners in the Pacific were very ‘coconut conscious’, having been introduced to the practice of carrying stocks of coconuts for food by the indigenous peoples of tropical islands and southern India. There is, however, not one precolonial mariner who refers in his journal to coconuts on the Australian mainland coast.” </blockquote>
Dr Mike Foale’s words …not mine!<br />
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Not one single coconut tree on the whole of the Australian continent was recorded pre settlement yet Dr Mike Foale wants us to believe they are native to Australia?<br />
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Sorry Doc but that’s a tough nut to swallow!<br />
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Dr Mike Foale and P Roebeling wrote a paper titled "Potential for profitable coconut production in northern Queensland" that can be found <a href="http://aciar.gov.au/publication/PR125">here</a><br />
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In the introduction on page 67 you will find the following:<br />
<blockquote>
<br />
The coconut (Cocos nucifera) palm, which is prominent<br />
in the food and trade economies of all peoples<br />
located in humid tropical coastlands and islands<br />
throughout the world, has a curiously low profile in<br />
Australia. Except for the Melanesian peoples of the<br />
Torres Strait Islands close to Papua New Guinea,<br />
there were no significant numbers of palms growing,<br />
and no coconut tradition, among the indigenous<br />
inhabitants of tropical northern Australia. While<br />
coconut seeds undoubtedly washed ashore in great<br />
numbers on the north-east coast of Australia, in particular,<br />
those that were not opened by the voracious<br />
native white-tailed rat were consumed as fortunate<br />
gifts from the sea by the human hunter-gatherers of<br />
the region. Any young palms that did become established<br />
on less-frequented strands provided a delicious<br />
meal of ‘cabbage’ when eventually discovered.<br />
With very few exceptions the coconut palm was<br />
absent from tropical Australia before European settlement<br />
began in the early 19th century.<br />
During the early settlement period mariners operating<br />
in the vicinity of the tropical Australian coast<br />
were encouraged to plant coconut palms as a potential<br />
source of emergency food in case of shipwreck.<br />
Later, missionaries on Cape York planted coconuts<br />
for food, to help support settlements of Aboriginal<br />
people.</blockquote>
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<br />
Dr Mike Foale was right on the money when he said the following in his newspaper story "Coconut palm is a valued resource":<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
“Because the white tailed rat loved to eat nuts washed ashore, as did the Aboriginal people of Cape York, the palm was not widespread before European settlers came” </blockquote>
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<br />
I take it that “not widespread” means “absent” as Dr Mike Foale stated in his book!<br />
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Here is the white tailed rat <span style="font-style: italic;">Uromys caudimaculatus</span>, a creature that can certainly be classed as a coconut busting machine.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBARCgv0lI/AAAAAAAABDc/XnfMUYVfCbQ/s1600/5+white+tailed+rat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494462206868181586" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBARCgv0lI/AAAAAAAABDc/XnfMUYVfCbQ/s400/5+white+tailed+rat.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Here is a small one I found dead on the road for scale and these native rodents get to a good kilogram in weight.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB3C-uWQI/AAAAAAAABDk/H86XBDO58KE/s1600/6+road+kill+white+tail+rat.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494463959340570882" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB3C-uWQI/AAAAAAAABDk/H86XBDO58KE/s400/6+road+kill+white+tail+rat.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Here are some photos of some white tailed rat nut busting handy work that I recently recorded on the beach at Ella Bay.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB3jQ4PKI/AAAAAAAABDs/zRDr4YuZQpQ/s1600/7+rat+eaten+nut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494463968006651042" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB3jQ4PKI/AAAAAAAABDs/zRDr4YuZQpQ/s400/7+rat+eaten+nut.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB384R2DI/AAAAAAAABD0/6I55obn7nMk/s1600/8+rat+eaten+nut.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494463974882793522" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB384R2DI/AAAAAAAABD0/6I55obn7nMk/s400/8+rat+eaten+nut.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Australian Aboriginal people not only ate any nuts that washed ashore but would also eat the cabbage and I found mention of palm hearts being eaten by Innisfail Ma:mu aboriginal people in this newspaper article from The Brisbane Courier in 1899.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB4DcHslI/AAAAAAAABD8/vtbERLggzxU/s1600/9+palm+hearts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494463976643736146" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB4DcHslI/AAAAAAAABD8/vtbERLggzxU/s400/9+palm+hearts.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 166px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 294px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB4UBn2VI/AAAAAAAABEE/FXFWzQjDLvA/s1600/10+palm+hearts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494463981095999826" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBB4UBn2VI/AAAAAAAABEE/FXFWzQjDLvA/s400/10+palm+hearts.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 141px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 286px;" /></a>You can read <a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3707744?searchTerm=Maude+wheeler+on+the+way+home">the whole story here</a>.<br />
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Of course the Aboriginal owners of Australia had to be quick to beat the rats to any coconuts that washed onto Australian shores!<br />
<br />
Dr Mike Foale was incorrect when he said:<br />
<br />
“Any mosquito breeding would be due to careless leaving of split nuts by consumers who need to be reminded that any free water comprises such a risk during summer”<br />
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The following photos are of coconuts from the Cowley Beach esplanade that were converted by white tailed rats into perfect mosquito breeding receptacles (without any human intervention).<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCe88p5JI/AAAAAAAABEs/KxmiEbiGudQ/s1600/11+water+nut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494464644916044946" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCe88p5JI/AAAAAAAABEs/KxmiEbiGudQ/s400/11+water+nut.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCecYZGAI/AAAAAAAABEk/mblyu6W_I0U/s1600/12+water+nut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494464636174014466" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCecYZGAI/AAAAAAAABEk/mblyu6W_I0U/s400/12+water+nut.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCeKLpKXI/AAAAAAAABEc/gAFyMHX7tBM/s1600/13+water+nut.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494464631288703346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCeKLpKXI/AAAAAAAABEc/gAFyMHX7tBM/s400/13+water+nut.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 267px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>and the site they came from mere metres from a picnic table and houses.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCdWb3dmI/AAAAAAAABEU/RLtB32R1mI0/s1600/14+coco+mess.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494464617398105698" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCdWb3dmI/AAAAAAAABEU/RLtB32R1mI0/s400/14+coco+mess.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Aedes egypti, Aedes notoscriptus</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Culex quinquefasciatus</span> are just 3 dangerous mosquitoes capable of using these coconuts as breeding receptacles.<br />
<br />
Between them these 3 mosquitoes are capable of carrying serious arbovirus including Dengue, Ross river fever and Barmah forest virus.<br />
<br />
I’m not even going to mention that the White tailed rat is a recognised vector for the lethal disease leptospirosis in this region…oops I just did!<br />
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Another great “coconuts are native” article is, “A brief history of the coconut palm in Australia” which can be <a href="http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/idc/groups/public/documents/journal_article/jcuprd_048609.pdf">downloaded here</a>.<br />
<br />
This PDF by Dowe and Smith contains some superb sketches of the Russell Island clump of coconuts and some interesting information regarding a 2 million year old fossilised coconut from Chinchilla.<br />
<br />
In fact these two items form the basis of their suggestion that coconuts may be native to Australia!<br />
<br />
I will start with the fossilised coconut as that is an easy one to sort.<br />
<br />
Dowe and Smith state:<br />
<blockquote>
“Similarly, in Australia, there is compelling evidence in the fossil record for the previous occurrence of coconuts on the continent. Rigby (1995) described a silicified coconut fruit from the Chinchilla sands in southern Queensland and dated it to the late Pliocene, about 2 mya. Chinchilla is situated about 250 km west of Brisbane, and the area is otherwise rich in fossils of semi-aquatic animals such as crocodiles and tortoises, thus suggesting a previously more tropical and humid climate than at present.”</blockquote>
Call me crazy if you want but a solitary 2 million year old silicified coconut can hardly be proof that coconuts are native to Australia!<br />
<br />
Australia has at least 6 species of flamingos in its fossil record but I can guarantee that that does not make flamingos native to Australia. I think we can safely cross the silicified coconut off the list of relevant evidence!<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCdPHjoUI/AAAAAAAABEM/7amGTIE34Bw/s1600/15+flamingo.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494464615433871682" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBCdPHjoUI/AAAAAAAABEM/7amGTIE34Bw/s400/15+flamingo.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Now for the big one which is the Russell Island coconut clump which was discovered well and truly post settlement in 1848 by the crew of the HMS Rattlenake.<br />
<br />
By the way this discovery has been well known for many years as this article from the Argus from 15 August 1919 proves!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDIIumWvI/AAAAAAAABFU/KIRZLfUeU-c/s1600/16+argus+story.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494465352452954866" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDIIumWvI/AAAAAAAABFU/KIRZLfUeU-c/s400/16+argus+story.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 229px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 294px;" /></a>After reading “A brief history of the coconut in Australia” by Dowe and Smith one would think that Russell Island was freshly discovered and rarely visited way back in 1848 but a search of historical records proves that that is far from the case!<br />
<br />
Before I expand on this have a guess at how many years have people been importing large amounts of coconuts into Australia on ships?<br />
<br />
Almost 200 years is the correct answer and may be even more!<br />
<br />
This Auction notice from 1816 lists a few thousand coconuts for sale in the <a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2176700?searchTerm=cocoa+nuts+sale+by">Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser</a>.<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDH7DD1fI/AAAAAAAABFM/VdnxRwL39p4/s1600/17+1816+Auction+notice.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494465348780676594" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDH7DD1fI/AAAAAAAABFM/VdnxRwL39p4/s400/17+1816+Auction+notice.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 156px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 292px;" /></a>A few thousand isn’t bad but I found this advert from the<a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2213470?searchTerm=8000+cocoa+nuts"> Sydney Morning Herald 16 October 1837</a> listing 8000 coconuts for sale which tends to suggest our early settlers were almost tripping over imported coconuts!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDHiMMONI/AAAAAAAABFE/IM4aGrMPzhw/s1600/18+1837+8000+coconuts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494465342108088530" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDHiMMONI/AAAAAAAABFE/IM4aGrMPzhw/s400/18+1837+8000+coconuts.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 144px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 268px;" /></a>Ok I’m starting to drift here so let’s look at the Frankland Island group and in particular Russell Island where the coconuts were found by HMS Rattlesnake in 1848.<br />
<br />
There are 5 islands in the Frankland group going south to north we have Russell, Round, Mabel, Normanby and High Island.<br />
<br />
Here is a great map that has been put together by The Great Barrier Reef Marine Parks Authority.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDHRkKUGI/AAAAAAAABE8/2lgahXYbDBg/s1600/19+070203n_FranklandIslandsSector_Aug08_withText+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494465337645224034" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDHRkKUGI/AAAAAAAABE8/2lgahXYbDBg/s400/19+070203n_FranklandIslandsSector_Aug08_withText+copy.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>And here is a not so great map put together by yours truly!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDGwV1qdI/AAAAAAAABE0/SWaZ3K6Czhs/s1600/20+FINAL+FRANKLAND+ISLAND+MAP.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494465328726780370" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBDGwV1qdI/AAAAAAAABE0/SWaZ3K6Czhs/s400/20+FINAL+FRANKLAND+ISLAND+MAP.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 310px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>This is a photo of Russell, Round, Mabel and Normanby Islands going from right to left.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD-xuE09I/AAAAAAAABF8/IndUty0A2-4/s1600/21+4+islands.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494466291169547218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD-xuE09I/AAAAAAAABF8/IndUty0A2-4/s400/21+4+islands.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>And finally High Island<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD-lyLFlI/AAAAAAAABF0/WdWY-whF-AU/s1600/22+High+island.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494466287965509202" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD-lyLFlI/AAAAAAAABF0/WdWY-whF-AU/s400/22+High+island.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Following is a time line for you starting with James Cook who named this island group.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD-a_YoII/AAAAAAAABFs/pLqBXbgj3mU/s1600/23+James+Cook.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494466285068132482" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD-a_YoII/AAAAAAAABFs/pLqBXbgj3mU/s400/23+James+Cook.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 318px;" /></a>1770 Captain James Cook in HMS Endeavour passed this group of islands at 6 am on 9 June and named them the Frankland Islands. There was a full moon and the ship was traveling in uncharted waters yet Cook’s lookouts who would have certainly been scanning ahead looking for hidden reefs did not spot the coconuts on Russell Island (perhaps they weren’t there).<br />
<br />
1802 Captain Matthew Flinders mapped the coast in HMS Investigator in company with HMS Lady Nelson but didn’t map the Frankland Islands as he went out to sea before reaching the Frankland Islands.<br />
<br />
1812 Captain Cripps in the Brig HMS Cyclops was one of the first ships to follow the Inner Route used by Cook but left no chart to show his route. <a href="http://www.artuccino.com/Allan_Cunningham/Ida_Lee/Early_Explorers_Ida_Lee_12.html">He did not report</a> coconuts growing on the Frankland Islands.<br />
<br />
1815 Lt Charles Jeffreys in HMS Kangaroo took inner route from Sydney to Ceylon and the story was published in the Hobart Gazette 11 May 1816. No coconut trees reported.<br />
<br />
1816 Captain Thomas Stewart in the merchantman Lady Elliot travelled from Sydney to Batavia. No coconut trees reported.<br />
<br />
1819 Capt Philip Parker King in the Cutter HMS Mermaid left Port Jackson on a northern expedition in May.<br />
<br />
In the Book “Ships in the coral” page 33 Hector Holthouse writes:<br />
<blockquote>
“It soon became obvious many vessels were already using the inner channel as the best route north. At the southern end of the Whitsunday Passage. King found evidence that trees had been cut down to make spars large enough to provide masts and Bowsprits for vessels up to 400 ton.”</blockquote>
On 22 June 1819 King thoroughly examined the coast between Double Point Mourilyan and the Frankland islands. HMS Mermaid passed Russell Island at 1 pm and no coconut palms were seen/reported.<br />
<br />
1819 King found the wreck of the Frederick at the mouth of Princess Charlotte bay.<br />
<br />
1820 King went on another northern voyage and again surveyed between Double point and Fitzroy Island on 26 July. King did not see/report coconuts on nearby Russell Island.<br />
<br />
1821 May 26 King in HMS Bathurst cleared Sydney Harbour in company with the Merchantman Dick and on 17 June the San Antonio joined the convoy near Russell Island. None of these three ships saw /reported coconut trees on Russell Island!<br />
<br />
1824 HMS Tamar, Countess of Harcourt and HMS Lady Nelson stopped off the Frankland Islands and lowered boats to hunt turtle on the islands and explore. None of the 3 ships saw/reported coconut trees.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD9q0X3XI/AAAAAAAABFk/AixHu1uFgQs/s1600/24+TamarSept5+1824+Tamar+explores+Franklands.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494466272137043314" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD9q0X3XI/AAAAAAAABFk/AixHu1uFgQs/s400/24+TamarSept5+1824+Tamar+explores+Franklands.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 301px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 363px;" /></a>1829 HMS Mermaid was wrecked near Frankland islands and wreck sold for 15 pounds to wreckers who came from Sydney in a schooner in 1830.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD9TI_ZkI/AAAAAAAABFc/Zmgc5ZvdSYY/s1600/25+mermaid+sold.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494466265781069378" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBD9TI_ZkI/AAAAAAAABFc/Zmgc5ZvdSYY/s400/25+mermaid+sold.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 49px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 306px;" /></a>These wreckers may possibly have camped on the Frankland islands whilst salvaging the wreck of the Mermaid and part of HMS Mermaid was found on the Frankland Island by the crew of HMS Rattlesnake in 1848.<br />
<br />
It is possible that these wreckers may have planted coconuts on Russell Island as they would have well known the value of such trees to shipwrecked sailors and were in the area for a good period of time no doubt.<br />
<br />
1830 HMS Crocodile witnesses wreckers from Sydney salvaging the Mermaid and the Swiftsure. HMS Crocodile did not report coconut trees on Russell Island.<br />
<br />
1839 Captain Wickham in HMS Beagle passed the Frankland Islands but it was midnight when he passed the islands.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE5USLleI/AAAAAAAABGE/SlrkXTBw0eo/s1600/26+HMS_Rattlesnake_%281822%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494467296880203234" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE5USLleI/AAAAAAAABGE/SlrkXTBw0eo/s400/26+HMS_Rattlesnake_(1822).jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 260px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>1848 HMS Rattlesnake under command of Captain Owen Stanley stops at Frankland islands and finds coconuts growing there.<br />
<br />
One of the lesser known but more interesting accounts of their stay is by Charles James card which can be found <a href="http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/logicrouter/servlet/LogicRouter?PAGE=object&OUTPUTXSL=object_enc36ui.xslt&pm_RC=REPOHCTEIL&pm_OI=26&pm_GT=Y&pm_IAC=Y&api_1=GET_OBJECT_XML&num_result=0">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Card’s notes state that they:<br />
<blockquote>
“did not want to cut down the trees as the fruit would be very useful in case any ship should be wrecked here.”</blockquote>
HMS Rattlesnake was hardly alone on a barren ocean as on the 14 June the brig Gazelle dropped in on them on its way north to Madras.<br />
<br />
8 Days later on Thursday 22 June they met the yacht Will of the wisp that had been hunting sandalwood and was heading south after being attacked by natives.<br />
<br />
Strewth it was like a highway out there!<br />
<br />
In his book “Ships in the coral” Hector Holthouse states that:<br />
<blockquote>
“In the 10 years from 1840 to 1850 Sixty Four shipwrecks had been reported and many more small craft had disappeared without a trace.”</blockquote>
How do I think the coconuts got onto Russell Island?<br />
<br />
My opinion is that they were probably planted as food for shipwreck survivors possibly some time in the 1830s.<br />
<br />
There is documented evidence of people planting coconuts on Australian Islands and the mainland as well way before 1848.<br />
<br />
That’s what responsible mariners did in those days.<br />
<br />
The captain of HMS Rattlesnake, Owen Stanley, planted coconuts on Australia’s Albany Island less than 2 years after “discovering” coconuts on Russell Island. They were planted next to the graves of Nesbit and Wall as a mark of respect. Nesbit andWall perished during the ill fated Kennedy expedition.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE7KBH8ZI/AAAAAAAABGk/U-NOBTRbbBE/s1600/27+Grave+coco.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494467328484045202" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE7KBH8ZI/AAAAAAAABGk/U-NOBTRbbBE/s400/27+Grave+coco.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 308px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From </span><a href="http://www.hordern.com/stock/C005-157.aspx" style="font-style: italic;">Horden House</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE6xsVp8I/AAAAAAAABGc/806k_NVuX8I/s1600/28+stanley+coconuts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494467321954412482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE6xsVp8I/AAAAAAAABGc/806k_NVuX8I/s400/28+stanley+coconuts.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 279px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From the </span><a href="http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an8008807" style="font-style: italic;">National Library of Australia</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></div>
<br />
Stanley had a few hundred coconuts on board the Rattlesnake that he had bartered for in New Guinea waters.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE6NZcYjI/AAAAAAAABGU/1OHmnNdT3nQ/s1600/29+Stanley+coconuts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494467312211485234" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE6NZcYjI/AAAAAAAABGU/1OHmnNdT3nQ/s400/29+Stanley+coconuts.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 95px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Another gentleman mentioned in the account of the Russell island coconuts by Dowe and Smith is Walter Hill who was also a bit of a coconut planter himself as told in The Queenslander in 1904<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE57OrndI/AAAAAAAABGM/DZ_XgTQtfYY/s1600/30+Walter+Hill.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494467307334507986" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBE57OrndI/AAAAAAAABGM/DZ_XgTQtfYY/s400/30+Walter+Hill.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 263px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 315px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From the </span><a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20351465?searchTerm=%22frankland+islands%22" style="font-style: italic;">National Library of Australia</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></div>
<br />
What about earlier coconut planters?<br />
<br />
In 1844 HMS Fly and the colonial revenue cutter Prince George spent 3 months building a beacon on Raine Island and they released goats and planted coconuts to help shipwrecked sailors.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.seaturtle.org/PDF/Stoddart_1981_AtollResBull.pdf">This report</a> makes good reading:<br />
<blockquote>
In January 1845 (Sweatman's manuscript says February), during the Heroine's visit, Mackenzie (1845, 494) planted "cocoa-nut and various other seeds, hoping they might be a benefit to some unfortunates hereafter”; four months later the coconuts were reported "growing very fast “(Anon. 1846, 549). Sweatman (MS, 91) then described them as four feet tall but choked with weeds which had already obliterated the paths and gardens. The Bramble party cleared the weeds from round the young .trees, built fences around them, and planted four more brought from the Murray Islands (Sweatman MS, 9 6 ) , but in spite of this these introductions did not long survive. When the Challenger called in 1874, Moseley (1879, 300) planted pumpkins, tomatoes, water melons, Cape Gooseberries, and Capsicum, but no later visitors mentions any of these surviving either.</blockquote>
A fellow called “Jack Afloat” says he planted coconuts on Nassau Island in 1862<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGWXthUXI/AAAAAAAABHM/SVBIVbab-zo/s1600/31+Jack+afloat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494468895528014194" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGWXthUXI/AAAAAAAABHM/SVBIVbab-zo/s400/31+Jack+afloat.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 316px;" /></a>From the <a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13331853?searchTerm=%22frankland+islands%22">National Library of Australia</a>.</div>
<br />
Its pretty scrappy looking type so here is a transcript of the relevant section of the article:<br />
<blockquote>
According to the present rate of pushing northwards on this const, the inner route through Torres Straits will soon become a highway for shipping ; indeed, it Is now increasing in importance daily. The northern portion of the route is thickly studded with Islets, sandbanks, and reefs, on many of them cocoanut trees would grow luxuriantly, although scarcely anything else would. If cocoanuts were planted on them, in seven or eight years the trees would enable the navigator to steer for them with confidence in a tolerably clear night. Beacons have been erected on some, and on one the beacon is still lying where it once stood. Where could you got abettor beacon than a living cocoanut tree or a grove of them! I have passed through several times from Breaksea Spit to Booby Island, and wondered why it is that on only one island, Frankland Island, are the cocoanuts visible They flourish there and increase, and so they would on most islands from Breaksea Spit to Cape York. During 1872, whenever I anchored for the night, I planted cocoanuts, and I know that some others have done so, but I am convinced that it would be a boon to many in the future if every one who could would plant them. In 1862 I assisted to plant 28 cocoanuts on Nassau Island. There is now a nice grove of them I believe. And who knows how soon they may afford relief to shipwrecked men, as the trees on Suwarrow's Island did quite recently. No one who has not seen them would believe how little actual soil the cocoanut requires to grow on. Many thousands of human beings are living on mere reefs and sandbanks in the North and South Pacific. But the cocoanut tree is growing there, and scarcely anything else. On some of them there is not a drop of fresh water to be had, except what falls from the clouds.<br />
<br />
JACK AFLOAT. 19 February1874 Sydney Morning Herald</blockquote>
This doesn’t sound that amazing until you check where Nassau Island is!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGV_e6ehI/AAAAAAAABHE/yzSF--g35Uc/s1600/32+Nassau+Island.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494468889024297490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGV_e6ehI/AAAAAAAABHE/yzSF--g35Uc/s400/32+Nassau+Island.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 318px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Yes that’s right the little red dot in the middle of the ocean.<br />
<br />
Makes planting some coconuts on Russell Island look dead easy doesn’t it!<br />
<br />
John Evans also recommends planting coconuts as living beacons and sustenance for shipwrecked sailors and claims to have planted coconuts on Queensland islands in 1846 and <a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/19767485?searchTerm=%22cocoa+nut+tree%22">the whole article</a> is worth a read.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGVi4PwlI/AAAAAAAABG8/pKkKtIxefEA/s1600/33+Copy+of+Queenslander+1+july1876.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494468881345921618" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGVi4PwlI/AAAAAAAABG8/pKkKtIxefEA/s400/33+Copy+of+Queenslander+1+july1876.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 318px;" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGVWG9kmI/AAAAAAAABG0/Kj2Pwc-DeJ0/s1600/34+John+Evans.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494468877917983330" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGVWG9kmI/AAAAAAAABG0/Kj2Pwc-DeJ0/s400/34+John+Evans.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 186px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGVEgZXMI/AAAAAAAABGs/0VYL2B9RqEE/s1600/35+John+evans+Copy+of+Queenslander+1+july+1876+%282%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494468873192824002" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBGVEgZXMI/AAAAAAAABGs/0VYL2B9RqEE/s400/35+John+evans+Copy+of+Queenslander+1+july+1876+(2).jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 322px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 239px;" /></a>Again this is a difficult one to read so here is a transcription<br />
<blockquote>
Letters to the Editor.<br />
<br />
Cocoanut and Bread Fruit Trees for the North.<br />
<br />
JNO. LAXINGTON EVANS. Melbourne, May 9 1876<br />
<br />
SIR,—Few countries can boast of so large an extent of coast as Queensland—her products are tropical, and also those of the temperate zone ; her islands dot the sea; her reefs extend for hundreds of miles, thus rendering navigation very difficult and dangerous to the mariner, and although much has been done in buoying crooked passages, yet wrecks still take place, and the unfortunate crew and passengers placed in extreme peril, as witness the late wreck of the Isabella, on her passage from Sydney to Hong Kong. Now, having all these islands and coasts how best can they be turned to account ? As long ago as 1846 I brought with me from one of the South Sea Islands the bread fruit tree and cocoanuts for the purpose of having them planted on some island in the far north. I fear the work was not well done, for I have never heard of either the bread fruit or the cocoanut being met with in any place along our coasts, or on any of the islets.<br />
<br />
It is not too late, however, to have the experiment carried out now. The value of the produce of the cocoanut tree can pretty well be estimated. In Ceylon it is calculated at a dollar each annually— perhaps a little over the mark. I think, however, that each tree will net yearly three shillings in copra or cocoanut oil; it becomes therefore just a question of numbers planted to arrive at results. The yearly income derivable, say from 1,000,000 trees, would be £ 150,000—a sum that would go to defray the vote on immigration. The judicious planting of the trees on the islands on the coast would be the means of saving many a good ship from being wrecked, as they can be seen at a good distance, and are capital land-marks. And if by any unfortunate mistake a ship is placed in extreme peril, the crew and passengers, if they have cocoanuts at hand, would be able to subsist for months—who otherwise placed must have had to succumb to hunger.<br />
<br />
There are islands in the South Seas which must be known to many of the island traders in Queensland, producing a cocoa nut tree, which grows to about ten or twelve feet, the clusters of nuts hanging so low that the sand has to be cleared away to make room for the bunches. These are the trees I recommend should be generally planted, although on some of the islands I would suggest the taller tree, which frequently reaches the height of from fifty to eighty feet. Thus an excellent object would point to danger. The short tree however is the European's friend :no climbing is necessary to secure the nut, nor is there any danger of the tree being blown down by hurricanes and hard gales. A cocoanut tree will begin to bear at the end of the fifth year, and continue for many, many years. It is estimated the gross value got for the nuts of a single tree up to the time of decay is about £80—the labour of converting the produce to be deducted —so that it lives to a good old age.<br />
<br />
And then with respect to the bread fruit tree. As our commerce extends northerly, the wood of this tree will become exceedingly valuable for' sheathing ships' and boat’s bottoms, when copper is not to be had. It protects them from the ravages of the toredo navalis and is a capital wood for house-building purposes. It is the only known wood that will resist the borings of the destructive marine insects alluded to. The bread fruit, to those habituated to eating it, is considered a great luxury, and in a more matured state it is packed away in caves, and, after the lapse of some months, it is much used by the pearl divers as the best food they can make use of while carrying on the arduous operations of searching for shells fathoms deep. The diver says he can remain twice as long under water when fed on old bread fruit, than if on rice and biscuit. As there are miles of pearl banks yet undiscovered on our coast, who shall say the useful bread fruit will not be the means of bringing to light the riches of the vast deep, in enabling the diver to penetrate to a greater depth than he otherwise would. I shall be glad if these suggestions occupy the attention of those in authority, and be the means of having graceful trees planted on your shores and on the islands on your coast</blockquote>
I bumped into this record of people sprouting Coconuts from Java at Bowen in 1867<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHK56h0vI/AAAAAAAABHU/Y_qMDZ7KQmc/s1600/36+1867+coconuts+from+Java+sprouted+Bowen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494469798062576370" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHK56h0vI/AAAAAAAABHU/Y_qMDZ7KQmc/s400/36+1867+coconuts+from+Java+sprouted+Bowen.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 158px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 335px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From </span><a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20312038?searchTerm=%22frankland%22+cocoa+nut" style="font-style: italic;">National Library of Australia</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></div>
<br />
Of course the coconut had been cultivated in Australia well before that and this article from the Hobart Town Courier 1832 mentions the progress of coconut plants in Perth gardens.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHLGqNcwI/AAAAAAAABHc/fIge7yzNpo8/s1600/37+coconuts+inperthNLA+Australian+Newspapers+-+article+display_1279156303297.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494469801483793154" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHLGqNcwI/AAAAAAAABHc/fIge7yzNpo8/s400/37+coconuts+inperthNLA+Australian+Newspapers+-+article+display_1279156303297.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 204px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 237px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From the </span><a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4200271?searchTerm=cocoa+nut+plants" style="font-style: italic;">National Library of Australia</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></div>
<br />
Of even greater interest is the fact that W C Wentworth imported 100 coconut plants into Australia in 1833 as mentioned in the Sydney Herald on 23 December 1833.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBJZpJr9tI/AAAAAAAABJM/HmB5A6CRi3Q/s1600/Copy+of+38+23+dec+1833+plants+imported+from+mauritius+NLA+Australian+Newspapers+-+article+display_1279155042308.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494472250284046034" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBJZpJr9tI/AAAAAAAABJM/HmB5A6CRi3Q/s400/Copy+of+38+23+dec+1833+plants+imported+from+mauritius+NLA+Australian+Newspapers+-+article+display_1279155042308.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 273px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">From the </span><a href="http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12848426?searchTerm=%22cocoa+nut+planted%22" style="font-style: italic;">National Library of Australia</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></div>
<br />
Mr Wentworth was an explorer, politician and a very wealthy and influential man in the colony and one has to ask where did those Mauritian coconut plants go to as the climate in Sydney would have been too cold for them?<br />
<br />
Was their final destination some island in the north of Australia?<br />
<br />
One must take into account that as an explorer and a man who had taken part in the island sandalwood trade in 1814 Mr Wentworth would have well known the value of the coconut tree for both navigation and the preservation of shipwrecked mariners. (From <a href="http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A020531b.htm">Australian Dictionary of Biography</a>).<br />
<blockquote>
On the mountain journey, according to his father, he had developed a severe cough; to recover his health and to help his father secure valuable sandalwood from a Pacific island he joined a schooner as supercargo in 1814. He was nearly killed by natives at Rarotonga while courageously attempting to save a sailor whom they clubbed to death. The captain died, and Wentworth, with knowledge gained on his earlier voyage from England and no mean mathematical skill, brought the ship safely to Sydney. </blockquote>
What is that you say …you want even earlier records of coconut planting etc in Australia?<br />
<br />
Not a problem.<br />
<br />
Let’s jump back in time a couple of centuries and look at the records kept by one of the world’s greatest navigators Matthew Flinders.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHLkaqWUI/AAAAAAAABHk/RC8FCYvdBeI/s1600/39+Matthew+Flinders.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494469809471641922" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHLkaqWUI/AAAAAAAABHk/RC8FCYvdBeI/s400/39+Matthew+Flinders.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 359px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 296px;" /></a>I will refer to his comments within his <a href="http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00050.html">“1803 Voyage to Tera Australis Vol 2”</a>.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHMdMKNDI/AAAAAAAABHs/D8bbkll8Hyk/s1600/40+voyage+to+tera+australis.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494469824711636018" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHMdMKNDI/AAAAAAAABHs/D8bbkll8Hyk/s400/40+voyage+to+tera+australis.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 326px;" /></a>Flinders produced some magnificent maps of Australia and was shipwrecked on his return to England only to finally gain passage on a ship that stopped at Mauritius where he was kept prisoner for over 6 years.<br />
<br />
He was a brilliant mariner with an eye for detail but he suffered great misfortune and a premature death like so many of his peers.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHMvpGa_I/AAAAAAAABH0/pGQDWeFQ8ng/s1600/41+flinders+map.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494469829664861170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBHMvpGa_I/AAAAAAAABH0/pGQDWeFQ8ng/s400/41+flinders+map.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 301px;" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIUV9GlfI/AAAAAAAABIc/NsMyFlIJt38/s1600/42+flinders+map.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471059720017394" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIUV9GlfI/AAAAAAAABIc/NsMyFlIJt38/s400/42+flinders+map.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 289px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Matthew Flinders makes his feelings regarding coconut planting on Australian islands very clear within his journal!<br />
<br />
Being shipwrecked on an Australian reef definitely influenced his thoughts on this matter!<br />
<blockquote>
Oats, maize, and pumpkin seeds were planted upon Wreck-Reef Bank, as also upon Bird Islet; and the young plants had come up, and were in a tolerably flourishing state; some of these may possibly succeed upon the islet, but upon the bank it is scarcely to be hoped. The cocoa nut is capable of resisting the light sprays of the sea which frequently pass over these banks, and it is to be regretted that we had none to plant upon them. A cluster of these majestic and useful palms would have been an excellent beacon to warn mariners of their danger; and in the case where darkness might render them unavailing in this respect, their fruit would at least afford some salutary nourishment to the shipwrecked seamen. The navigator who should distribute ten thousand cocoa nuts amongst the numerous sand banks of the Great Ocean and Indian Sea, would be entitled to the gratitude of all maritime nations, and of every friend to humanity. I may be thought to attribute too much importance to this object in saying, that such a distribution ought to be a leading article in the instructions for any succeeding voyage of discovery or investigation to these parts; but it is from having suffered ourselves that we learn to appreciate the misfortunes and wants of others. and become doubly interested in preventing or relieving them. "The human heart," as an elegant author observes, "resembles certain medicinal trees. which yield not their healing balm until they have themselves been wounded."*<br />
<br />
[* Le coeur est comme ces sortes d'arbres, qui ne donnent leur baume pour les blessures des hommes que lorsque le fer les a blessés eux-mêmes. Chateaubriant's Génie de Christianisme, Episode d' Attala.]</blockquote>
Between 1818 and 1822 another brilliant explorer and navigator Philip King made some interesting coconut observations.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIT_Vej_I/AAAAAAAABIU/dOVQv_ddYAs/s1600/43+Philip_Parker_King.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471053648236530" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIT_Vej_I/AAAAAAAABIU/dOVQv_ddYAs/s400/43+Philip_Parker_King.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 263px;" /></a>King was a mighty map maker too!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBITZ08ZGI/AAAAAAAABIM/ExPe4s2Rp9o/s1600/44+king1-map.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471043579667554" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBITZ08ZGI/AAAAAAAABIM/ExPe4s2Rp9o/s400/44+king1-map.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 168px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>King travelled around Australia extensively in HMS Mermaid and later in HMS Bathurst and the map below will give you a rough idea of how far this amazing man traveled and below that is an illustration of HMS Mermaid.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBITNGAbwI/AAAAAAAABIE/ykpDV5fuogs/s1600/45+King-map.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471040161574658" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBITNGAbwI/AAAAAAAABIE/ykpDV5fuogs/s400/45+King-map.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 193px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBISo_v39I/AAAAAAAABH8/CLk15Bv9qfk/s1600/46+hms+mermaid+1818%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471030471647186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBISo_v39I/AAAAAAAABH8/CLk15Bv9qfk/s400/46+hms+mermaid+1818).jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 237px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>King was fortunate to be traveling with one of Australia’s finest Botanists Allan Cunningham.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBItTWydaI/AAAAAAAABJE/OxX2Sc45bJg/s1600/47+Allan_Cunningham07.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471488519173538" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBItTWydaI/AAAAAAAABJE/OxX2Sc45bJg/s400/47+Allan_Cunningham07.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 343px;" /></a>Fortunately King kept a journal of his travels.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBItCEHOlI/AAAAAAAABI8/dwkHXcMm3IU/s1600/48+king+journal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471483877440082" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBItCEHOlI/AAAAAAAABI8/dwkHXcMm3IU/s400/48+king+journal.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 259px;" /></a>Which you can read here: <a href="http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00027.html">Volume 1</a> and <a href="http://freeread.com.au/ebooks/e00028.html">Volume 2 </a><br />
<br />
Here are some interesting coconut extracts from these journals<br />
<br />
On March 28 1818 King reported finding coconuts on a northern Australian beach that had apparently been left behind by a Malay fisherman.<br />
<blockquote>
The morning after our arrival a baseline was measured upon the beach for the survey of the bay, and whilst we were thus employed our people found and brought to me several traces of Malays, who, as we are informed by Captain Flinders, make annual visits to this part of the coast in large fleets, to fish for beche de mer.<br />
<br />
Among the relics were old broken joints of bamboo, which the Malays use to carry their water in, some worn out cordage and a coconut, which had perhaps been left behind by accident. The traces appeared to be of so recent a date, that we conjectured the fleet was but a short distance to the eastward of the islands, and as the easterly monsoon had commenced, we were naturally in daily expectation of being overtaken by them.</blockquote>
On April 7 1818 Cunningham planted the coconut on the Australian mainland along with other seeds making him one of the earliest recorded coconut planters in Australia!<br />
<blockquote>
Mr. Cunningham took the advantage of a good spot of soil in the vicinity of our wooding-place to sow every sort of seed that we possessed, namely, peach, apricot, loquat (a Chinese fruit), lemon, seventeen sorts of culinary seeds, tobacco, roses, and a variety of other European plants; and in addition to these, the coconut was planted, which we had found upon the beach of South-West Bay, but it is very doubtful whether any have succeeded, on account of the custom that the natives have when the grass is dry, of setting fire to it, so that there is little doubt but that all the annual plants have been destroyed.</blockquote>
It’s a good thing the crew of HMS Rattlesnake were not following on their heels or people would be running around saying peaches and apricots are native to Australia!<br />
<br />
On 16 June 1819 King reported that no Coconut trees have been found in Australia.<br />
<blockquote>
We remained at the anchorage the following day in order to obtain some lunar distances; and in the evening Mr. Bedwell sounded across the bay towards the south end of Magnetical Island, and also the channel between that island and the main. The soundings therefore laid down are from his report, from which it appears that there is a good and clear passage through, and excellent anchorage upon a muddy bottom all over the bay.<br />
<br />
No natives were seen during our visit, but the remains of nine huts were counted in different parts of the bay, near the edge of the beach. The inhabitants were not however far off, for the tracks of human feet as well as those of a dog were noticed very recently imprinted on the gravelly bed of the fresh-water stream; and we were probably watched by them in all our proceedings. Near the extremity of the Cape some bamboo was picked up, and also a fresh green coconut that appeared to have been lately tapped for the milk. Heaps of pumice-stone were also noticed upon the beach; not any of this production, however, had been met with floating.<br />
<br />
Hitherto, no coconut trees have been found on this continent; although so great a portion of it is within the tropic and its north-east coast so near to islands on which this fruit is abundant. Captain Cook imagined that the husk of one, which his second Lieutenant, Mr. Gore, picked up at Endeavour River, and which was covered with barnacles, came from the Terra del Espiritu Santo of Quiros;* but, from the prevailing winds, it would appear more likely to have been drifted from New Caledonia, which island at that time was unknown to him; the fresh appearance of the coconut seen by us renders, however, even this conclusion doubtful; Captain Flinders also found one as far to the south as Shoal-water Bay.**<br />
<br />
(*Footnote. Hawkesworth volume 3 page 164.)<br />
<br />
(**Footnote. Flinders volume 2 page 49.)</blockquote>
The planting of seeds by explorers was not uncommon and King reported on another captain’s Australian garden in January of 1818<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Oyster Harbour is plentifully stocked with fish, but we were not successful with the hook, on account of the immense number of sharks that were constantly playing about the vessel. A few fish were taken with the seine, which we hauled on the eastern side of the small central island. At this place Captain Vancouver planted and stocked a garden with vegetables, no vestige of which now remained.<br />
<br />
No marks were left of the ship Elligood's garden, which Captain Flinders found at the entrance of Oyster Harbour;* but a lapse of sixteen years will in this country create a complete revolution in vegetation; which is here so luxuriant and rapid that whole woods may have been burnt down by the natives, and grown again within that space of time; and it may be thus that the Elligood's garden is now possessed by the less useful but more beautiful plants and shrubs of the country.<br />
<br />
(*Footnote. Flinders Terra Australis volume 1 page 55.)<br />
<br />
Excepting the sea-fowl, which consisted of geese, wild ducks, teals, curlews, divers, sea-pies, gulls, and terns, very few birds were seen, and those chiefly of the parrot and cockatoo tribe; a species of the latter was noticed of a rich black plumage, and very like the black cockatoo of New South Wales. Kangaroos from their traces must be numerous, but only a very few were noticed; the only reptile that was found was a black snake, which Mr. Cunningham saw for a moment as it glided past him. This gentleman made a large collection of seeds and dried specimens from the vast variety of beautiful plants and flowers with which nature has so lavishly clothed the hills and plains of this interesting country.<br />
<br />
A small spot of ground near the tent was dug up and enclosed with a fence, in which Mr. Cunningham sowed many culinary seeds and peach-stones; and on the stump of a tree, which had been felled by our wooding party, the name of the vessel with the date of our visit was inscribed; but when we visited Oyster Harbour three years and a half afterwards, no signs remained of the garden, and the inscription was scarcely perceptible, from the stump of the tree having been nearly destroyed by fire.</blockquote>
You will see Mr Cunningham was busy planting seeds again!<br />
<br />
The interesting thing is that King was under direct written orders to conduct this planting of ANY plants that may be useful to succeeding navigators and what could be more useful to a shipwrecked mariner than a coconut palm!<br />
<br />
Here is an extract:<br />
<blockquote>
Admiralty Office, 4th February, 1817.<br />
<br />
Kings orders<br />
<br />
You will provide yourself at Port Jackson with the seeds of such vegetables as it may be considered most useful to propagate on the coasts you may visit, and you will take measures for sowing or planting them in the fittest situations, with a view not only to their preservation, but to their being within the observation and reach of succeeding navigators.<br />
<br />
You will remain on this service till you shall have examined all parts of the coast which have not been laid down by Captain Flinders, M. De Freycinet, or preceding navigators, or until you shall receive further orders.<br />
<br />
I am, Sir,<br />
<br />
Your very humble servant,<br />
<br />
(Signed) J.W. CROKER.</blockquote>
His other set of written orders contained similar content and here is an extract:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
To Lieutenant P.P. King.<br />
<br />
Downing-street, 8th of February, 1817. From Bathurst<br />
<br />
You will exercise your own discretion as to landing on the several parts of the coast which you may explore; but on all occasions of landing, you will give every facility to the botanist, and the other scientific persons on board to pursue their inquiries; and you will afford them such assistance in the pursuit as they may require. If the place selected for landing be in any way remarkable in itself, or important from being at the mouth of a river, or a harbour, you will take care to leave some evidence which cannot be mistaken of your having landed, either by erecting a flagstaff, or sowing some seeds, or by resorting to any other means which may at the time present themselves.</blockquote>
Keep in mind that when King visited Timor (1818 and 1819) he probably purchased coconuts in 1818 and definitely purchased them in 1819 so goodness knows where he planted coconuts on his travels!<br />
<br />
Prior to the “discovery” of coconuts on Russell Island I have shown there was planting of coconuts on Australian islands and the mainland both in the performance of a civic duty and as an observance of military/government orders.<br />
<br />
I strongly suspect the coconuts on Russell Island were planted during the 1830s which would explain why they were not discovered by the many earlier visitors to Russell Island.<br />
<br />
Let’s return to the present day and check out the “Coconuts aren’t native camp” and Dr Hugh Spencer’s name comes to mind.<br />
<br />
Dr Spencer has waged a war against invading coastal coconut palms in the Daintree for many years now and he doesn’t even flinch when people call him a “coconut killer”. See <a href="http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/03/17/99841_local-news.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/coconut-palms-prove-to-be-pests-in-queenslands-tropics/story-e6freoof-1225841674063">here</a> and <a href="http://www.seasabres.com/%5CSafty-education%5CEducation%5CEnviornment%5CDaintree.htm">here</a>.<br />
<br />
My personal research has found that such fine organizations as Stanford University are backing up the assertions of Dr Spencer regarding the negative impacts of invading coconuts on coastal ecosystems.<br />
<br />
Here is a bit of a video from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipEpb9npuMc">Stanford University</a><br />
<object height="300" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ipEpb9npuMc&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ipEpb9npuMc&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br />
and some reports about the same issue: <a href="http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/january18/birddrop-palm-trees-012110.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/01/14/0914169107.abstract?sid=ee80892b-03e5-43f4-89da-c87c36657796">here</a> and <a href="http://journalwatch.conservationmagazine.org/2010/01/25/trouble-in-paradise/">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.forestsea.com/news/home/2010/02/coconut-palms-are-going-feral/">Forest and Sea consulting</a> certainly have strong concerns about the feral nature of the exotic coconut palm on Australian coastal ecosystems.<br />
<br />
Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) have a pretty good handle on the coconut situation and place a very high value on our natural coastal tree species rather than non native coconut palms.<br />
<br />
This is an attitude which I support and find to be both sensible and highly commendable.<br />
<br />
Check out their story <a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/Newbulletin/15120090809.pdf">“Going Coconuts"</a> on page 17 of their C4 bulletin.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIs7v24wI/AAAAAAAABI0/sbGNjPkJulw/s1600/49+going+coconuts+crop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471482181870338" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIs7v24wI/AAAAAAAABI0/sbGNjPkJulw/s400/49+going+coconuts+crop.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 252px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The Australian invasive species council has this to say about coconuts in their newsletter <a href="http://www.invasives.org.au/documents/file/Feral%20Herald/feralherald19.pdf">“The Feral Herald”</a>:<br />
<blockquote>
“However, the DVD is not comprehensive, with a few glaring omissions such as the coconut (Cocos nucifera), a serious weed of north Queensland beaches, and tall wheat grass (Lophopyrum ponticum), an emerging problem in wetlands in Victoria.”</blockquote>
Well I think I have pretty much spent enough time talking about coconuts today<br />
<br />
In conclusion I must state that there simply is not enough evidence available at this moment in time to state that coconuts are native to Australia and the pre to early settlement evidence points to the fact that coconuts are not native to Australia.<br />
<br />
The arguments put forward by the “pro coconuts are native” lobby simply are not strong enough when one takes into account all the available evidence.<br />
<br />
I have based my conclusions on the documented scientific facts and historical evidence available rather than being inspired by fantasies and romantic notions of what an Australian tropical shore should look like.<br />
<br />
Our Australian beaches don’t need an introduced exotic palm tree to be special and beautiful places.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIsTSD3gI/AAAAAAAABIs/g8IAUdCNPMA/s1600/50+Cocos_nucifera+credit+to+Kurt+Steuber10+%282%29.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494471471319473666" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBIsTSD3gI/AAAAAAAABIs/g8IAUdCNPMA/s400/50+Cocos_nucifera+credit+to+Kurt+Steuber10+(2).jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I prefer Australian native vegetation for obvious reasons!<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBJZ4uYs8I/AAAAAAAABJU/Akjf70lXUq4/s1600/52+healthy+shore+liz1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494472254464504770" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBJZ4uYs8I/AAAAAAAABJU/Akjf70lXUq4/s400/52+healthy+shore+liz1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 158px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBJaQcfTQI/AAAAAAAABJc/-9J-GPYYBdM/s1600/53+healthy+shore+lliz+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494472260831890690" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TEBJaQcfTQI/AAAAAAAABJc/-9J-GPYYBdM/s400/53+healthy+shore+lliz+2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-20420800906339173422010-06-26T17:58:00.007+08:002010-06-26T22:12:48.978+08:00Morelia spilota cheynei, the stunning Jungle Carpet Python at Ella BayThere is no doubt that one of the most beautiful snakes you will find in the rainforests of North Queensland is the Jungle Carpet Python <span style="font-style: italic;">Morelia spilota cheynei</span>.<br /><br />My friend James Epong (a local Ma:mu aboriginal belonging to the Mandubarra clan group) took this photo and got a few good laughs as it bit me once or twice to thank me for moving it off the road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPr1H0H0I/AAAAAAAABBc/DChCTXAwt-w/s1600/1+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPr1H0H0I/AAAAAAAABBc/DChCTXAwt-w/s400/1+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020072921997122" border="0" /></a>James and I had been watching over marine turtle nests near the Ella Bay Road on 12 February 2010 and were returning via the same road when I jammed the brakes on and moved this little beauty off the road.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Generally I’m not big on snake wrangling but there was no way I was leaving this amazing animal on the road where it could get run over as it basked in the moonlight.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPsEfOw4I/AAAAAAAABBk/HMyF6TPEQoc/s1600/2+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPsEfOw4I/AAAAAAAABBk/HMyF6TPEQoc/s400/2+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020077046743938" border="0" /></a>We quickly took some photos of this beautiful animal <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPsl5_tbI/AAAAAAAABBs/fpKzptYvptg/s1600/3+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPsl5_tbI/AAAAAAAABBs/fpKzptYvptg/s400/3+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020086017373618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPtIETlPI/AAAAAAAABB0/6fnj2i23ikQ/s1600/4+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPtIETlPI/AAAAAAAABB0/6fnj2i23ikQ/s400/4+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020095187424498" border="0" /></a>and then I released the python in an area a few metres away from the road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPtU9JNmI/AAAAAAAABB8/Wa58T3s6tfg/s1600/5+Jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXPtU9JNmI/AAAAAAAABB8/Wa58T3s6tfg/s400/5+Jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020098647045730" border="0" /></a>Jungle carpet pythons are semi arboreal non venomous snakes that kill their prey by constricting and suffocating it with their strong bodies. You will note in the first photo this little snake has firmly wrapped itself around my fingers and was squeezing the daylights out of them (better than being bitten though)!<br /><br />Jungle carpet pythons usually grow to about 6 feet in this region so you can see this one was just a pup.<br /><br />Here is a photo of an adult my partner photographed at our home sunning itself in the long grass.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP6tVU6XI/AAAAAAAABCE/D_6SztRxGDs/s1600/6+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei%282%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP6tVU6XI/AAAAAAAABCE/D_6SztRxGDs/s400/6+jungle+python+Morelia+spilota+cheynei%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020328529226098" border="0" /></a>I could rattle on about these beautiful pythons for ages but there is a concise description of this snake and its habits on Wikipedia which you can find <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morelia_spilota_cheynei">here</a>.<br /><br />Let’s get back to the Ella Bay Road that property developer Ella Bay Pty Ltd wish to make larger so it will service approximately 5000 people instead of the handful who use it now (an exponential increase).<br /><br />It wont just be the endangered southern cassowaries that will be impacted by such environmentally irresponsible development as I have discussed in stories like <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/11/cassowary-fruits-along-ella-bay-road.html">Cassowary Fruits Along the Ella Bay Road</a> and <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/04/road-to-cassowary-extinction.html">A Road to Cassowary Extinction</a> and <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/12/mangoes-and-cassowaries-on-ella-bay.html">Mangoes and Cassowaries on the Ella Bay road - Food for Thought Part 1</a> and <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/12/mangoes-and-cassowaries-on-ella-bay_09.html">Part 2</a>.<br /><br />Even with the low volume of traffic that uses the Ella Bay Road at present, I still see many harmless snakes crushed on this road.<br /><br />This Slaty-grey snake <span style="font-style: italic;">Stegonotus cucullatus</span> is a harmless species that grows to about 1.3 metres and mainly eats frogs.<br /><br />Unfortunately it timed its crossing of the Ella Bay Road rather poorly.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP7DPYjDI/AAAAAAAABCM/Z8zv7I8b5qg/s1600/7+slaty+grey+snake+Stegonotus+cucullatus+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP7DPYjDI/AAAAAAAABCM/Z8zv7I8b5qg/s400/7+slaty+grey+snake+Stegonotus+cucullatus+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020334409878578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP7cSsNyI/AAAAAAAABCU/zgVPh-z6fW0/s1600/8+slaty+grey+snake+Stegonotus+cucullatus+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP7cSsNyI/AAAAAAAABCU/zgVPh-z6fW0/s400/8+slaty+grey+snake+Stegonotus+cucullatus+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020341134636834" border="0" /></a>The same thing happened to this beautiful (and harmless) Green tree snake <span style="font-style: italic;">Dendrelaphis punctulata</span>, just metres from the Ella Bay carpark.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP7nOBfoI/AAAAAAAABCc/BFZ1C3H7V_M/s1600/9+Green+tree+snake+Dendrelaphis+punctulata.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP7nOBfoI/AAAAAAAABCc/BFZ1C3H7V_M/s400/9+Green+tree+snake+Dendrelaphis+punctulata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020344067849858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP8OlQ3UI/AAAAAAAABCk/BPYIA7cSjEg/s1600/10+Green+tree+snake+Dendrelaphis+punctulata.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXP8OlQ3UI/AAAAAAAABCk/BPYIA7cSjEg/s400/10+Green+tree+snake+Dendrelaphis+punctulata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020354634308930" border="0" /></a>There's a <a href="http://www.anhs.com.au/greentree_snake.htm">great photograph of this species</a> on Australian Natural History Safari. Thank you David and Diane Ambrust.<br /><br />Returning to the road, more traffic will equal more deaths and as a major chunk of this proposed new “improved” Ella Bay Road will run through World Heritage Ella Bay National Park … obviously I am highly concerned.<br /><br />World Heritage National Parks should be about providing protection for animal and plant ecosystems not roads to extinction.<br /><br />I don’t feel too good about leaving you with images of dead animals at the end of a story so here are some photos of the largest snake you will find at Ella Bay, the Amethystine python <span style="font-style: italic;">Morelia amethistina</span>.<br /><br />This snake will grow to over 8 metres and we photographed this specimen in front of my home where it has a bad habit of lying on the road to warm itself on the bitumen during cool nights.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXQCRFEcAI/AAAAAAAABCs/sV9-jzWIYrg/s1600/11amethystine+python+Morelia+amethistina.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXQCRFEcAI/AAAAAAAABCs/sV9-jzWIYrg/s400/11amethystine+python+Morelia+amethistina.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020458383798274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXQCmH60qI/AAAAAAAABC0/aIM2C-Tdrx4/s1600/12+amethystine+python+Morelia+amethistina.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCXQCmH60qI/AAAAAAAABC0/aIM2C-Tdrx4/s400/12+amethystine+python+Morelia+amethistina.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487020464032895650" border="0" /></a>I have had to remove this snake from the road a few times and no it has not bitten me ...yet!<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-78454260055334028712010-06-22T14:20:00.011+08:002010-06-23T19:23:37.684+08:00The Mole Crab Albunea symmysta at Bramston Beach North QueenslandI put in a lot of hours walking beaches for three very sound reasons.<br /><br />Firstly beaches are relaxing places to walk and wind down, secondly the exercise is good for me and last but not least ...<br /><br />... you just never know what you will find on a beach and the creature I am about to introduce you to is proof of the pudding.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXV30mX3I/AAAAAAAABBE/eCK3ePpsAfU/s1600/1+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab12062010+083+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXV30mX3I/AAAAAAAABBE/eCK3ePpsAfU/s400/1+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab12062010+083+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480379410702194" border="0" /></a>Well there it is, <span style="font-style:italic;">Albunea symmysta</span> in all its glory, but let’s rewind and start at the beginning as that is always a good place to start a story!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>On the 12 June 2010 I went for a low tide walk along Bramston Beach in North Queensland which is only a few kilometres away from my home.<br /><br />Here is a photo of Bramston Beach looking north towards the mouth of Blue Metal Creek.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXU60nyQI/AAAAAAAABA8/Fy7YylEVUhQ/s1600/2+Bramston+Beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXU60nyQI/AAAAAAAABA8/Fy7YylEVUhQ/s400/2+Bramston+Beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480363036231938" border="0" /></a>As I said earlier the tide was low which always makes for an interesting beach walk.<br /><br />Here is the view looking north.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXUpsX29I/AAAAAAAABA0/hEG7jBFwvnY/s1600/3+Bramston+Beach+looking+north.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXUpsX29I/AAAAAAAABA0/hEG7jBFwvnY/s400/3+Bramston+Beach+looking+north.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480358438230994" border="0" /></a>Here is the view looking south towards Cooper Point which is the northernmost tip of the Ella Bay National Park.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXUCcAy2I/AAAAAAAABAs/5bcowkOp9kM/s1600/4+Bramston+Beach+looking+south.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXUCcAy2I/AAAAAAAABAs/5bcowkOp9kM/s400/4+Bramston+Beach+looking+south.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480347900627810" border="0" /></a>I saw the usual wonderful things one can find at Bramston Beach on a low tide.<br /><br />Sand dollars were present in the shallows.<br /><br />Both alive<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXT3TDRMI/AAAAAAAABAk/enY0IV__Mmo/s1600/5+sand+dollar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXT3TDRMI/AAAAAAAABAk/enY0IV__Mmo/s400/5+sand+dollar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480344910251202" border="0" /></a>And dead.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXLOZ-MRI/AAAAAAAABAc/9jEWvfBAc4w/s1600/6+Dead+sand+dollar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXLOZ-MRI/AAAAAAAABAc/9jEWvfBAc4w/s400/6+Dead+sand+dollar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480196494471442" border="0" /></a>Of course there were crabs to be found in the sand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXK0zXtNI/AAAAAAAABAU/MKhzDnwTSlI/s1600/7+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXK0zXtNI/AAAAAAAABAU/MKhzDnwTSlI/s400/7+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480189621679314" border="0" /></a>This one looks like a Moon crab <span style="font-style: italic;">Ashtoret lunaris </span> with wicked spikes on the edges its shell!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXKf3HktI/AAAAAAAABAM/cfPTwxii7js/s1600/8+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXKf3HktI/AAAAAAAABAM/cfPTwxii7js/s400/8+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480184000254674" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXKCC7Q4I/AAAAAAAABAE/NIY11d6afsg/s1600/9+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXKCC7Q4I/AAAAAAAABAE/NIY11d6afsg/s400/9+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480175996715906" border="0" /></a>As I was walking I saw what looked like a mouse covered in sand scurrying towards the water so I grabbed the mystery creature and gave it a rinse in the brine and saw a creature I have never encountered in my travels!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXJ0LiaRI/AAAAAAAAA_8/0BEfUI0F5Q4/s1600/10+mole+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBXJ0LiaRI/AAAAAAAAA_8/0BEfUI0F5Q4/s400/10+mole+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485480172274739474" border="0" /></a>What I thought was a tail was in fact antennae.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW9iyfbII/AAAAAAAAA_U/DcIWyXOAhtY/s1600/11+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW9iyfbII/AAAAAAAAA_U/DcIWyXOAhtY/s400/11+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479961447853186" border="0" /></a>From the rear and side it was obvious that this animal was made for digging!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW9wXWg5I/AAAAAAAAA_c/T_f4JdJB6h8/s1600/12+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW9wXWg5I/AAAAAAAAA_c/T_f4JdJB6h8/s400/12+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479965092119442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBcsv80fsI/AAAAAAAABBU/5hmGxJH-UZ0/s1600/13+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBcsv80fsI/AAAAAAAABBU/5hmGxJH-UZ0/s400/13+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485486269992828610" border="0" /></a>Turning the animal over I could see it had no claws but instead it had strong hooked legs designed for digging.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW-Ahw8bI/AAAAAAAAA_k/HhKXWKMSmuY/s1600/14+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW-Ahw8bI/AAAAAAAAA_k/HhKXWKMSmuY/s400/14+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479969430761906" border="0" /></a>After looking this unusual creature over I decided to let it go and released it at the waters edge where it commenced digging in ricky tik double quick!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW-RwnPzI/AAAAAAAAA_s/p_GlwDUscm0/s1600/15+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW-RwnPzI/AAAAAAAAA_s/p_GlwDUscm0/s400/15+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479974056443698" border="0" /></a>Eventually all that could be seen of my armour plated discovery was its antennae waving in the current.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW-lbBGZI/AAAAAAAAA_0/c1XJvz7b0wg/s1600/16+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBW-lbBGZI/AAAAAAAAA_0/c1XJvz7b0wg/s400/16+Albunea+symmysta+mole+crab+6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479979334572434" border="0" /></a>This is the bit where my scientist friends hit me over the head and ask why I didn’t whack it in a jar of alcohol and send it off to a museum…alas I’m getting soft in my old age and will leave the killing to property developers and beach drivers!<br /><br />Upon returning home I sent photos off to all of my contacts who might know what this strange animal is and was soon rewarded with a reply from Dr Thomas Schlacher (A brilliant Queensland beach/coastal scientist) who suggested it was a Mole crab.<br /><br />Not to be out done Dr Helen Larsen (another brilliant scientist with a passion for gobies) said the same thing and offered to look into it further.<br /><br />Whilst all this was happening I was googling Mole crabs and most of the information I could find related to the genus <span style="font-style: italic;">Hippa</span>.<br /><br />I found an awesome video of American mole crabs filter feeding and here it is!<br /><object width="400" height="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uq8WipA9Xs8&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Uq8WipA9Xs8&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="320"></embed></object><br />Finally Queensland Museum came to the rescue with a name for my mystery Mole crab; well to be a little more precise <a href="http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/en/Research/People/People/Profile/D/Peter+Davie">Dr Peter Davie</a> Senior Curator (crustacea) came to the rescue.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWu94b6KI/AAAAAAAAA-s/IYB31qMb7TY/s1600/17+Queensland+Museum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 56px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWu94b6KI/AAAAAAAAA-s/IYB31qMb7TY/s400/17+Queensland+Museum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479711022508194" border="0" /></a><br />Peter Said:<br /><br /><blockquote>Dear Russell, Helen, et al.,<br /><br />Your pictures are of one of the “mole” crabs, <span style="font-style: italic;">Albunea symmysta</span>, in the family Albuneidae. These are not true crabs (Brachyura), but “Half-crabs” (Anomura) as they still have full abdomens and tail-fans. A bit more info below:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Albunea symmysta</span> (Linnaeus, 1758)<br /><br />Distribution: Northern Australia, Lord Howe Island; widespread tropical Indo-Pacific Oceans.<br /><br />Ecology: benthic, sand bottom, sublittoral, burrowing; often in wash-zone on beaches around low tide mark.<br /><br />ALBUNEIDAE Stimpson, 1858<br /><br />Albuneids are relatively small, crab-like anomurans. Typically, like the closely related Hippidae, they burrow into sandy substrates. This habit means that they are rarely encountered unless being specifically targeted for collection, and thus have been poorly studied. They are mostly found in relatively shallow coastal waters, but range in depth down to 225 metres.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Peter<br />P.J.F. Davie<br />Senior Curator (Crustacea)<br />Co-Editor (Aquatic Biodiversity), Memoirs of the Queensland Museum<br />Queensland Centre for Biodiversity </blockquote>I would like to thank Queensland Museum for their help not only with this identification but for the assistance they have given freely over the last couple of years. Their staff are always enthusiastic and have never failed to impress me with their knowledge. A special thank you to Kieran Aland who does such a fine job at Queensland Museum’s inquiry centre too…you’re a champion Kieran!<br /><br />Ok back to my mole crab <span style="font-style: italic;">Albunea symmysta</span>.<br /><br />I would like to tell you a whole lot more about this species but there really isn’t that much out there in google land about this fascinating animal. It appears to be infrequently seen as it lives under the sand and is rarely encountered like so many animals that occupy our beach ecosystems.<br /><br />12 June 2010 should have been a red letter day with my new crab find, unfortunately the return trip was marred by idiots driving on the beach.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWvYVPY8I/AAAAAAAAA-0/XI896K3vXCw/s1600/18+Bramston+Beach+driving+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWvYVPY8I/AAAAAAAAA-0/XI896K3vXCw/s400/18+Bramston+Beach+driving+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479718122644418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWvvc84XI/AAAAAAAAA-8/cQmjHN-ESbo/s1600/19+Bramston+Beach+driving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWvvc84XI/AAAAAAAAA-8/cQmjHN-ESbo/s400/19+Bramston+Beach+driving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479724329001330" border="0" /></a>Here is a pic of this same fool reversing back (note the reverse lights) as he didn’t get up onto the dunes the first time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWwA86ELI/AAAAAAAAA_E/duZOstWNKVc/s1600/20+Bramston+Beach+driving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWwA86ELI/AAAAAAAAA_E/duZOstWNKVc/s400/20+Bramston+Beach+driving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479729026437298" border="0" /></a>And some of the damage...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWwV4GZ-I/AAAAAAAAA_M/cfa1R3QDuRU/s1600/21+Bramston+Beach+driving+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TCBWwV4GZ-I/AAAAAAAAA_M/cfa1R3QDuRU/s400/21+Bramston+Beach+driving+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485479734643419106" border="0" /></a>Our own species needs to learn that beaches aren’t barren wastelands of sand but are dynamic ecosystems just like rainforests and mangroves.<br /><br />Beaches contain a fascinating array of interesting and important species and should be treasured and respected for all that they are.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-49761843961535929332010-06-19T21:33:00.003+08:002010-06-19T21:39:34.656+08:00Cassowary Chicks Lose Their Father…Reports the Innisfail Advocate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBzHZ5Ku4eI/AAAAAAAAA9c/R3K8ail1a4Q/s1600/1+Cassowary+Robert+and+Sue+Tidey+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBzHZ5Ku4eI/AAAAAAAAA9c/R3K8ail1a4Q/s400/1+Cassowary+Robert+and+Sue+Tidey+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484477693886915042" border="0" /></a>Our local paper, The Innisfail Advocate, has published a story about our latest cassowary road death at Mission Beach over the Queens birthday long weekend<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Here is their article dated 16 6 2010:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBzHaScCI_I/AAAAAAAAA9k/hilfI5g3hd0/s1600/2+cassowary+chicks+IA+16062010+%282%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBzHaScCI_I/AAAAAAAAA9k/hilfI5g3hd0/s400/2+cassowary+chicks+IA+16062010+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484477700670366706" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on image for larger view</span><br /></div><br />I wrote about this recent killing on 14 June 2010 and you can visit <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/06/four-endangered-cassowaries-slaughtered.html">that story here</a>.<br /><br />I am very pleased that the Innisfail Advocate decided to run this story as this iconic bird is part of our community’s identity.<br /><br />You could even say the Cassowary is our regions animal mascot.<br /><br />It’s a special and unique creature just like the many unique and diverse peoples who mix together to create our wonderful Cassowary Coast community.<br /><br />Our local council, the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, is even named after the big bird.<br /><br />The CCRC logo cleverly incorporates the big birds head into its design.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBzHazWI1WI/AAAAAAAAA9s/7nkzbTlhiJQ/s1600/3+CCRC+Logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 147px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBzHazWI1WI/AAAAAAAAA9s/7nkzbTlhiJQ/s400/3+CCRC+Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484477709504009570" border="0" /></a>It seems logical that any harm that comes to this amazing species in turn harms us as a community and a region.<br /><br />Somehow “Extinct Cassowary Coast Regional Council” would not have the same ring to it!<br /><br />Cassowaries have been and always will be important and newsworthy in this region.<br /><br />I wish to express my thanks to the Innisfail Advocate for their story.<br /><br />I would also like to thank Robert and Sue Tidey for allowing me to use their great image of a cassowary father and chicks. See <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=180032&id=612422979&ref=pb">Robert’s cassowary photos on Facebook</a> if you have a spare moment. While you are there check out the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=180032&id=612422979&ref=pb#%21/profile.php?id=100001031199010">Cassowary Casuarius Johnsonni Facebook page</a>.<br /><br />Our community deserves to be informed of the plight of our endangered southern cassowary…<br /><br />12 June 2010 1 x adult male cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br /><br />10 May 2010 1 x adult female cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br /><br />20 Dec 2009 1 x adult female cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br /><br />16 Nov 2009 1 x adult female cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br /><br />Even if the news is far from good.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-4878519864454834842010-06-14T22:55:00.004+08:002010-06-15T04:29:37.345+08:00Four Endangered Cassowaries Slaughtered over the Last Seven Months on Mission Beach RoadsThat’s right, yet another endangered southern cassowary has been killed on North Queensland roads by a motor car.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDMTbrtLI/AAAAAAAAA9U/whJeLbWvIIA/s1600/Cassowary+Sign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDMTbrtLI/AAAAAAAAA9U/whJeLbWvIIA/s400/Cassowary+Sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482643475024032946" border="0" /></a> So again I find myself sitting at my computer writing about another cassowary road death at Mission Beach, North Queensland.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>In a recent <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/05/tragic-cassowary-death-raises-mission.html">blog story</a> posted about the last cassowary road death at Mission Beach on 10 May 2010 I stated:<br /><blockquote>To be honest I am getting sick of telling this same story over and over but the message needs to get out there.<br /><br />At this rate I will soon be considering constructing a form letter with fields for date and location that I can use to report each cassowary road death as they arrive in my inbox.<br /><br />Government agencies need to act rapidly and decisively to halt this repetitive loss of such a precious endangered keystone species.<br /><br />With an estimated Australian population of approximately 1500 individual birds every cassowary lost is a blow to this endangered species. </blockquote>Nothing has changed and I am well and truly tired of witnessing this senseless carnage.<br /><br />The latest death occurred at a known cassowary crossing point and a male bird was killed.<br /><br />This same male bird had previously raised many young only to have most of them killed by vehicles.<br /><br />Now he is the victim, leaving his 2 chicks to fend for themselves without his care and guidance.<br /><br />Here is the C4 press release:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDLASXoNI/AAAAAAAAA80/PWIlUg0I0zc/s1600/2+C4+logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDLASXoNI/AAAAAAAAA80/PWIlUg0I0zc/s400/2+C4+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482643452704825554" border="0" /></a><blockquote>Media Release<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Road to Extinction</span><br /><br />14 June 2010<br /><br />It is beginning to be a case of ‘Ho hum, another one” as the endangered cassowary continues to be killed on the Mission Beach roads at an unsustainable rate. <br /><br />The latest death on Saturday, Queens Birthday long weekend at midday was of a male caring for chicks as it attempted to cross the road at its regular crossing point near the South Mission Beach turnoff. The two chicks are now prematurely left to survive on their own.<br /><br />It brings the cassowary road death toll to four adults in seven months and 60 in 15 years.<br /><br />“Each year this adult cassowary has lost chicks to car strike at the same location and there have been many reports of near misses” “It isn’t only a matter of the unsustainable rate of deaths” said C4 spokesperson Liz Gallie, ”it hits at the very core of community pride and identity” <br /><br />In 2008 the death of one of the chicks at the crossing prompted a rally of concerned community members. <br /><br />“There is tragic irony in the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) ‘recent crossing’ sign being attached to the 80 km/h road sign” <br /><br />“The willingness of the Queensland Main Roads Department to trial traffic management solutions at Mission Beach is most welcome”, said Ms Gallie, “but it is being questioned by the increasingly concerned community why the speed limit cannot be simply lowered throughout the township given the multiple deaths at known locations.<br /><br />“It may be a case of not enough soon enough. This is an iconic endangered species we are talking about. If the cassowary is allowed to be lost at Mission Beach, the Cassowary Coast Region would not only lose its icon but a major part of its tourism economy and appeal”.<br /><br />For over two decades there have been countless plans developed and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent in the name of cassowary management and protection and yet the known threats to their survival are increasing.<br /><br />“The Cassowary is an endangered species and icon of North Qld and the environment of the Tropics and, therefore, needs to be taken seriously by every Australian. This is a moral issue that really concerns all of us and should be important news in the national papers for everyone to see”. <br /><br />The targets of the Traffic Management Strategy in the new CSIRO and Terrain ‘Mission Beach Habitat Network Action Plan’ released last week are that;<br /><ul><li> Cassowaries are not killed by vehicle strikes</li><li> Fewer motor vehicles per person are using the road</li></ul>“It is an action plan” Ms Gallie said “Unless all the partners identified in the Plan commit to act now with an aligned and coordinated approach, it threatens to be just be another plan sitting on a shelf as the cassowary continues on the road to extinction”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/Newmedia.htm">http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/Newmedia.htm</a><br /><br />For more information please contact<br /><br />Liz Gallie<br /><br />C4 Media Coordinator<br /><br />0414 402315<br /><br />(07) 4068 7315<br /><br />liz@lizgallie.com<br /><br /><br />Photo captions<br /><br />“The irony of the recent crossing sign attached to an 80kmh road sign warning of the birds regular sighting”.<br /><br />Map showing the extent of the road deaths over the last 15 years. Compiled from various records including C4.<br /><br />Photo; Liz Gallie </blockquote><br />Here is the map that travels with the C4 Press release<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDLWbyKWI/AAAAAAAAA88/4w-kBBOE4PY/s1600/3+cassowary+road+death+map+2+google+email.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 326px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDLWbyKWI/AAAAAAAAA88/4w-kBBOE4PY/s400/3+cassowary+road+death+map+2+google+email.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482643458649893218" border="0" /></a>Oh and here is the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Mission Beach Death Map that some of this map is based on!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDL4I-h6I/AAAAAAAAA9E/2RGX2xpjr-s/s1600/4+National+Parks+cassowary+death+map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDL4I-h6I/AAAAAAAAA9E/2RGX2xpjr-s/s400/4+National+Parks+cassowary+death+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482643467697817506" border="0" /></a> And the road signs before they were updated at the start of this story!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDMK7DViI/AAAAAAAAA9M/NPo6hmheAJA/s1600/5+Cassowary+road+sign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TBZDMK7DViI/AAAAAAAAA9M/NPo6hmheAJA/s400/5+Cassowary+road+sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482643472739685922" border="0" /></a>One doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that Mission Beach has a real problem.<br /><br />Cassowaries take at least 3 years to reach breeding age so the absolute minimum amount of cassowary years needed to replace these 4 lost birds is 12 cassowary years.<br /><br />Yet it took us humans a mere 7 months to smash these 4 birds all over the highway… hardly a sustainable loss in my books!<br /><br />As mentioned in the press release, CSIRO and Terrain have released a <a href="http://www.terrain.org.au/programs/biodiversity/mission-beach.html">‘Mission Beach Habitat Network Action Plan’</a> which can be found on the Terrain NRM website.<br /><br />Ms Gallie hit the nail on the head when she said:<br /><blockquote>“It is an action plan” Ms Gallie said “Unless all the partners identified in the Plan commit to act now with an aligned and coordinated approach, it threatens to be just be another plan sitting on a shelf as the cassowary continues on the road to extinction” </blockquote>I call on the Cassowary Coast Regional Council and indeed all levels of government to put this plan into action and commit to halting this bird’s journey down the slippery road to extinction.<br /><br />Before I go here is a 2009 video of a male cassowary and his chick at Mission Beach getting frightened by traffic when approaching a road.<br /><object width="400" height="335"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V7WEHsR_RI4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V7WEHsR_RI4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="335"></embed></object><br />Who knows it may even be the same male bird that was killed.<br /><br />The cassowary slaughter at Mission Beach is a testament to what happens when humans develop and fragment cassowary habitat.<br /><br />Let’s hope the Commonwealth and State authorities that are assessing the massive Ella Bay urban development/resort complex are wise enough to learn from Mission Beach and put a halt to that unsustainable development to protect Ella Bay’s endangered southern cassowaries.<br /><br />A mistake is only a mistake if you do it twice.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-40258152036495478582010-05-30T15:37:00.016+08:002010-06-01T19:01:14.532+08:00Ella Bay Cassowary Family Visit the BeachCassowaries often visit the beach at Ella Bay and I have talked about this before in the story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/02/cassowary-scattracks-on-beach-in-front.html">Cassowary Scat/Tracks on the Beach in Front of Proposed Ella Bay Resort Complex/Urban Development</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV7aTvh9I/AAAAAAAAA6E/J1ZYEzeqvIg/s1600/Ella+Bay+Barra+Creek+looking+south+1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV7aTvh9I/AAAAAAAAA6E/J1ZYEzeqvIg/s400/Ella+Bay+Barra+Creek+looking+south+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964207254538194" border="0" /></a>Ella Bay cassowaries use the fresh water contained within the natural lagoons that run parallel to the beach.<br /><br />Of course they also feed from the native fruit trees that grow within this strip of coastal vegetation; native cassowary fruit trees which the proponent’s “Cassowary Assessment of the Ella Bay Integrated Resort Project” untruthfully insists are not present in this area!<br /><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>As humans we think of families as a mum and dad show but of course parenthood is a responsibility that falls squarely on the shoulders of the male cassowary as the female bird leaves shortly after she has mated and laid her eggs.<br /><br />For approximately the first 6 to 18 months of their lives the chicks are raised by their father. During this period he teaches the chicks all he can about being a cassowary and I recently bumped into some evidence of this happening at Ella Bay.<br /><br /><br />Sometimes a cassowary family has to go for a bit of a paddle if they want to access all of their territory and this story is about one such family.<br /><br />On Thursday 20 May 2010 I had a quick recce at Ella Bay as the following day I was taking a friend for a walk on this beach and had to make sure Barra Creek which runs out of the proponent’s property into the ocean was crossable.<br /><br />Of course this creek can flow pretty heavily during the wet season as the following video will illustrate.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="400" height="280"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivcFqYfkX6M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivcFqYfkX6M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="280"></embed></object><br /></div>When I arrived at the creek it was flowing into the ocean quite steadily and could be easily crossed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV72qop8I/AAAAAAAAA6M/quGL_17cxIU/s1600/Ella+Bay+Barra+Creek+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV72qop8I/AAAAAAAAA6M/quGL_17cxIU/s400/Ella+Bay+Barra+Creek+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964214866749378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV8HIxSvI/AAAAAAAAA6U/CEODjDh_GNg/s1600/Ella+Bay+barra+creek+3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV8HIxSvI/AAAAAAAAA6U/CEODjDh_GNg/s400/Ella+Bay+barra+creek+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964219288111858" border="0" /></a>Note the crocodile warning sign …it's there for a reason!<br /><br />Doubt my word?<br /><br />Then check out <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/03/green-turtles-crocodiles-and-ella-bay.html">Green Turtles, Crocodiles and Ella Bay</a> as the Crocodile tracks in this story were going into this same creek just metres from where this story begins.<br /><br />On the way back I noticed two sets of Cassowary tracks in the moist sand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV8dDepvI/AAAAAAAAA6c/ZInaP_WX3us/s1600/Ella+Bay+cassowary+trax+4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV8dDepvI/AAAAAAAAA6c/ZInaP_WX3us/s400/Ella+Bay+cassowary+trax+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964225171498738" border="0" /></a>I followed the tracks and came to the spot where the adult male cassowary had crossed the creek.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV8wcJ9OI/AAAAAAAAA6k/qWV2x4KSmKA/s1600/Ella+Bay+Barra+Creek+5+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIV8wcJ9OI/AAAAAAAAA6k/qWV2x4KSmKA/s400/Ella+Bay+Barra+Creek+5+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964230375273698" border="0" /></a>I could see the tracks where the adult male had shook the water out of his feathers after crossing the creek and had shuffled his feet around to keep his balance as he did so.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWfyl8dtI/AAAAAAAAA6s/iH_h34ycJ4M/s1600/Ella+Bay+Cassowary+shake+6+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWfyl8dtI/AAAAAAAAA6s/iH_h34ycJ4M/s400/Ella+Bay+Cassowary+shake+6+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964832248624850" border="0" /></a>I noticed the smaller tracks of a juvenile cassowary traveling with the big male bird.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWgOAJXMI/AAAAAAAAA60/gsIKm66TKPA/s1600/Ella+Bay+juvenile+cassowary+7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWgOAJXMI/AAAAAAAAA60/gsIKm66TKPA/s400/Ella+Bay+juvenile+cassowary+7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964839606279362" border="0" /></a>As you will see below dad has a much bigger foot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWgiUxVVI/AAAAAAAAA68/0f2T-JAEr-w/s1600/Ella+Bay+Adult+cassowary+8+.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWgiUxVVI/AAAAAAAAA68/0f2T-JAEr-w/s400/Ella+Bay+Adult+cassowary+8+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964845061494098" border="0" /></a>And here is a shot of the two birds tracks together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWhP123cI/AAAAAAAAA7E/3QaKSpsY0Tg/s1600/Ella+Bay+Cassowary+Trax+9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWhP123cI/AAAAAAAAA7E/3QaKSpsY0Tg/s400/Ella+Bay+Cassowary+Trax+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964857279864258" border="0" /></a>I followed the two tracks south.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWhSVVMDI/AAAAAAAAA7M/6oDZuHIDLro/s1600/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIWhSVVMDI/AAAAAAAAA7M/6oDZuHIDLro/s400/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476964857948745778" border="0" /></a>They were easy to follow in the moist sand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXI9V1u2I/AAAAAAAAA7U/C-YQ8yhA7oQ/s1600/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXI9V1u2I/AAAAAAAAA7U/C-YQ8yhA7oQ/s400/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965539508501346" border="0" /></a>Although they did do a bit of zigging and zagging along the way!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXJfDkeJI/AAAAAAAAA7c/Mw24rG3ppN8/s1600/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXJfDkeJI/AAAAAAAAA7c/Mw24rG3ppN8/s400/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965548558678162" border="0" /></a>Looking behind me it looks like the area where the tracks were was near the old creek mouth, this year’s creek mouth is further north.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXJszeN8I/AAAAAAAAA7k/MKB5SHooFGY/s1600/Ella+Bay+barra+creek13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXJszeN8I/AAAAAAAAA7k/MKB5SHooFGY/s400/Ella+Bay+barra+creek13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965552249255874" border="0" /></a>In the drier sand away from the creek the tracks were less obvious and by the following day they were almost gone.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXJ7nvqyI/AAAAAAAAA7s/OS6c2-BjXb4/s1600/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXJ7nvqyI/AAAAAAAAA7s/OS6c2-BjXb4/s400/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965556226599714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXKvG_u4I/AAAAAAAAA70/-OPZ948Uurk/s1600/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+15.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXKvG_u4I/AAAAAAAAA70/-OPZ948Uurk/s400/Ella+Bay+cassowary+tracks+15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965570047884162" border="0" /></a>To my embarrassment I noted I had walked straight past them on my journey to the creek!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXf9Hlz4I/AAAAAAAAA78/S1dqT6hdssY/s1600/Ella+bay+cassowary+tracks+16.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXf9Hlz4I/AAAAAAAAA78/S1dqT6hdssY/s400/Ella+bay+cassowary+tracks+16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965934585728898" border="0" /></a>I was distracted for a few moments by the big diamond scale mullet that were swimming in the creek.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXgKd2OEI/AAAAAAAAA8E/lzSOzglJHFo/s1600/Ella+bay+mullet+17.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXgKd2OEI/AAAAAAAAA8E/lzSOzglJHFo/s400/Ella+bay+mullet+17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965938168739906" border="0" /></a>Eventually the tracks disappeared into the coastal scrub and I continued my journey home.<br /><br />On the way back I saw a Beach stone curlew which is of course listed as a vulnerable species in Queensland.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXgi1QRnI/AAAAAAAAA8M/slcIBedeJ1A/s1600/Ella+Bay+thick+knee+18.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXgi1QRnI/AAAAAAAAA8M/slcIBedeJ1A/s400/Ella+Bay+thick+knee+18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965944709367410" border="0" /></a>I had seen this bird on the way to the creek of course!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXg9uP_fI/AAAAAAAAA8U/qnRWeuaY180/s1600/Ella+Bay+beach+thick+knee+19.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXg9uP_fI/AAAAAAAAA8U/qnRWeuaY180/s400/Ella+Bay+beach+thick+knee+19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965951927746034" border="0" /></a>Keep looking.... it's there I promise!<br /><br />It was interesting to get home and look at the cassowary tracks and maps on the computer as they illustrated just how mobile the mouth of Barra Creek is.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXhIc-uMI/AAAAAAAAA8c/Ik-b84GWwMc/s1600/Ella+Bay+BARRA+CASSOWARY+WALK+20.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIXhIc-uMI/AAAAAAAAA8c/Ik-b84GWwMc/s400/Ella+Bay+BARRA+CASSOWARY+WALK+20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476965954808101058" border="0" /></a>When the gps data was moved into Google earth it shows the creek mouth was much further south on the old google map than it is today. Now of course it is above the top pin on the above map.<br /><br />I just looked over this story and realised it wasn’t really fair to have a story about beach cassowaries that didn’t contain a photo of an Ella Bay cassowary on the beach!<br /><br />So here's a photo of an Ella Bay Cassowary walking.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIX1fXFsCI/AAAAAAAAA8k/Pd0txALB3Xo/s1600/Ella+bay+cassowary+21.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIX1fXFsCI/AAAAAAAAA8k/Pd0txALB3Xo/s400/Ella+bay+cassowary+21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476966304554790946" border="0" /></a>And eating Beach almond fruit!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIX1l1EFZI/AAAAAAAAA8s/9kmbPUarYME/s1600/Ella+bay+cassowary+eating+fruit+22.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/TAIX1l1EFZI/AAAAAAAAA8s/9kmbPUarYME/s400/Ella+bay+cassowary+eating+fruit+22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476966306291127698" border="0" /></a>Here’s a short video of a recent meeting I had with an Ella Bay cassowary in the dunes!<br /><object width="400" height="280"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Wn9IUR7i8s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Wn9IUR7i8s&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="280"></embed></object><br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-35227008786876786922010-05-23T12:28:00.006+08:002010-05-23T12:33:00.974+08:00Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service Map of Reported Cassowary Vehicle Strike DeathsIn April 2007 the Queensland government produced a map of known cassowary vehicle strike deaths at Mission Beach.<br /><br />Sometimes a picture says a thousand words and basically a map is just a picture isn’t it!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_ivHh4XrSI/AAAAAAAAA58/4JzaARD3UBo/s1600/cassowary+death+map.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_ivHh4XrSI/AAAAAAAAA58/4JzaARD3UBo/s400/cassowary+death+map.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474317890957585698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on image for larger view.</span><br /></div><br />Keep in mind that these are exclusively cassowary vehicle strike deaths and only record the percentage of vehicle strike deaths that are reported.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>I would not like to guess what the true figure is when you add birds that are either not reported or are struck and escape into the bush only to die later from their injuries.<br /><br />When considering the importance of cassowaries in the big scheme of things I generally focus on 3 things.<br /><br />Firstly the southern cassowaries low population which is estimated at 1200 to 1500 in the whole of Australia. This sets my alarm bells ringing as scarcity or rather relative scarcity is an acknowledged precursor to extinction (I qualified the last with “relative” for those who are familiar with the extinction of the American passenger pigeon).<br /><br />Secondly our southern populations are listed as ENDANGERED. According to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999:<br /><blockquote>(4) A native species is eligible to be included in the endangered category at a particular time if, at that time:<br /><br />(a) it is not critically endangered; and<br /><br />(b) it is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future, as determined in accordance with the prescribed criteria.</blockquote><br />In other words without action by our species the Australian government has deemed that these cassowaries face a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild in the near future.<br /><br />Finally cassowaries are a keystone species, in other words other species need cassowaries to survive as cassowaries are forest gardeners and keep our forests healthy by maintaining plant biodiversity via their seed distribution activity. Here's more information regarding <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/03/forest-gardeners.html">cassowary gardening activity</a>!<br />Our species is capable of saving the southern cassowary from extinction.<br /><br />This will require a firm commitment from all levels of government and if we delay and delay we are only selfishly passing the problem onto future generations when we can make a real difference now.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-87155563770785646622010-05-21T10:15:00.008+08:002010-05-21T10:43:07.501+08:00Cowley Beach . . . Looking Back 50 Years at Better Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XtivZij-I/AAAAAAAAA2M/ERN5EPKPDjE/s1600/1+beach+damage+cowleybeach+damage+cowley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XtivZij-I/AAAAAAAAA2M/ERN5EPKPDjE/s400/1+beach+damage+cowleybeach+damage+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473542103233630178" border="0" /></a>Yvonne Cunningham from Innisfail’s Violets and Lace Garden Centre was kind enough to share this story with me and give permission for me to share it with you too.<br /><br />Of course Yvonne has <a href="http://violets-and-lace.com/?page_id=2">her own site</a>. This particular story appears in <a href="http://violets-and-lace.com/?m=201005">the May edition of her newsletter</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XySuz05KI/AAAAAAAAA5U/_8BAO5VG4-8/s1600/growingfuture.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XySuz05KI/AAAAAAAAA5U/_8BAO5VG4-8/s400/growingfuture.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473547325755679906" border="0" /></a>Yvonne has put together some terrific stories and a favourite is called <a href="http://violets-and-lace.com/?p=339">cassowary</a>. I also found a story on <a href="http://violets-and-lace.com/?p=334">burning National Parks</a> very interesting and Yvonne raises some very valid points.<br /><br />Well once again I have talked too much so I will hand you over to Yvonne without any further ado!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let’s Go Down to the Beach</span><br />By Yvonne Cunningham<br /><br />Going down to the beach is the iconic pastime of Australians.<br /><br />My sweetest childhood memories are of adventures on beaches in north Queensland.<br /><br />I remember camping at Cowley Beach [south of Innisfail], one school holidays; hard to believe over fifty years ago. My sister and I had a small boat with a five horse-power seagull outboard and in the day time we explored the Barnard Islands, other beaches, waded in seagrass and floated with dugong.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xti4EZgiI/AAAAAAAAA2U/EWHdEOfxqPQ/s1600/2+Dugong.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 178px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xti4EZgiI/AAAAAAAAA2U/EWHdEOfxqPQ/s400/2+Dugong.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473542105560875554" border="0" /></a>The Barnard Islands are close to the Army Training Camp which is part of the beautiful Cowley Beach and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.<br /><br />At night we roamed Cowley beach, chased ghost crabs as they bobbed out of their subterranean home in the sand. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XtjPSQkMI/AAAAAAAAA2c/fbh_8d-4Xu4/s1600/3+Ghost+crabP1080732+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XtjPSQkMI/AAAAAAAAA2c/fbh_8d-4Xu4/s400/3+Ghost+crabP1080732+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473542111793025218" border="0" /></a>We found the flipper imprints of turtles and fruitlessly searched for their nests.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XtjU2w1VI/AAAAAAAAA2k/vkWdNyjXvoQ/s1600/4+turtle+tracks+2+.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XtjU2w1VI/AAAAAAAAA2k/vkWdNyjXvoQ/s400/4+turtle+tracks+2+.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473542113288312146" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xtjgg3UzI/AAAAAAAAA2s/kAPJO5i3MAA/s1600/5+Turtle+tracks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xtjgg3UzI/AAAAAAAAA2s/kAPJO5i3MAA/s400/5+Turtle+tracks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473542116417688370" border="0" /></a>We played in the phosphorous algae tossed ashore by waves.<br /><br />We scuttled after mudskippers and soldier crabs and were alarmed by the loud cries of the curlews.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XuiqYqu1I/AAAAAAAAA20/yTrR_JmutXI/s1600/5.5+curlew.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XuiqYqu1I/AAAAAAAAA20/yTrR_JmutXI/s400/5.5+curlew.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543201399421778" border="0" /></a>We followed the footprints of wallabies and cassowaries in the sand and lay on our backs on the beach and looked at the sky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xuiwi2eSI/AAAAAAAAA28/-304KY_PmCM/s1600/6+beach+wallabies%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xuiwi2eSI/AAAAAAAAA28/-304KY_PmCM/s400/6+beach+wallabies%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543203052747042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XujZ2Zv7I/AAAAAAAAA3E/YuJ04tDk0Es/s1600/7+Cassowary+tracks+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XujZ2Zv7I/AAAAAAAAA3E/YuJ04tDk0Es/s400/7+Cassowary+tracks+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543214140604338" border="0" /></a>We woke to the morning chorus of birds<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XujiwPeJI/AAAAAAAAA3M/qZ02wyvDy9c/s1600/8sunrise+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XujiwPeJI/AAAAAAAAA3M/qZ02wyvDy9c/s400/8sunrise+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543216530684050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xuj78TDmI/AAAAAAAAA3U/obLN-AKdhlk/s1600/9+Metallic+starling.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xuj78TDmI/AAAAAAAAA3U/obLN-AKdhlk/s400/9+Metallic+starling.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543223292137058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu1EcavFI/AAAAAAAAA3c/2YJdtngxznE/s1600/10+Bee+eater+EB+2+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu1EcavFI/AAAAAAAAA3c/2YJdtngxznE/s400/10+Bee+eater+EB+2+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543517632117842" border="0" /></a>and ran to search the tide line of the beach for flotsam and shells until we were called for breakfast.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu1uaduGI/AAAAAAAAA3k/z-q6zoT1Mgo/s1600/11nautilus%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu1uaduGI/AAAAAAAAA3k/z-q6zoT1Mgo/s400/11nautilus%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543528898213986" border="0" /></a>A beach is a wondrous place to a child then and now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu2D2bNZI/AAAAAAAAA3s/MM05SOXiHsQ/s1600/12baby+on+cowley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu2D2bNZI/AAAAAAAAA3s/MM05SOXiHsQ/s400/12baby+on+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543534652634514" border="0" /></a>The dynamic, vibrant ecosystem of the beach has an interdependent and equally important relationship with the foreshore and the dune, mangrove and forest community.<br /><br />The foreshore likewise has an interdependent relationship with marine creatures and birds on the close offshore Islands of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu2agDnOI/AAAAAAAAA30/JuajSsFd2to/s1600/13indo+pacific+humpback+dolphin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu2agDnOI/AAAAAAAAA30/JuajSsFd2to/s400/13indo+pacific+humpback+dolphin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543540732828898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu2zXOCeI/AAAAAAAAA38/eKtOC1VCNvk/s1600/14+pied+oystercatchers%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xu2zXOCeI/AAAAAAAAA38/eKtOC1VCNvk/s400/14+pied+oystercatchers%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473543547406649826" border="0" /></a>At high tide beaches are fish feeding grounds and the mosaic of life forms that live in the damp sands are not only food for other marine creatures they have been shown to form a structure that binds and stabilise beach sand preventing serious erosion.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwK-O9XlI/AAAAAAAAA4E/2jMzhRHU9P0/s1600/15+baitfish+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwK-O9XlI/AAAAAAAAA4E/2jMzhRHU9P0/s400/15+baitfish+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473544993433804370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwLnVieZI/AAAAAAAAA4M/Qe6e0qkouD0/s1600/16+reef+egret+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwLnVieZI/AAAAAAAAA4M/Qe6e0qkouD0/s400/16+reef+egret+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545004467255698" border="0" /></a>The animals that live in the sand are essential foods for sandpipers, godwits and all the migratory waders that visit Queensland beaches as well as the local Cassowaries.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwLzhJeLI/AAAAAAAAA4U/hvdgqtdTAF0/s1600/17+Whimbrel2+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwLzhJeLI/AAAAAAAAA4U/hvdgqtdTAF0/s400/17+Whimbrel2+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545007737174194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwMdAAuBI/AAAAAAAAA4c/ec8-8_8yxF0/s1600/18+beach+stone+curlew+with+crab+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwMdAAuBI/AAAAAAAAA4c/ec8-8_8yxF0/s400/18+beach+stone+curlew+with+crab+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545018872477714" border="0" /></a>Cowley beach remained virtually pristine until vehicles were allowed on the beach when the track to Liverpool Creek became blocked by debris following Cyclone Larry.<br /><br />The Cassowary Coast Regional Council installed a ‘beach ladder’ to enable vehicles to access the beach more easily.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwMsgD1sI/AAAAAAAAA4k/YPQqwXJi75s/s1600/19COWLEY+BEACH+LADDER+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwMsgD1sI/AAAAAAAAA4k/YPQqwXJi75s/s400/19COWLEY+BEACH+LADDER+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545023033431746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xwsy8Nw8I/AAAAAAAAA4s/hAUbKNMRrog/s1600/20+COWLEY+BEACH+LADDER.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_Xwsy8Nw8I/AAAAAAAAA4s/hAUbKNMRrog/s400/20+COWLEY+BEACH+LADDER.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545574517949378" border="0" /></a>and now the beach has become a raceway for 4WD and four wheeler vehicles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwtAWJG_I/AAAAAAAAA40/sbTTdnj7OhY/s1600/21+COWLEY+BEACH+CAR.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwtAWJG_I/AAAAAAAAA40/sbTTdnj7OhY/s400/21+COWLEY+BEACH+CAR.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545578116357106" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwtXLLf6I/AAAAAAAAA48/E7VFxoFYK40/s1600/22quadCOWLEY+BEACH+QUADBIKE.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwtXLLf6I/AAAAAAAAA48/E7VFxoFYK40/s400/22quadCOWLEY+BEACH+QUADBIKE.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545584244391842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwtupgOMI/AAAAAAAAA5E/eI8BLRu_bQU/s1600/23+cowley+beach+tracks+4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwtupgOMI/AAAAAAAAA5E/eI8BLRu_bQU/s400/23+cowley+beach+tracks+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545590545594562" border="0" /></a>Visit Cowley Beach and see what has happened.<br /><br />Ring the Cassowary Coast Regional Council 40302222, tell them you support their rethink of the situation and their proposed new plan to keep vehicles off beaches in the shire; this will save money as the Council will no longer have to repair damage done to beaches and dunes by vehicles; Well done CCRC.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwuHwuWNI/AAAAAAAAA5M/Ipv_jV0pRsA/s1600/24+chick+%283%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_XwuHwuWNI/AAAAAAAAA5M/Ipv_jV0pRsA/s400/24+chick+%283%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473545597286766802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Thank you Yvonne for taking us on a trip back in time at Cowley Beach and hopefully some of the wonders of this beach will be rightfully restored in the not too distant future.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-29124883680223870472010-05-19T18:57:00.004+08:002010-05-19T19:11:07.378+08:00Road Death Rate of Cassowaries at Mission Beach Unsustainable says C4 spokesperson Liz GallieI promised an update on the latest Mission Beach cassowary death when the press release arrived so here it is.<br /><br />10 May 2010 1 x adult female cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br />20 Dec 2009 1 x adult female cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br />16 Nov 2009 1 x adult female cassowary killed on Mission Beach Roads<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PEjWmk-8I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/8pgq5KjX1iA/s1600/1+Cassowary+Death.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PEjWmk-8I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/8pgq5KjX1iA/s400/1+Cassowary+Death.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472934083827137474" border="0" /></a><br />Is anyone starting to see a pattern here?<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>It gets worse… all these deaths occurred along a 1 kilometre stretch of road.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lizgallie.com/">Liz Gallie</a> was kind enough to send a press release on to me to share on the blog.<br /><br />Although I really don’t like these stories one little bit they still need to be told and not just swept under the carpet.<br /><br />Well without any further ado here’s the press release:<br /><br /><blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PG32Tc27I/AAAAAAAAA2I/jbKH6wzOWwI/s400/C4.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PG32Tc27I/AAAAAAAAA2I/jbKH6wzOWwI/s400/C4.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Media release<br /><br />13 May 2010<br /><br />Tragic Loss pushes cassowary at Mission Beach closer to extinction<br /><br />Another adult cassowary was killed by car strike late on Monday afternoon near Mission Beach village. The death was reported to the local Police the next morning. The body was retrieved from the side of the road at around 5pm that day and taken to the Garners Beach Rehabilitation Centre for disposal.<br /><br />It was confirmed by the Tully vet who attended the scene the dead bird was a large mature female and it had sustained massive injuries.<br /><br />The bird was crossing the road towards dusk when it was struck by one vehicle and ricocheted into the path of another. The driver of the second car stopped but it was too dark to see the bird.<br /><br />The accident caused substantial damage to the vehicle.<br /><br />“The road death rate of cassowaries at Mission Beach is unsustainable” said spokesperson for C4, Liz Gallie. “It takes four years for a cassowary to reach maturity and then it can live up to 50 years of age. The death of three adult female cassowaries in the same area within six months is a tragic blow for the important population of the endangered cassowary at Mission Beach”.<br /><br />All three deaths occurred within a kilometer of each other and on a section of road that is known as a frequent crossing area.<br /><br />As a result of two of the deaths last year the Main Roads Department held a workshop at Mission Beach and a plan was developed to trial a cassowary crossing on a small section of road. There are many other places in the high cassowary density area of Mission Beach that need traffic management<br /><br />C4 met with several State Ministers at the Community Cabinet held at Innisfail last February highlighting the urgency for an integrated cassowary traffic and response strategy.<br /><br />When a cassowary is killed on the road we need to obtain specific information e g;<br /><br />* Was it on a straight stretch of road or a bend?<br />* What was the speed limit?<br />* What was the condition of the adjacent road verge e g long grass, native vegetation, road cutting?<br />* Was the driver a local or tourist? Etc etc.<br /><br />It appears that visibility played a major role in the latest casualty. We know that;<br /><ul><li>It was a large female cassowary</li><li>It was hit by two cars while on the road at dusk</li><li>It was at a known frequent crossing area</li><li>It was in an 80kph zone</li><li>One driver stopped and reported the incident</li><li>One of the drivers was local</li><li>It was on a straight section of road with one side of the road a grass verge and the other with vegetation close to the road.</li></ul>Information is being collected by various people about cassowary movement as well as road crossings. All this information should be shared on compatible data bases and we need to make sure that when we collect information we understand why a situation has occurred so that our response is effective.<br /><br />The recent satellite tagging project being carried out by DERM and the University of Queensland, funded by the State Government, in this instance, would not effectively add any more information than is already being collected through regular reported sightings and the placement of ‘recent crossing’ signs. “In fact the newly established online sightings database without the inclusion of extra important data will hinder progress by confusing responses and fragmenting current information gathering” Ms Gallie said.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PEjw0du0I/AAAAAAAAA1g/TuIpoMm44vs/s1600/2+location+photo.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PEjw0du0I/AAAAAAAAA1g/TuIpoMm44vs/s400/2+location+photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472934090864704322" border="0" /></a><br />Location of latest cassowary road kill at known crossing area.<br /><br />For more information please contact;<br /><br />Liz Gallie<br />Media Coordinator<br /><a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/">Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation Inc (C4)</a><br />0414 402315<br />(07) 4068 7315 </blockquote><br />The Cairns Post also presented a story about this latest cassowary death on15 May 2010 in which they draw attention to the fact that the state government is trialling a crossing for cassowaries at Mission Beach but not in the area where these endangered birds are being killed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PEkLJabZI/AAAAAAAAA1o/gepCyyGxT38/s1600/3+CP+15052010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S_PEkLJabZI/AAAAAAAAA1o/gepCyyGxT38/s400/3+CP+15052010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472934097931890066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I would like to thank the Cairns Post for publishing this story.<br /><br />What are my thoughts?<br /><br />I believe that these sorts of losses are far from tolerable especially when one takes into account that these are only the reported deaths. Just how often are these magnificent birds struck by a vehicle only to wander off and die alone, uncounted and unremembered in the scrub?<br /><br />The speed limit needs to be reduced in these areas with speed limiting road structures rather than simply putting up signs and crossing our fingers for luck.<br /><br />At Mission Beach we are gambling with the future of a precious keystone species.<br /><br />As intelligent and rational people we should know better than to risk something that we simply cannot afford to lose.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-396368576835977522010-05-11T19:58:00.004+08:002010-05-11T20:05:05.368+08:00Tragic Cassowary Death Raises Mission Beach Road Toll to an Unacceptable 3 Adult Females in 6 MonthsYet again I find myself sitting in my office receiving news from my friend Liz Gallie at <a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/">Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4)</a> that the Mission Beach community has lost yet another precious female endangered Southern cassowary.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S-lGtKNBheI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Nuc8snuQCaU/s1600/1+cassowary+death+toll.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S-lGtKNBheI/AAAAAAAAA1A/Nuc8snuQCaU/s400/1+cassowary+death+toll.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469980964065215970" border="0" /></a>Here is her email:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Subject: Another adult cassowary death on Mission Beach roads</span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><blockquote>A call was received this evening to inform C4 of an adult female cassowary road death at a well known crossing point just west of the hardware near the pumping station on the El Arish/Mission Beach Road.<br /><br />The death occurred yesterday afternoon.<br /><br />Apparently from the markings and amount of blood on the road the bird was hit by one car and ricocheted into the path of another car. We believe that the incident was not reported by the drivers of the vehicle/s involved and the body of the bird was retrieved late this afternoon by the Police and the Tully Vet.<br /><br />C4 will be sending out a media release about this death as soon as more information is available. <br /><br />This death will take the cassowary road toll to three adults in six months, within a kilometre section of road that is a known frequent crossing area. <br /><br />With a slow recruitment rate of a species that can live up to 50 years, the death of three adult female cassowaries within a localised area is a massive blow for the important Mission Beach population of the endangered cassowary.<br /><br />The site of the accident may be further west than the welcomed Main Roads proposed action to reduce the speed limit to 60kph.<br /><br />The records of the placement of QPWS recent crossing signs would be invaluable information to inform authorities where effective traffic management can be applied.<br /><br />When will the threats to the icon of the Cassowary Coast Region be taken seriously enough, by all the authorities that have the power to act, to avoid this carnage?<br /><br />For further information please contact<br />Liz Gallie<br />C4 Media Coordinator<br /><a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/">Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation</a><br />0414 402315<br />(07) 4068 7315 </blockquote><br />How do I feel?<br /><br />Angry to start with but I am not even going to discuss my thoughts in this regard until I have cooled off a little.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S-lGtVgAxTI/AAAAAAAAA1I/mepylF9Jx4I/s1600/2+do+we+really+care.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S-lGtVgAxTI/AAAAAAAAA1I/mepylF9Jx4I/s400/2+do+we+really+care.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469980967097648434" border="0" /></a>Mostly I just feel sad that we are watching this amazing creature getting smashed into oblivion on our roads whilst agencies that could make a real difference slowly awaken (and hopefully respond) to the significance of these losses.<br /><br />To be honest I am getting sick of telling this same story over and over but the message needs to get out there.<br /><br />At this rate I will soon be considering constructing a form letter with fields for date and location that I can use to report each cassowary road death as they arrive in my inbox.<br /><br />Government agencies need to act rapidly and decisively to halt this repetitive loss of such a precious endangered keystone species.<br /><br />With an estimated Australian population of approximately 1500 individual birds every cassowary lost is a blow to this endangered species.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S-lGtpaQ5PI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/mVyno4szPX4/s1600/3+cassowary+extinction.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S-lGtpaQ5PI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/mVyno4szPX4/s400/3+cassowary+extinction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469980972442248434" border="0" /></a>I will update this report when the press release comes in and more is known.<br /><br />RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-88961185781248845842010-05-04T13:41:00.008+08:002010-05-05T07:35:15.198+08:00Easter Holiday Brings more Foreshore and Dune Damage by Vehicles at Cowley BeachCowley Beach Scientist Mr Richard Piper has been an advocate for coastal protection and management at Cowley beach for many years now.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zvxcFFgI/AAAAAAAAAxo/_r3Edkrbm8c/s1600/1+ipomea.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zvxcFFgI/AAAAAAAAAxo/_r3Edkrbm8c/s400/1+ipomea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286105957406210" border="0" /></a>After working with Richard (conducting chemical trials in the field under extreme and arduous conditions) I was highly impressed by his cool headed thoroughness and commitment to excellence. I can see why he is so highly regarded by both his scientific and business associates.<br /><br />As we both have a strong interest in damage to this beautiful beach by totally uncontrolled/unregulated dune and beach driving we often are in touch via email.<br /><br />I was saddened to be informed by Richard and others of the damage inflicted on this beach over the Easter holidays and am grateful that adverse weather conditions would have reduced the damage to some degree.<br /><br />I will share a recent letter with you which highlight the frustration we feel as bystanders watching the desecration of this beach whilst council watches on.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zwOT-IUI/AAAAAAAAAxw/A9U7hxKp0pQ/s1600/2+cowley+at+easter+01+copy+%282%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zwOT-IUI/AAAAAAAAAxw/A9U7hxKp0pQ/s400/2+cowley+at+easter+01+copy+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286113708024130" border="0" /></a>Of course there were photos attached to this email and here they are!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zwgv3ExI/AAAAAAAAAx4/wvn15KcAY-Q/s1600/3+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zwgv3ExI/AAAAAAAAAx4/wvn15KcAY-Q/s400/3+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286118656840466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zw4v3orI/AAAAAAAAAyA/cxhvFj_Zo_M/s1600/4+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zw4v3orI/AAAAAAAAAyA/cxhvFj_Zo_M/s400/4+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286125099328178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zxAhUZyI/AAAAAAAAAyI/RMvzh54FdiI/s1600/5+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-zxAhUZyI/AAAAAAAAAyI/RMvzh54FdiI/s400/5+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286127185782562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0LMqlQhI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/6LAE8vsScgc/s1600/6+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0LMqlQhI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/6LAE8vsScgc/s400/6+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286577122460178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0MHrz3sI/AAAAAAAAAyY/pM3lDPD2DlE/s1600/7+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0MHrz3sI/AAAAAAAAAyY/pM3lDPD2DlE/s400/7+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286592965304002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0MlSX2AI/AAAAAAAAAyg/4XwhO5BQzRA/s1600/8+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0MlSX2AI/AAAAAAAAAyg/4XwhO5BQzRA/s400/8+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286600911673346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0MzegELI/AAAAAAAAAyo/AsbxZgH3fuA/s1600/9+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0MzegELI/AAAAAAAAAyo/AsbxZgH3fuA/s400/9+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286604720640178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0NhaYjNI/AAAAAAAAAyw/DjfOBVEi3so/s1600/10+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-0NhaYjNI/AAAAAAAAAyw/DjfOBVEi3so/s400/10+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467286617051401426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-06EFFQ5I/AAAAAAAAAzY/yUKgLtsox2A/s1600/11+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-06EFFQ5I/AAAAAAAAAzY/yUKgLtsox2A/s400/11+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287382271542162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-054ZTlTI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/SmQa43B2_1k/s1600/12+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-054ZTlTI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/SmQa43B2_1k/s400/12+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287379135141170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-05A_-LGI/AAAAAAAAAzI/9movVhSjmo8/s1600/13++cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-05A_-LGI/AAAAAAAAAzI/9movVhSjmo8/s400/13++cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287364264930402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-041Y9sEI/AAAAAAAAAzA/NXRx8fSe2wY/s1600/14+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-041Y9sEI/AAAAAAAAAzA/NXRx8fSe2wY/s400/14+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287361148530754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-04eVyB4I/AAAAAAAAAy4/W8-koZtUX0I/s1600/15+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-04eVyB4I/AAAAAAAAAy4/W8-koZtUX0I/s400/15+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287354961168258" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1KKJWPjI/AAAAAAAAA0A/0DZWdrooR1c/s1600/16+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1KKJWPjI/AAAAAAAAA0A/0DZWdrooR1c/s400/16+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287658777951794" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1JtTyXKI/AAAAAAAAAz4/ex7vTAx18vY/s1600/17+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1JtTyXKI/AAAAAAAAAz4/ex7vTAx18vY/s400/17+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287651037109410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1JPmEiHI/AAAAAAAAAzw/YAsEmCVcPEA/s1600/18+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1JPmEiHI/AAAAAAAAAzw/YAsEmCVcPEA/s400/18+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287643060734066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1I4PnpPI/AAAAAAAAAzo/RdDx5vFPxEU/s1600/19+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1I4PnpPI/AAAAAAAAAzo/RdDx5vFPxEU/s400/19+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287636792550642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1IbjQl5I/AAAAAAAAAzg/i89uLYjTEw4/s1600/20+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1IbjQl5I/AAAAAAAAAzg/i89uLYjTEw4/s400/20+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287629090297746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1bAkHxVI/AAAAAAAAA0o/-RTTFffoChY/s1600/21+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1bAkHxVI/AAAAAAAAA0o/-RTTFffoChY/s400/21+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287948263671122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1aZ2_FZI/AAAAAAAAA0g/RvGPLKxm3jE/s1600/22+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1aZ2_FZI/AAAAAAAAA0g/RvGPLKxm3jE/s400/22+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287937873810834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1aJKb_kI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/xlOOs5u6gso/s1600/23+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1aJKb_kI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/xlOOs5u6gso/s400/23+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287933391994434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1ZxhpZXI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/3zqggFJrGAc/s1600/24+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1ZxhpZXI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/3zqggFJrGAc/s400/24+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287927046890866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1ZpEoqcI/AAAAAAAAA0I/482CSBQ82EY/s1600/25+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1ZpEoqcI/AAAAAAAAA0I/482CSBQ82EY/s400/25+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467287924777724354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1j0vWeAI/AAAAAAAAA0w/LViBGhLCohA/s1600/26+cowley.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-1j0vWeAI/AAAAAAAAA0w/LViBGhLCohA/s400/26+cowley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467288099708368898" border="0" /></a>Mr Piper has called on council many times to place controlling signage on the dunes for environmental and safety reasons however his requests have fallen on deaf ears. In a letter to Ms Julie Murphy CCRC Director Community Services dated 25 April 2010 Mr Piper opens with:<br /><br /><blockquote>Dear Julie<br /><br />I was really surprised to be honest by the tone of your recent letter to me and will respond in due course. In particular I fail to understand why there is no signage placed and enforcement being carried out now. I do understand the complexities round the vehicle use here and most people in our community do and I think that you underrate us. Yes I understood all you told me at our meeting and I simply cannot sit idly by and watch this beautiful beach being wrecked with Council's blessing. You seem to forget our rates have paid for what is happening and the current situation frankly defies belief. Imagine how you would feel if this is how you saw your rates dollars being spent at your beach. </blockquote><br />In his frustration he has even offered to pay for signage out of his own pocket and I believe it is shameful that Council’s inaction re signage could force a ratepayer and citizen to consider paying for signs that council should be constructing/installing themselves.<br /><br />I’m not saying all Councillors are bad…far from it. Councillor Bill Horsford set a shining example with his letter to the Editor in the Innisfail Advocate on 13 March 2010 and his honesty and empathy is inspiring.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-4T3kIW_I/AAAAAAAAA04/Yp6mOSU-dIM/s1600/image003.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 388px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S9-4T3kIW_I/AAAAAAAAA04/Yp6mOSU-dIM/s400/image003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467291124123589618" border="0" /></a>As a side note I would like to thank the Innisfail Advocate’s Editor Mr Bruce Rockemer for presenting this story with a photograph inserted…very neat work!<br /><br />All up not a pretty situation at Cowley Beach without any definitive time line for the problems to be addressed.<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-50948390872952924252010-04-17T17:30:00.006+08:002010-04-17T18:29:58.965+08:00Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mismanagement at Cowley Beach receives damning report card from DERM Principal Coastal Scientist Sel SultmannI sometimes strongly disagree with the management practices of the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. In my story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/01/queensland-parks-and-wildlife-service.html">‘Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Upset Ma:mu Traditional Owners and Conservationists at Ella Bay’</a>, I was mightily unimpressed with their beach driving antics and lack of consultation with traditional owners.<br /><br />Well there is another side to the coin and after reading a recent report by DERM Principal Coastal Scientist Sel Sultmann I was very (read extremely) impressed with his work. It seems like DERM have some staff that are well and truly on the ball and Mr Sultmann is one of them.<br /><br />This report was prepared for the council after Mr Sultmann’s inspection of damage to Cowley Beach on the 15 October 2009. Sadly the document disappeared like a fart in a fan factory and despite repeated requests by Cowley Beach scientist Mr Richard Piper to council for access to this document it never materialised. I was carbon copied in to these emails to councillor Jennifer Downs and other council representatives but for some reason Mr Piper was never given a copy of this report.<br /><br />Smelling a rat Mr Piper obtained the report via other means and I thought in the interest of transparency and fair play you good people might like to see the contents so here it is… enjoy!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Report on: Vehicle use on Cowley Beach</span><br /><br />An inspection of beach condition and vehicle impact on was carried out on 15 October 2009 with representatives of Cassowary Coast Regional Council and local residents..<br /><br />The purpose of the inspection was to assess the recovery of the beach system following Cyclone Larry and determine what the vehicle impact was following closure of the old access track by cyclone damage. It was noted that Council has encouraged the use of the intertidal beach area by vehicles following an inspection about 12 months ago.<br /><br />Cowley Beach south of the township is a long narrow spit backed by Liverpool Creek. The dune is a low terrace with little ridge and swale development typical of a typical beach ridge type dune. The dune is emplaced by wave over-wash processes with a small amount of sand blown up onto the dune crest. For comparison purposes aerial photos of Cowley Beach south in 2001 (pre Cyclone Larry) and 2006(post cyclone Larry) are presented as Attachment 1.<br /><br />The primary observations at the inspection were that:<br /><ul><li> Vehicles were both using the intertidal beach and the dune crest for access to . There was also evidence in the recent vehicle tracks that vehicles move between the beach and the dune crest track, probably based on arbitrary decisions on track softness, slope etc.</li><li> The result of this broad area of vehicle use was that a larger area of land was impacted than if one or the other access was exclusively used. This impact between the tracks by vehicle cross-over was evident by a reduced vegetative ground cover/vegetation recovery; and</li><li> The old vehicle track further landward had not been reopened for most of its length.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_xlkNnsI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/hPKRMrbRVDw/s1600/-000.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_xlkNnsI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/hPKRMrbRVDw/s400/-000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461036513037754050" border="0" /></a>Photo 1: Beach and dune crest tracks in active use by vehicles.<br /></div><br />The above result is perhaps the worst possible outcome from an environmental management perspective in that there is now at least double the area being impacted by vehicles then pre-cyclone Larry when vehicles primarily used the dune crest track, and perhaps much more when vehicle crossover between the beach and dune tracks is considered.<br /><br />Department of Environment and Resource Management policy and desired environmental outcomes as expressed in the State Coastal Management Plan and the Wet Tropics Regional Coastal Management plan. The regional plan has as its listed desired outcome for this area which include:<br /><ul><li> The physical and biological integrity of the dune system and associated beach is maintained;</li><li> Vehicle access and recreational use has minimal impact on the fauna that use the beaches</li></ul>The policy does not seek to stop vehicle access to Liverpool creek but to restrict expansion of the impact of vehicles by limiting vehicle access to the established access (dune crest) and discouraging new access (beach). The substitution of dune crest access for beach access based on closure of the dune crest track by cyclone Larry damage can be supported where the vehicle impact overall is the same or reduced. However the current management arrangements are inconsistent with this policy in that the footprint of vehicle impact has expanded in the attempted shift to beach access and the abandonment of dune crest access has not been completely achieved.<br /><br />Use of vehicles on beaches to access remote areas and camping /fishing opportunities is a common practice in some coastal areas of Queensland including all the large sand islands of south east Queensland. In this high wave energy environments the beaches are wide and relatively flat and are usable for much of the tidal cycle, but the high dunes backing the beaches cannot be used for vehicle access so vehicles are naturally confined to the beach. North Queensland beaches by comparison commonly have coarser sand, the upper beach slopes tend to be steeper and the width narrower. Therefore vehicle access along north Queensland beaches is more restricted by tidal conditions. Conversely the low flat dune terrace backing the beach is quite useable for vehicle and becomes an easy alternative when beach conditions deteriorate. The Cowley Beach has these characteristics.<br /><br />The spit south of Cowley Beach is in a designated Erosion Prone Area and is vulnerable to erosion during tropical cyclones and to breaching by the Liverpool Creek in behind. Consistent with the State Coastal Management Plan DERM would not support development on the spit such as road works or hardening of any access track on these dunes, but low value works such as signage, bollards and fencing would be acceptable. Therefore management of this area needs to recognise that vehicle access needs to be controlled/regulated to minimise environmental harm, but road works are not appropriate for this area.<br /><br />The following conclusions were drawn from this inspection:<br /><ul><li> Any vehicle access strategy for Cowley Beach must have as its primary objective the minimisation of the vehicle impact foot print and therefore the level of environmental impact.<br /><br /></li><li>A regime of beach access only for vehicles to access to Liverpool Creek will result in a restricted time envelope of use due to tide and weather constraints, and there may be periods when access is not possible for extended periods. Prevention of vehicles also driving along or accessing the dune terrace cannot be done by physical constraints due to the dynamic nature of this coast, so would require a regulatory regime (local laws and permitting/compliance/enforcement action) to ensure compliance. It needs to be recognised that dune crest vehicle use will always be a requirement for emergency purposes and a level of non complying use will be inevitable due to people being caught out by a rising tide. Therefore a beach access option will have the greatest environmental impact in terms of a vehicle use footprint.<br /><br /></li><li>A regime of dune crest access will provide a full time envelope for accessing Liverpool Creek as it is unconstrained by tidal and most wave conditions. The dune crest track is probably a more sensitive site in terms of it being the site of active erosion/accretion processes and vegetation regeneration, and potentially as a bird and turtle nesting site. The optimum strategy for the use of this area is to move the track as far landward as practical and preferentially use previously degraded/impacted areas for the track path. Compliance could be achieved primarily by education, physical barriers and signage, although a regulatory regime is a necessary part of ensuring compliance.<br /><br /></li><li>The switch to beach driving for vehicles access to Liverpool Creek following cyclone Larry may have solved a short term problem but may not be the best long-term solution in terms of the resources needed to ensure this compliance, the inevitability of continued dune crest driving and the reduced access times limited by tides.</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Recommendations</span><br /><br />It is recommended that:<br /><br />1. The dual track system which has developed since Cyclone Larry must be abandoned and a single track option adopted to minimise environmental impact.<br /><br />2. Either management option listed below is suitable for retaining the environmental values of this area, but a combination of the 2 is not acceptable:<br />(a) Confine vehicle access to beach use only with designated dune crossing points. This option will result in a restricted window of usage due to tidal conditions and will therefore require a strong regulatory regime and community education to ensure compliance, and a vehicle lock out system during periods when the beach is impassable.<br />(b) Confine vehicles to a dune top track placed as far landward of the seaward dune crest as practical. This may require reopening of the old access track, use of signage and limited physical barriers and a moderate regulatory regime to ensure compliance.<br /><br />3. Vehicle management effort such as signage bollards etc, should focus on restricting vehicle use/movement onto sensitive environmental areas so as to harm such as on the eastern side of the dunes or close to the Liverpool Creek bank.<br /><br />4. The vulnerability of the dune area south of the Cowley Beach township to sea erosion be recognised and works to harden, surface or upgrade this track not be considered. This does not extend to judicious vegetation clearing to regularise preferred vehicle access.<br /><br />Sel Sultmann<br />Principal Coastal Scientist<br />Department of Environment and Resource Management<br /><br />Attachment 1: Cowley Beach pre cyclone Larry in 2001 and post cyclone Larry in 2006.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_y4UkFbI/AAAAAAAAAxY/B3ZpDg8S3ow/s1600/-001+%282%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 153px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_y4UkFbI/AAAAAAAAAxY/B3ZpDg8S3ow/s400/-001+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461036535252260274" border="0" /></a></blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_y4UkFbI/AAAAAAAAAxY/B3ZpDg8S3ow/s1600/-001+%282%29.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_zSRVspI/AAAAAAAAAxg/Pw9Teavw1ek/s1600/-014+%282%29.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 140px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S8l_zSRVspI/AAAAAAAAAxg/Pw9Teavw1ek/s400/-014+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461036542218056338" border="0" /></a><br />Well there you go!<br /><br />I would like to say that I admire the way in which Mr Sultmann has explained the situation on the ground in easy to understand terms and offered management solutions that unfortunately are not being acted upon.<br /><br />My favourite quote from the report was “The above result is perhaps the worst possible outcome from an environmental management perspective in that there is now at least double the area being impacted by vehicles then pre-cyclone Larry when vehicles primarily used the dune crest track, and perhaps much more when vehicle crossover between the beach and dune tracks is considered.”<br /><br />I think the reason why Mr Sultmann qualifies the statement with the word “PERHAPS” is that he has considered the possibility that council might sponsor dune buggy racing (or something similar) at Cowley Beach and I can imagine Councillor Downs waving a chequered flag and handing out trophies as the beach and dunes are decimated!<br /><br />Then again I do have a rather fertile imagination!<br /><br />Ok I am being silly here and there are no plans for council to do this… (I hope)<br /><br />At the end of the day it is not a pleasant report card.<br /><br />I’m sure CCRC’s Mr Paul Devine (Manager Parks and Natural Environment) would have been less than happy with this assessment of his/councils management performance. If I were in his shoes I certainly would not want this report attached to my resume or in any way linked to me!<br /><br />I am disappointed the report was not given to the Cowley Beach Advisory Group for consideration.<br /><br />I am disappointed it was not attached as an appendix to the Final Report prepared by Julie Murphy (Director of Community Services) and Paul Devine (Manager Parks and Natural Environment).<br /><br />I am disappointed that in my opinion council appears to be more concerned with how Cowley Beach scientist Richard Piper obtained the report that rectifying the problems it has clearly identified.<br /><br />I will have another story up soon about damage inflicted on this area over the Easter holidays and I still have to tell you more about the Ella Bay Cassowaries that are feeding on the beach after crossing the Ella Bay Road (I haven’t forgotten).<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-8245255642977881642010-03-31T10:23:00.006+08:002010-03-31T10:33:47.220+08:00Green Turtles, Crocodiles and Ella BayI know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a new story but trust me I have had a few big fish to fry lately!<br /><br />Today Ma:mu/Mandubarra traditional owner James Epong and I were fortunate enough to be invited to give a joint presentation on local turtle nesting to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.<br /><br />The star of the show was a turtle we called 108 as it was the 108th green turtle hatchling to make its dash for the ocean from a nest only metres away from the Ella Bay Road.<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZMSk4AHQcS9OHK9prbVEhA?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KysN7ZghI/AAAAAAAAAwc/V-lzSTEqbYA/s400/1%20turtle.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a0R4EyLmIyZzUN7EMHst1Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KysEc5npI/AAAAAAAAAwg/cuVhNifJKLM/s400/2%20turtle.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4L9UDHsCoivERzNis9yx6Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KysQkiC7I/AAAAAAAAAwk/u8hxo6wO6PA/s400/3%20turtle%20copy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/__gk9B0GJFa40oovwv-a7A?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KystBh_kI/AAAAAAAAAwo/Ke4WgHGJ354/s400/4%20turtle%20copy.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W2VFQHCCJ9gy8nRcuchBpA?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KysuWrFyI/AAAAAAAAAws/hgZAJ_bDUOU/s400/5%20turtle%20copy.jpg" /></a><br /><br />How do we know it was number 108 you ask?<br /><br />Well a post hatch inspection/count was conducted on this nest and 108 turtles hatched from 109 eggs! Mama green turtle did a good job and myself and Ma:mu traditional owners paid nightly visits to this nest to ensure it was safe from harm. We believe it is a first for the area for a nest to be looked after and observed from laying until hatching by indigenous volunteers or by anyone for that matter!<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D8BpUuT03cEV_XHLs9ybww?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7Ky9isfTBI/AAAAAAAAAww/Xk6wowEkhsw/s400/6%20james%20and%20nest.jpg" /></a><br /><br />More about this later!<br /><br />Getting back to our Cassowary coast Regional Council I still have my issues with this council regarding their poor performance at Cowley Beach in relation to beach driving/damage and that has not changed.<br /><br />I have recently received a report from DERM that was supplied to the council in which their principle coastal scientist made the following statement…<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pTRyajNemLicS8e2spjPKw?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7Ky9liUj2I/AAAAAAAAAw0/Xq8axEyHVe4/s400/7%20Sel%20Sultman%2027112009%20copy.jpg" /></a><br />If you are not familiar with what is happening at Cowley beach a visit to the story titled <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/11/cassowary-coast-regional-councils.html">“Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s mismanagement encourages dune damage at Cowley Beach”</a> will give you an idea of what is happening at Cowley Beach.<br /><br />That said I must acknowledge the councils willingness to listen to James and myself and we appreciate the hospitality that was extended by all!<br /><br />Mayor Bill Shannon was very welcoming and showed great interest in the presentation and I must publicly thank him for this.<br /><br />I would also like to give a special mention to councillor Bill Horsford who extended the invitation. With regards to matters at Cowley Beach Cr Horsford has displayed intelligence and integrity and has earned sincere respect from both myself and Cowley Beach’s traditional owners.<br /><br />Now where was I something about crocodiles I believe!<br /><br />Oh another thing before I forget …some interesting stuff coming up soon on cassowaries crossing the Ella Bay Road to access coastal food resources with photos and videos as hinted at in the story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/02/cassowary-scattracks-on-beach-in-front.html">“Cassowary Scat/Tracks on the Beach in Front of Proposed Ella Bay Resort Complex/Urban Development”</a>.<br /><br />Ok Ok crocodiles was it?<br /><br />Well back in my cassowary scat story. I commented at the end about my reluctance to swim across or wade around Barra Creek which of course flows out of the proponent’s property at Ella Bay. I thought I might share with you some recent crocodile track photos I took at this location on an 18 km kayak trip from Ella Bay to Bramston Beach.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zRuTdkZu5F66Sbp0dpdXLg?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7Ky97gfLAI/AAAAAAAAAw4/j3togWpZjAw/s800/8%20croc%20.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ivd31de0sYwFIwebmEH5aQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7Ky9yyfw6I/AAAAAAAAAw8/V_eqHZLyk1I/s800/9%20croc.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LBU4MF5STp30kuXCNZU5sw?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7Ky99NHiEI/AAAAAAAAAxA/cnUCPYXhwlg/s800/10croc.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/a0jx-u_L1LT1j-_hjXbWEg?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KzDNJlJUI/AAAAAAAAAxE/6Q_7hZJdC8Q/s800/11%20croc.jpg" /></a><br /></div>If Ella Bay Pty Ltd ask nice enough I might give them the ok to use these images in their holiday promotional material but I think they will probably stick with the boat and deck chairs on the beach images that they are currently using.<br /><br />People get a bit funny about sun baking next to estuarine crocodile tracks for some reason!<br /><br />Hey perhaps the giant sting ray photos from the same area would be more tourist friendly?<br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-eaunXFtzQ5Z7dT21k8D0Q?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KzDRKaPzI/AAAAAAAAAxI/drYFpMARB1Y/s400/12ray.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C4ngv946ISeGtrC7bYRIiw?authkey=Gv1sRgCN7v__nro77KJA&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S7KzDSPCDaI/AAAAAAAAAxM/0f4dq1BEA6U/s400/13%20ray.JPG" /></a><br /><br />No takers?…well don’t say I didn’t offer!<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-75490269399475347972010-02-25T23:50:00.005+08:002010-02-25T23:59:16.429+08:00No fishing zones on Great Barrier Reef have benefited the overall health and resilience of this marine ecosystemA few months ago I stated my support for a Coral Sea Heritage Park and although I would like to see more powerful bans on oil exploration within this proposed park my opinion has not changed.<br /><br />Of course you can read the original story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/11/coral-sea-heritage-park-great-news-for.html">‘Coral Sea Heritage Park - Great news for recreational fisherman!’</a><br /><br />Well a bit closer to home than the Coral Sea is the Great Barrier Reef and scientists have recently reported on the reefs protected zones and the report card is good!<br /><br />Cairns Post journalist Julie Lightfoot drew my attention to this report in her story ‘Plenty of fish in no-go zone seas’ on 25 February 2010.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>As I have mentioned before Julie edits Thursday’s environment page in the <a href="http://www.cairns.com.au/">Cairns Post</a> and it’s worth buying the paper on Thursdays for this page alone!<br /><br />I deemed it too good for the compost bin so here it is!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S4acVu4Vh_I/AAAAAAAAAvw/U-281D5m4_4/s1600-h/Great+Barrier+Reef.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 105px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S4acVu4Vh_I/AAAAAAAAAvw/U-281D5m4_4/s400/Great+Barrier+Reef.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442209096899332082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on image for larger view.</span><br /></div><br />Of course you can read more about this story online: <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/acoe-wcp022110.php">World-class protection boosts Australia's Great Barrier Reef</a>.<br /><br />The latter contains this neat content regarding spillover effect, a benefit I believe the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as a whole would receive from a Coral Sea Heritage Park.<br /><br />‘The researchers predict that as protected fish inside no-take areas grow larger, they will contribute many more larvae to the whole ecosystem. Therefore, the benefits of no-take areas are expected to extend far beyond the no-take boundaries, replenishing surrounding areas that are open to fishing.’<br /><br />Time will tell with regards to Australia becoming a world leader with a Coral Sea Heritage Park but in the meantime this good news from the fish scientists is a great thing to read about!<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-57029961590878293092010-02-17T20:12:00.016+08:002010-02-18T11:48:33.358+08:00Cassowary Scat/Tracks on the Beach in Front of Proposed Ella Bay Resort Complex/Urban DevelopmentOn Sunday 7 February 2010 I decided to go for a beach walk at Ella Bay.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdYzXUoPI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/QMnLxv_DIfY/s1600-h/1+trax+strong+cass+tracks+P1080883+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdYzXUoPI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/QMnLxv_DIfY/s400/1+trax+strong+cass+tracks+P1080883+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184393154633970" border="0" /></a>I knew that both Barra Creek and Biggerabarra Creek had broken out to the sea and would block my travel but at the end of the day a short walk is better than no walk at all.<br /><br />Being cut off from the northern end of the beach was not a problem a few days later when I brought the sea kayak along!<br /><br />I’m glad I decided to make this trip as I was well rewarded for my enthusiasm as you will soon see.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>I sometimes see cassowary tracks on the beach at Ella Bay but they are usually trashed by Agile wallaby tracks and do not photograph well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdZL1hceI/AAAAAAAAAsY/6PaBI5A4t2g/s1600-h/2+agile+Wallabies+on+beach+P1060090+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdZL1hceI/AAAAAAAAAsY/6PaBI5A4t2g/s400/2+agile+Wallabies+on+beach+P1060090+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184399723753954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdZSqTzbI/AAAAAAAAAsg/5lSeb4ynBkI/s1600-h/3+agile+P1060107+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdZSqTzbI/AAAAAAAAAsg/5lSeb4ynBkI/s400/3+agile+P1060107+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184401555770802" border="0" /></a>They say every dog has his day and fortune smiled on me on Sunday!<br /><br />As I walked in front of the proposed resort complex/urban development I saw a great big pile of fresh cassowary scat and clean fresh cassowary footprints. I would say I only missed the bird by minutes.<br /><br />The scat consisted of mostly one type of seed and after photographing it I saved some seed for a germination test.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdZ5NWkaI/AAAAAAAAAso/1CAPLMi4uqY/s1600-h/4+scat+Fresh+cassowary+scat+at+ella+bay.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdZ5NWkaI/AAAAAAAAAso/1CAPLMi4uqY/s400/4+scat+Fresh+cassowary+scat+at+ella+bay.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184411903300002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdaPqVQoI/AAAAAAAAAsw/NI35GOnK4BA/s1600-h/5+scat+pile+P1080857+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdaPqVQoI/AAAAAAAAAsw/NI35GOnK4BA/s400/5+scat+pile+P1080857+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184417930429058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdiTO-4-I/AAAAAAAAAs4/8DcQ9sYlVrg/s1600-h/6+scat+hand+P1080931.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdiTO-4-I/AAAAAAAAAs4/8DcQ9sYlVrg/s400/6+scat+hand+P1080931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184556328412130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdik9UxUI/AAAAAAAAAtA/SX_WhUtP7is/s1600-h/7+scat+P1080928+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdik9UxUI/AAAAAAAAAtA/SX_WhUtP7is/s400/7+scat+P1080928+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184561086186818" border="0" /></a>At the moment I believe the seed is most probably from Mackinlaya fruit which can be found growing mere metres from the waters edge at Ella Bay. Indeed The Mackinlaya plant I photographed over a period of months at Ella Bay for the story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/07/ella-bays-magnificent-mackinlaya-fruit.html">Ella Bay’s Magnificent Mackinlaya Fruit</a> was growing right next to the waters edge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdjDDmtVI/AAAAAAAAAtI/zMEFG3oMwlM/s1600-h/8+Mackinlaya+fruit+P1040883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdjDDmtVI/AAAAAAAAAtI/zMEFG3oMwlM/s400/8+Mackinlaya+fruit+P1040883.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184569165591890" border="0" /></a>Of course I have germinated Mackinlaya seed from similar cassowary scats before with brilliant germination rates.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdjYs65KI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/qibXcqivRas/s1600-h/9+Mackinlaya+seedlings.P1090560+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdjYs65KI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/qibXcqivRas/s400/9+Mackinlaya+seedlings.P1090560+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184574976025762" border="0" /></a>Anyway time will tell!<br /><br />Moving on from the scat (and yes I did wash my hands afterwards), I was very happy with the cassowary tracks that accompanied it!<br /><br />So often I have seen cassowary tracks spoilt by wallabies and the elements and to find a good set was a real joy.<br /><br />So here are the track shots!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdjnoOEpI/AAAAAAAAAtY/AOWAGOD6EhU/s1600-h/10+trax+strong+cass+tracks+P1080883+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdjnoOEpI/AAAAAAAAAtY/AOWAGOD6EhU/s400/10+trax+strong+cass+tracks+P1080883+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184578982843026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdvdjqMOI/AAAAAAAAAtg/93EVmutnoC4/s1600-h/11+trax+Cassowary+and+dingo+tracks.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdvdjqMOI/AAAAAAAAAtg/93EVmutnoC4/s400/11+trax+Cassowary+and+dingo+tracks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184782437789922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdvjDgbrI/AAAAAAAAAto/2T4FSfds3JU/s1600-h/12+trax+Cass+track+size+comparison+P1080866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdvjDgbrI/AAAAAAAAAto/2T4FSfds3JU/s400/12+trax+Cass+track+size+comparison+P1080866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184783913545394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdvz9lcoI/AAAAAAAAAtw/rvo3MdblDy0/s1600-h/13+trax+Nice+track+P1080925.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdvz9lcoI/AAAAAAAAAtw/rvo3MdblDy0/s400/13+trax+Nice+track+P1080925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184788452110978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdwITA2OI/AAAAAAAAAt4/MZm-JHwmsew/s1600-h/14+trax+single+cass+track+ella+P1080884+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdwITA2OI/AAAAAAAAAt4/MZm-JHwmsew/s400/14+trax+single+cass+track+ella+P1080884+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184793910696162" border="0" /></a>Interestingly a set of dingo tracks ran parallel with the cassowary tracks for a short distance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdwqf2RVI/AAAAAAAAAuA/hzt9jHLsAWY/s1600-h/15+dingo+Cassowary+trax+ella+.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vdwqf2RVI/AAAAAAAAAuA/hzt9jHLsAWY/s400/15+dingo+Cassowary+trax+ella+.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439184803091334482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd9gRbU-I/AAAAAAAAAuI/XiY_SB0tiEI/s1600-h/16+dingo+good+cass+tracks+P1080865.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd9gRbU-I/AAAAAAAAAuI/XiY_SB0tiEI/s400/16+dingo+good+cass+tracks+P1080865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185023684793314" border="0" /></a>There’s a good chance they belong to a black and tan dingo I call Sox who regularly patrols the beach by herself and also with the pack. I believe she is pregnant so is probably keen for extra protein!<br /><br />Here is a photo of sox.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd92yCpGI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/g8p_rlZPeDA/s1600-h/17+Sox+P1070683+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd92yCpGI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/g8p_rlZPeDA/s400/17+Sox+P1070683+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185029727167586" border="0" /></a>And here are some photos of 2 other pack members.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd-IL1QwI/AAAAAAAAAuY/_43oDCAmw_A/s1600-h/18+dingo+P1070687+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd-IL1QwI/AAAAAAAAAuY/_43oDCAmw_A/s400/18+dingo+P1070687+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185034398745346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd-geejNI/AAAAAAAAAug/kJQ5YnV8EBc/s1600-h/19+dingo+P1070689+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd-geejNI/AAAAAAAAAug/kJQ5YnV8EBc/s400/19+dingo+P1070689+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185040919399634" border="0" /></a>Please excuse the photo quality but generally dingoes are a bit camera shy!<br /><br />Here is a video of Sox scavenging the beach by herself<br /><object width="420" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZcF5wtaIsaA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZcF5wtaIsaA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="265"></embed></object><br />Here is Sox hunting with the rest of the pack. Sox is the animal on the left of the screen.<br /><object width="420" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1F0G2duCr_g&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1F0G2duCr_g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="265"></embed></object><br />These dingoes are fairly small light dogs and even as a pack I doubt their self preservation instinct would allow them to risk harassing a cassowary. For any dingo a broken leg is a death sentence.<br /><br />Besides that, agile wallabies are plentiful at Ella Bay and I sometimes find the remains of a successful dingo hunt!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd-5z-rsI/AAAAAAAAAuo/nH9M5sVWd3k/s1600-h/20+dingo+killP1050820+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vd-5z-rsI/AAAAAAAAAuo/nH9M5sVWd3k/s400/20+dingo+killP1050820+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185047720472258" border="0" /></a>Well that’s enough dingo chatter.<br /><br />I noticed the beach calophyllum trees <span style="font-style: italic;">Calophyllum inophyllum</span> were in flower. I am quite fond of these shady coastal giants.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veRAbKzDI/AAAAAAAAAuw/K4fEOfNtE0E/s1600-h/21+calophyllum+P1080916+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veRAbKzDI/AAAAAAAAAuw/K4fEOfNtE0E/s400/21+calophyllum+P1080916+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185358733102130" border="0" /></a>A lone Laughing kookaburra <span style="font-style: italic;">Daecelo novaeguineae</span> was having a bit of a laugh at my exploits.<br /><br />If he meets up with an Ella Bay goshawk he won’t be laughing so hard! It wouldn’t be the first time… see <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/05/grey-goshawk-ella-bays-deadly-forest.html">The Grey Goshawk: Ella Bay’s Deadly Forest Assassin</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veRgQYQeI/AAAAAAAAAu4/OlA2gM8IsHk/s1600-h/22+Kookaburra+P1080923+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veRgQYQeI/AAAAAAAAAu4/OlA2gM8IsHk/s400/22+Kookaburra+P1080923+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185367277781474" border="0" /></a>I also saw an uncommon visitor to the bay a Great frigate bird Fregata minor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veR1rvUXI/AAAAAAAAAvA/uHSC_Z7--B4/s1600-h/23+great+frigate+P1080850+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veR1rvUXI/AAAAAAAAAvA/uHSC_Z7--B4/s400/23+great+frigate+P1080850+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185373029683570" border="0" /></a>The chest markings and apricot head tell me this bird is a juvenile. These amazing birds can stay on the wing for a week solid and scoop their meals off the surface of the ocean. They are also well known as pirates who will steal food from other sea birds.<br /><br />I have seen these birds before at Ella Bay but not as close.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veSS4qliI/AAAAAAAAAvI/gYPbohnL_iA/s1600-h/24+great+frigate+on+2Feb09+Ella+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veSS4qliI/AAAAAAAAAvI/gYPbohnL_iA/s400/24+great+frigate+on+2Feb09+Ella+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185380868527650" border="0" /></a>As I said before, Barra and Biggerabarra creek were both flowing out into the sea halting my journey north.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veS9UNLLI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/YXFjYTgPfzQ/s1600-h/25+creeks+P1080968+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3veS9UNLLI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/YXFjYTgPfzQ/s400/25+creeks+P1080968+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185392258329778" border="0" /></a>What’s that you say swim it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vea9fRtrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/suwNb-K60zE/s1600-h/26+crocP1080980+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vea9fRtrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/suwNb-K60zE/s400/26+crocP1080980+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185529743718066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vebH5IV1I/AAAAAAAAAvg/1nQN7_v-dn0/s1600-h/27+croc+P1060954+%283%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vebH5IV1I/AAAAAAAAAvg/1nQN7_v-dn0/s400/27+croc+P1060954+%283%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185532536510290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vebovIQvI/AAAAAAAAAvo/c4i2ukSS0ro/s1600-h/28+croc+P1060953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S3vebovIQvI/AAAAAAAAAvo/c4i2ukSS0ro/s400/28+croc+P1060953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439185541352932082" border="0" /></a>No thanks!!<br /><br />As I turned around and returned to my vehicle I thought about lots of things.<br /><br />I thought about how important beach side food resources are to Ella Bay cassowaries.<br /><br />I thought about how 3 kilometres of fencing along the Ella Bay Road will isolate cassowaries from these food resources.<br /><br />I thought about the farcical “Satori cassowary gate” that the proponents had come up with and the pathetic success rate it achieved when used on deer in Canada. I blogged about this in a story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/10/satoris-innovative-cassowary-gate.html">Satori's 'innovative' cassowary gate exposed as ineffective Canadian deer gate!</a><br /><br />I made a commitment to myself to further investigate the importance of beach side food resources to Ella Bay cassowaries.<br /><br />Of course that was quite a few days ago now and since that Sunday I have discovered and witnessed some awesome things….but that’s another story which I will be blogging about soon!<br /><br />Until then…<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-34292621313655358162010-02-04T14:47:00.010+08:002010-02-04T20:28:47.805+08:00Original Ella Bay Property Developer Warren Witt in Liquidation and Banned from Industry…Reports the Cairns PostTalented <a href="http://www.cairns.com.au/">Cairns Post</a> journalist, Julie Lightfoot has beaten me to the punch once again with this story about disgraced original Ella Bay property developer Mr Warren Witt!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2pto25FzEI/AAAAAAAAArw/wxEvxrJ_mWo/s1600-h/1+CAIRNS+POST+WITT+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2pto25FzEI/AAAAAAAAArw/wxEvxrJ_mWo/s400/1+CAIRNS+POST+WITT+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434276449073089602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Click on image for larger view</span><br /></div><br />This story is <a href="http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/01/30/90571_local-business-news.html">also available on line</a>.<br /><br />Of course Mr Witt is the property developer who launched the proposed Ella Bay resort complex/urban development and is therefore of some interest to me.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Obviously Ella Bay is still pretty popular with the Witt Property group as their web site still <a href="http://www.wittpropertygroup.com.au/past_dev.html">maintains references to the Bay</a> despite it leaving their ownership in 2008<br /><br />Reading the story it would indeed appear that Mr Witt has left a trail of destruction and is definitely not in the good books of the Building Services Authority.<br /><br />You can guess how I feel about this matter so I will refrain from passing comment.<br /><br />The photograph of Warren Witt and Janet Homes a Court is far older than 2008 as claimed.<br /><br />They are walking on the beach at Ella Bay and I believe the photo was taken on 22 September 2006. I’m sure this must be an error by Julie’s sub editors as she keeps her work pretty tight.<br /><br />There is another interesting party that has been cropped out of the photo and that is Mr Desmond Brookes an architect, friend, employee and later employer of disgraced property developer, the late Mr Christopher Skase. Mr Brookes employed Mr Skase whilst Skase hid from Australian extradition in Majorca.<br /><br />Don’t take my word for it as the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/s17547.htm">ABC</a> and the <a href="http://www.ericellis.com/spainskase.htm">Sydney Morning Herald</a> have both reported that connection.<br /><br />You can check out the original photo <a href="http://www.newsphotos.com.au/ImageDetail.asp?RefNum=92009718">here</a>.<br /><br />Check out the white suit complete with white shoes……niiiiiice!<br /><br />I think Warren Witt must have left his own white shoes in the car park!<br /><br />Perhaps Mr Brookes was Auditioning for a lead role in a new series of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_Island ">Fantasy Island</a> after the photo shoot?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2ptpUD4bGI/AAAAAAAAAr4/tfmNyk1IpSY/s1600-h/2+90px-Fantasy_Island.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2ptpUD4bGI/AAAAAAAAAr4/tfmNyk1IpSY/s400/2+90px-Fantasy_Island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434276456902978658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Fantasy Island </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Non-free_use_rationale_guideline">from Wikipedia</a><br /></div><br />This is the man placed in charge of designing an environmentally friendly/sensitive resort complex at Ella Bay???<br /><br />And of course the other person in the photo is Janet Holmes a Court. At the time of the photograph she was Chairlady of John Holland Group who were partners in the Ella Bay proposal.<br /><br />On 23 September 2006 <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/">the Australian</a> used one of the same set of photos in a story titled “Clean Sheet for Holmes a Court’s Eco-Dream”.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2ptpxI3YVI/AAAAAAAAAsA/e4OAB5DARr4/s1600-h/3+Janet+ella+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2ptpxI3YVI/AAAAAAAAAsA/e4OAB5DARr4/s400/3+Janet+ella+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434276464708510034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2ptqRLSRfI/AAAAAAAAAsI/XPaqxDLpNtM/s1600-h/4+Dream+comes+true.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 114px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2ptqRLSRfI/AAAAAAAAAsI/XPaqxDLpNtM/s400/4+Dream+comes+true.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434276473308595698" border="0" /></a>Dream is an interesting word as it has so many meanings<br /><br />Here are some that I feel are appropriate in relation to the Holmes a Court story.<br /><blockquote>Imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake; "She lives in a dream that has nothing to do with reality"<br /><br />A state of mind characterized by abstraction and release from reality; "he went about his work as if in a dream"<br /><br />A fantasy<br /><br />A fantastic but vain hope</blockquote>What is my dream?<br /><br />That Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett AM MP uses his legal powers to protect Ella Bay from the proposed resort complex/urban development (with a population approaching 5000 people) that Ella Bay Pty Ltd has demanded.<br /><br />My definition for the word dream in this regard?<br /><br />A cherished desire!<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-81235136605663130572010-01-31T08:31:00.006+08:002010-01-31T09:16:17.170+08:00Veteran Cassowary Conservationist Margaret Thorsborne Nominates Southern Cassowary for Father of the Year Award!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2TPsoFVO1I/AAAAAAAAArY/Q8OaeZ6Iv8A/s1600-h/1+dad+and+chicks18+2+09+366b+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2TPsoFVO1I/AAAAAAAAArY/Q8OaeZ6Iv8A/s400/1+dad+and+chicks18+2+09+366b+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432695416096635730" border="0" /></a>Sometimes newspapers print some real tripe!<br /><br />Today in our local paper I noticed a page 2 headline “Stolen council barrow found at Cardwell jetty” and near wet my pants in excitement!<br /><br />Fortunately the day was saved by another paper, <a href="http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/">the Townsville Bulletin</a>, which published this great public interest story! “Let’s hear it for doting dad” by journalist John Andersen is a pearl in an ocean of average today!<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2TPtqyoMfI/AAAAAAAAArg/RxD4_m154xQ/s1600-h/2-000.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2TPtqyoMfI/AAAAAAAAArg/RxD4_m154xQ/s400/2-000.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432695434003362290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">(Click on image for larger view)</span><br /></div><br />Definitely worth a read and I’m not even going to comment as this fine lady has covered most of the bases. My sincere thanks to you Ms Thorsborne and your feathered visitor has my vote for sure!<br /><br />Great work from the Townsville Bulletin (obviously they don’t suffer from a blight of wheelbarrow thieves down that way). This newspaper has frequently put out decent environment/public interest stories that have gained my attention.<br /><br />As for the local wheelbarrow story….it is having a close encounter with some vegetable scraps before going on a fascinating journey to the compost bin!<br /><br />Perhaps the compost will feed a tree that feeds a cassowary on the property….now that would be great recycling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2TPuHwIKnI/AAAAAAAAAro/8_chazqvNDQ/s1600-h/3+%28Liz+Gallie%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2TPuHwIKnI/AAAAAAAAAro/8_chazqvNDQ/s400/3+%28Liz+Gallie%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432695441777502834" border="0" /></a><br />Cheers Russ<br /><br />Before I forget credit to Liz Gallie from <a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/">cassowary conservation group C4</a> for the awesome cassowary family photos!Russell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-71028506915816192392010-01-28T23:57:00.006+08:002010-01-31T07:49:32.493+08:00Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Upset Ma:mu Traditional Owners and Conservationists at Ella BayThis will be a long story as it covers some pretty important topics like, respect for country, traditional owner’s rights, and long term conservation goals.<br /><br />On 7 January 2010 I was very disappointed to observe two fresh sets of quad bike tracks exiting the Ella Bay Pty Ltd property and travelling north along Ella Bay.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0SUD-BlI/AAAAAAAAApg/yrAG2AQGzG8/s1600-h/1+DERM+crossing+through+dune.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0SUD-BlI/AAAAAAAAApg/yrAG2AQGzG8/s400/1+DERM+crossing+through+dune.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431820852301530706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0SgH20CI/AAAAAAAAApo/cfmjeVJyXsg/s1600-h/2+P1070776.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0SgH20CI/AAAAAAAAApo/cfmjeVJyXsg/s400/2+P1070776.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431820855539060770" border="0" /></a>Ella Bay Pty Ltd management and staff have made assurances that they would no longer drive vehicles along this turtle nesting beach.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>I followed the tracks north along the beach. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0S8iYloI/AAAAAAAAApw/fVa8I-MCUhA/s1600-h/3+P1070786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0S8iYloI/AAAAAAAAApw/fVa8I-MCUhA/s400/3+P1070786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431820863166518914" border="0" /></a>As I travelled further north away from the more heavily visited southern end of Ella Bay I noticed that the tracks became more erratic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0TMU_37I/AAAAAAAAAp4/1yS-xOreV8w/s1600-h/4+P1070793.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0TMU_37I/AAAAAAAAAp4/1yS-xOreV8w/s400/4+P1070793.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431820867405340594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0Tcbp9DI/AAAAAAAAAqA/koHsC0aYG78/s1600-h/5+Tracks+07012010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0Tcbp9DI/AAAAAAAAAqA/koHsC0aYG78/s400/5+Tracks+07012010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431820871728231474" border="0" /></a>In some areas I saw tracks where it appeared the riders had been playing and swerving on the beach.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0byMmoJI/AAAAAAAAAqI/ATmYu9xTZDM/s1600-h/6+playtime.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0byMmoJI/AAAAAAAAAqI/ATmYu9xTZDM/s400/6+playtime.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821015009632402" border="0" /></a>The track cut toward the top of the beach where they stopped near the Shrine Tree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0cMWyyjI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/Zpt0ewwEbOI/s1600-h/7+P1070800.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0cMWyyjI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/Zpt0ewwEbOI/s400/7+P1070800.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821022031694386" border="0" /></a>This is the last resting place of a lady who chose to have her mortal remains left at the base of this tree over 20 years ago. Many years ago there was a brass plaque at the base of this tree that was removed by her living relatives as time (and cyclones) had damaged it until it was unreadable.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0cgqnEfI/AAAAAAAAAqY/nFv5LsZRzCk/s1600-h/8+shrine+tree+1080295.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0cgqnEfI/AAAAAAAAAqY/nFv5LsZRzCk/s400/8+shrine+tree+1080295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821027483521522" border="0" /></a>It is a common practice of beachgoers who know of this site to pay their respects at this tree, something I do every time I approach it.<br /><br />It is customary amongst some locals to leave a small token by the base of this tree. It always makes me happy to see a new beach cast item or flower at this site.<br /><br />I would like to thank local resident Gary Coppard for sharing this piece of local history with me.<br /><br />The Shrine Tree was not visited by the quad rides and to be honest I do not think her spirit would have appreciated a visit by quad bike riders!<br /><br />I continued north and came across more areas where the quad riders had been playing and photographed a loop (circle work) in the sand.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0dGQSUeI/AAAAAAAAAqg/NsNMF_AjcV8/s1600-h/9+playtime++looking+north+2a+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0dGQSUeI/AAAAAAAAAqg/NsNMF_AjcV8/s400/9+playtime++looking+north+2a+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821037573657058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0dSSN07I/AAAAAAAAAqo/TX226vfx-CA/s1600-h/10+playtime++looking+south+2a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0dSSN07I/AAAAAAAAAqo/TX226vfx-CA/s400/10+playtime++looking+south+2a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821040802976690" border="0" /></a>The quad riders had continued riding north and pulled up at the top of the beach. They also managed to run over some juvenile She oaks in the process.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0mILR9tI/AAAAAAAAAqw/ODs4txbSFGA/s1600-h/11+vegetation+damage.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0mILR9tI/AAAAAAAAAqw/ODs4txbSFGA/s400/11+vegetation+damage.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821192708355794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0mjOqzvI/AAAAAAAAAq4/ySeEME8EAEE/s1600-h/12+vegetation+damage+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0mjOqzvI/AAAAAAAAAq4/ySeEME8EAEE/s400/12+vegetation+damage+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821199970324210" border="0" /></a>Disappointed with what I had observed I returned to the car park. On the way back the tracks looked just as bad.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0m6BPgTI/AAAAAAAAArA/nm-7qB8CmrM/s1600-h/13+P1070823.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0m6BPgTI/AAAAAAAAArA/nm-7qB8CmrM/s400/13+P1070823.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821206088024370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0nYejctI/AAAAAAAAArI/HoZcscMoYdE/s1600-h/14+P1070825.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0nYejctI/AAAAAAAAArI/HoZcscMoYdE/s400/14+P1070825.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821214264029906" border="0" /></a>I knew that Ma:mu traditional owner, James Epong, was very upset that beach driving was still being conducted at Cowley Beach to the south despite clear requests from Ma:mu traditional owners that no beach driving be allowed on beaches within their traditional territory.<br /><br />I also was aware that the Ma:mu people are conducting regular turtle surveys on this beach by boat as part of their TUMRA activities. I was not keen to share the news with James but I have agreed to report ALL incidents on their TUMRA country not just turtle business so I made some calls when I got home.<br /><br />First I contacted Ella Bay Pty Ltd via Adrian Hogg who told me that the mystery quad bike riders were representatives of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the very people who are charged with protecting these shores. <br /><br />My next call was to the Department of Natural Resources in Brisbane who kindly put me through to their man in Cairns Mr Doug Wilson Operations Manager Wet Tropics Region (Southern).<br /><br />I explained what I had observed and that I would be writing about it and Mr Wilson was interested to see my photographs and said he would investigate. I emailed the relevant photographs to Mr Wilson on Friday 8 January 2010 (the next day) with the following note.<br /><br /><blockquote>Dear Doug<br /><br />Thank you for receiving my complaint regarding the actions of your staff at Ella Bay yesterday. I have more photographs but feel these will suffice for the time being.<br /><br />As I explained to you this beach was used as a highway by people with access to the proponent’s property and I have assurances from Ella Bay Pty Ltd staff that they shall not drive on this beach anymore.<br /><br />4 main reasons I am displeased with beach driving at Ella Bay<br /><br />1 Disruption of nesting activities by Beach Thick Knees and threats to their nesting sites.<br /><br />2 Potential damage to turtle nesting areas<br /><br />3 Damage to sensitive vegetation<br /><br />4 It disregards requests by Mandubarra peoples that driving at Ella Bay and other cassowary coast beaches (an area which is covered by their TUMRA)is inappropriate and I know for a fact that this activity distresses Ma:mu TUMRA representative James Epong greatly. This culturally insensitive behaviour is made worse by recent CCRC decisions at Cowley Beach (Disregard for Ma:mu request for no vehicles on beach or dune track).<br /><br />I intend to post a story regarding this matter on my web site http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/ in the near future and feel it is only fair that you have the opportunity to look into the matter so I shall delay posting the story til early next week. As you can see beach traffic at Ella Bay has concerned me for a while, see <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/10/pig-hunters-coming-from-satoris.html">http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/10/pig-hunters-coming-from-satoris.html</a><br /><br />I am supportive of DERM's activities generally as you will note in stories such as <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/11/cassowary-coast-regional-councils.html">http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/11/cassowary-coast-regional-councils.html </a><br /><br />I have always maintained good relations with your people and have assisted gentlemen like Glenn Kvassay, Kerry Walsh, Brenton Haigh and Leroy Brown and I'm sure they will vouch for my integrity and co operative spirit.<br /><br />I walk all of Ella Bay from the south to Coopers Creek every week during my Turtle Surveys and Share information with your people and Ma:mu representatives. Recently I reported illegal netting camps, illegal gill nets and out of season barramundi remains at Ella to your marine parks men Brenton and Leroy. TUMRA representative James Epong surveys the coast regularly for turtles via boat as do Brenton and Leroy with minimal site disturbance. Ella Bay Pty Ltd staff also survey this beach on foot.<br /><br />Doug I feel it is inappropriate for your people to drive up and down this beach in this manner as it displays a disregard for both culturally and environmentally sensitive values. It sets a bad precedent.<br /><br />I look forward to your response early in the coming week and am happy to communicate with you at your convenience.<br /><br />Have a good weekend Doug and thank you for giving this matter your consideration.<br /><br />Thank you again<br /><br />Russell Constable </blockquote><br />A week later on Friday January 15 2010 I received a response from Mr Wilson.<br /><br /><blockquote>Russell<br /><br />Two quads bikes were used for beach access across Ella Bay last Thurs by a QPWS Ranger and a Southern Cross Uni researcher under the direction of the natural resource management Project officer based in Ingham.<br /><br />The purpose of the trip related to turtle nesting assessment, particularly to detect any hatchling events, any new nesting signs and beach characteristics (level of recreational vehicle use, various measurements of dune & berm distances). <br /><br />The day's itinerary for staff also included visiting 2 other beaches at Cowley Bay military training area, & 2 beaches at Flying Fish Point for the same purpose, hence there was a time limit staff could devote to each site.<br /><br />2 Quads were also used in mid December at Ella Bay to deploy remote cameras at the site, to investigate any likely predation on turtle nests. This involved 2 day visits where the project manager was present.<br /><br />Operations of quads was ok'd through Innisfail QPWS & access obtained through Satori. Access by other means (boat, walking) was not judged practical or available to the task.<br /><br />Quads were only to be used within the wash zone (low to high tide mark) & speed to be lowered to just above walking pace where waders (Beach Thick knee, Pied Oyster catcher) were observed on the shoreline as a measure to minimise site disturbance.<br /><br />The project manager has apologised if the use of quads is viewed as being culturally insensitive.<br /><br /><br />Doug Wilson<br />Operations Manager<br />Wet Tropics Region (Southern)<br />Queensland Parks and Wildlife </blockquote><br />I appreciated the fact that Mr Wilson had been so honest in his response but his letter had not addressed all of my concerns so I sent the following response on the same day.<br /><br /><blockquote>Thank you for your response Doug <br /><br />I will pass it on to the TUMRA people via James Epong. As I said it was very poor timing in relation to the recent Cowley Beach track decision at Cowley.<br /><br />Are you aware that Ma:mu TUMRA people are conducting turtle surveys in this region and I hope your people are maintaining lines of communication with them as per GBRMPA recommendations?<br /><br />I have been asked to (and do) share all my Ella Bay observations with Ma:mu TUMRA people and travel there with their blessing...on foot. This frees their people up to focus on areas like Cowley Beach though James Epong regularly travels Ella via boat and last week had a false alert when he sighted a boat landing mark near the location that your blokes drove above the high water mark at the north end near the rocks.<br /><br />Predation of Turtle nests will not be an issue as so far there has been no nesting activity full stop as I have walked this beach from the Ella Bay car park to Cooper point every week and any incidents are reported to Brenton Haigh and Leroy Brown. The only turtle activity at Ella Bay was a turtle trapped in Coopers Creek that walked out and this was reported to TUMRA people and Brenton Haigh with track photographs. Weekly surveys are completed on foot to minimize wildlife and habitat disturbance.<br /><br />Are you ok with the "circle work" and vegetation damage that was created by your 2 Quads as you made no mention of this in your response? I can Honestly assure you your 2 quad bikes were traveling very close and at speed near a favoured nesting site for beach thick knees (unsuccessfully as of late unfortunately) Any comments?<br /><br />You will see that the quads were also used above the high tide mark in the photographs that show damage to the she oaks. Any comments?<br /><br />I appreciate it is your job to defend your staff and would expect nothing less. Is this going to be a regular occurrence as I am concerned that you are opening the door for Ella Bay Pty Ltd staff to return to the bad old days of driving all over the place as they did in the past.<br /><br />Doug I have invested a lot of my time to turning this situation around regarding beach driving so I am sure you can understand my concerns. It is not just the turtle issue but the Beach thick knees do not need the harassment they received a year ago which I documented if they are to breed successfully.<br /><br />By saying this I am in no way diminishing the issue of respect for the wishes of Ma:mu traditional owners.<br /><br />(Edited section due to reference to Ma:mu cultural sites)<br /><br />That said, the apology from the project manager was polite and as I have said I will forward it to the Mandubarra people via email/phone. <br /><br />I look forward to your reply and could you please address the highlighted sections within your response.<br /><br />Regards Russell Constable </blockquote><br />On 25 January 2010 I received this final communication from Mr Wilson.<br /><br /><blockquote>Hi Russell I have spoken to the team leader of the project and <br /><br /> The ‘circle work’ allegation is refuted strenuously. QPWS staff were turning around at this point & due to the narrow nature of the end of the beach this meant accessing the storm surge zone. <br /><br /> The ‘vegetation damage’ of the she oak was not deliberate and was refuted strenuously (the single she-oak was in an open sand/ storm surge zone with little prospects for survival). <br /><br /> QPWS project staff exercise caution while observing beach thick knees & other wader species. However, there is a big difference between nesting sites & the wider occurrence of beach thick knees across both the wash zones & on adjacent dunes. It is a common response of beach thick knees to take flight whether a person is on foot or quad, then to return to that locality once the person has moved away – this occurs both at nesting sites but also for beach thick knees or other waders foraging along the wash zone or on dunes. Again it is a common adaptation of wader species to take flight as a natural defence measure. For staff to avoid waders taking flight is not something that can be guaranteed by adopting a standard practice, the only measure to be taken is to slow movement so that any young are not left vulnerable and allow adult birds to choose whether to take flight, to stand & freeze or to walk away with sufficient time. <br /><br /> Whilst there were short sections above the high tide zone driven on by quads, debris in the wash zone needed to be navigated around (beached timber, seaweed). The footprint of quads was at all times kept within the storm surge zone where practical to prevent any permanent footprint or significant damage to the fore dune or likely wader/ turtle nesting habitat. <br /><br /> Access to the beach via quads was is due to time efficiency & within an agreed mgt purpose with Innisfail QPWS. Quad access is not the only means of beach access used by QPWS , but within appropriate guidelines it is seen as a viable and acceptable means of performing QPWS project work. This is particularly relevant in this first yr of QPWS investigating the marine turtle nesting congregation at Ella Bay & elsewhere within the Wet Tropics. <br /><br /> Until the characteristics & threats of nesting activity can be first determined QPWS would not like to restrict their capability to manage any turtle colony, eg quads could be valuable if pig/ dog baiting became a required activity at the nesting season outset. This involves a range of sites that need to be understood not only from an access point of view, but what if any mgt action could be required to protect or intervene for a colony or nesting event. <br /><br /> QPWS is investigating whether remote access (flights by micro light) could be an alternative to ground access at key times (eg flights around when likely turtles coming ashore to nest) to both be time & cost efficient means of turtle surveys in future years. This would naturally cut down reliance on quads, though not necessarily remove a required, restricted & narrow need for using quads for a specific mgt purpose. Access by vessel is also possible, however again is highly restricted by tides & only of value when sites & search area are narrowed. Again, foot surveys are a luxury given the prospective range of sites but may be an option for a narrow search area. <br /><br /> QPWS staff object strenuously to the allegation/comment of the beach being treated by DERM staff ‘as a playground’ as suggested in your email, but again re-iterate an apology if this activity is viewed as being culturally insensitive. QPWS is naturally very keen to foster indigenous aspirations under the TUMRA & look towards this project as having very common ground. <br /><br /> Satori were made aware of QPWS purpose using quads with both their project manager (Steve Gherrad) & Env Manager (Darryl Porche) on site, both of whom understood QPWS’ purpose but also both extremely well aware of past history & that this was not setting a bad precedent nor a double standard on the part of QPWS. Satori when possible make weekly inspections on foot of the beach & have no stated intentions of vehicle access nor use on the beach for their own staff. <br /><br /> Call me if you wish to discuss this matter further<br /><br />Doug Wilson <br />Operations Manager <br />Wet Tropics Region (Southern) <br />Queensland Parks and Wildlife <br />Department of Environment and Resource Management</blockquote>On the same day 25 January 2010 I sent the following response.<br /><br /><blockquote>Thank you Doug for your response and I will read it fully tonight.<br /><br />The first point where your team leader states:<br /><br />“The ‘circle work’ allegation is refuted strenuously. QPWS staff were turning around at this point & due to the narrow nature of the end of the beach this meant accessing the storm surge zone.”<br /><br />is obviously incorrect. The entry and exit tracks from the circle are clearly visible so it is plain to see this was not a vehicle turning around. Would the team leader like to re assess what was stated? I can appreciate you cannot stop your guys wanting to have a play however the defence of their actions which they are using would appear very feeble to a reader. To be quite honest Doug if I put that defence next to the north south circle work photos your credibility will go out the door in about 2 seconds.<br /><br />(Edited due to reference to Ma:mu cultural sites)<br /><br />I hope the rest of the story stands up to scrutiny better than this beginning and at first glance some of the points appear quite valid.<br /><br />Last night I received a communication from the Mandubarra traditional owners. James Epong and his two sons saw the tracks on the beach whilst conducting their TUMRA turtle surveys and both he and his two sons were upset at seeing the quad tracks on this beach. Please find an extract below from the email I mentioned. I can not forward the whole document to you as it contains confidential information and does not speak very kindly of your staff for obvious reasons. I forwarded your original apology to the Mandubarra people when I received it. <br /><br />I did c the tracks in question with my two sons (hut access) and they were very up set about seeing it, I did check turtle site at Heath point n rang Leroy on 19.12.09 I have not heard from them, reported vehicles on browns beach looked like QPWS 4x4 n vehicles on Kurrimine beach reported 2 CCRC Mr O Brien 40302229 . I went on 4bc radio and talked about stopping hunting of turtle (20.01.10) and protecting them and section 211 we don't want this section used for turtle, you can see we are committed to see the rise in numbers of turtles on our beaches<br /><br />James basically tells me their TUMRA group is receiving zero communication from your department yet there is an expectation that they provide your people with sighting information. Hardly an equitable scenario when you consider these people are sacrificing their traditional hunting rights for the sustainability of turtles and dugong in the area. It is a matter which concerns me greatly as the loss of the protection afforded by the TUMRA would be a blow to the long term protection of turtles and dugong in this region as I am sure you are aware.<br /><br />The story will possibly be less than complimentary to your people in some parts as I believe this manner of monitoring Ella Bay is far from best practice. If I feel it presents your department too negatively I will try to mention positive actions from your department that I have witnessed in the past.<br /><br />Doug I think you really need to ask your team leader about his first comment as the photographs expose it as an obvious untruth<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Russell Constable </blockquote><br />Ok that’s enough of the letters for the moment.<br /><br />You will see I refer to a TUMRA in these emails. I best explain TUMRA’s and why they are important to managing wildlife at places like Ella Bay.<br /><br />This will be pretty basic so here goes.<br /><br />The Section 211 that Ma:mu traditional owner James Epong mentions above is <a href="http://austlii.law.uts.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/nta1993147/s211.html">Section 211 of the Native Title Act 1993</a> which basically says according to His Honour Justice Bleby:<br /><br /><blockquote>“If the exercise or enjoyment of native title rights and interests in relation to land or waters consists of or includes carrying on hunting, fishing and gathering, and some other law prohibits or restricts persons from carrying on that class of activity other than in accordance with a licence, permit or other instrument granted or issued under the law… in those circumstances the law does not prohibit or restrict native title holders from carrying on the class of activity where they do so … for the purpose of satisfying their personal, domestic or non-commercial communal needs; and in exercise or enjoyment of their native title rights and interests.) </blockquote><br />Ma:mu traditional owners have a right to hunt for protected species such as dugong and marine turtles that is recognised by Australian Law.<br /><br />Now here’s the interesting thing.<br /><br />Our Ma:mu traditional owners (who are also called the Mandubarra mob in my correspondence as TUMRA turtle business is co ordinated through the Mandubarra Land & Sea Corporation) have put aside some of these rights and signed a Traditional Use Marine Resource Agreement (TUMRA) so they can protect rather that exploit dugong and marine turtles.<br /><br />This TUMRA was finalized on 25 June 2008 and you can find information on the Ma:mu TUMRA <a href="http://www.atns.net.au/agreement.asp?EntityID=4822">here</a>.<br /><br />I am very proud to see that Ma:mu traditional owners are prepared to sacrifice rights and traditions for the sake of helping threatened turtle and dugong stocks recover.<br /><br />Keep in mind the Ma:mu people are setting aside hunting and cultural practices that go back tens of thousands of years for the future benefit of all Australians.<br /><br />What do the Ma:mu people receive in return for the cultural sacrifice they have decided to make?<br /><br />Pardon me for being so blunt but not a bloody lot as far as I can see.<br /><br />I received the following message from Mr James Epong recently that really illustrated the Ma:mu people’s frustration.<br /><br /><blockquote>Hello Russell I am very upset to hear that the QPWS carried out Turtle monitoring in our TUMRA area's, the last time I spoke to Leroy on Brenton's phone informing him about turtle nest site at Heath point he said he would contact me on my phone if any Turtle nest reported both Leroy and Brenton have my number, I can't explain what has happen and very confused, how do I now tell my Elders what has happened?? Our Mandubarra Elders have honoured our TUMRA agreement with paying all expenses up to $15.000 to keep office open and manned, and $2.000 for vehicles I personally supplied 4X4 and boat, gps, camera, and put in a hundred hours labour, also represented Mandubarra Aboriginal Land and Sea for LMAC and Cowley Beach advisory Committee, and have met with Army for ILUA to close the north end of Cowley beach to Robison's beach to all users, and to contact our office if any activities arise and told them every thing about the TUMRA, I’m confident the Army would of told QPWS we where conducting a Turtle monitoring program and are in the process to close beach for Turtle nesting season, meeting took place at the TUMRA Office with Major Darryl Lyions and their environment officer for the army base,<br /><br />l need help can you help me us mob, all I want to do now is go and protest in front of QPWS to morrow, and go on radio t.v news papers, how can this happen, I feel very sick, that we been working hard with letting all know about not hunting and the use of section 211 stopped, this is going to hurt my Elders bad, today we spent all day at the TUMRA Office finalizing our submission to GBRMPA for our Turtle monitoring program funding, Tony Kyle is our project officer at GBRMPA he never contacted us about QPWS carrying out Turtle protect, Tony would of told us as he is my uncle, I have Contacted the environment department CCRC Vince O'Brien about TUMRA and Turtle project.<br /><br />We I have been open and honest to everyone with everything I have said and done, how can this happen? Why are we left out of such important field work, what how do I tell my Elders we where kept out of the loop! With past projects with QPWS we always get ripped off by (edited)!!! How unfair. </blockquote><br />I have personally expressed my sorrow to James and his people as I think they have every right to feel neglected.<br /><br />Over the past year I have observed that “Turtle Business” is not being shared by local government departments (including DERM/QPWS) with Ma:mu TUMRA people. Perhaps these people have forgotten that at the end of the day Ma:mu Traditional owners are probably doing more for turtle and dugong conservation, via abstaining from traditional hunting, than any other group in the region.<br /><br />Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have an obligation to consult more thoroughly with Ma:mu traditional owners than they appear to be doing at present.<br /><br />Indeed this obligation is noted in Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service policy documents like the <a href="http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/register/p01658aa.pdf">Good Neighbour Policy</a> which states:<br /><br /><blockquote>Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a special relationship with the lands that make up the QPWS estate, both as traditional owners and custodians of their cultural heritage and as neighbours and members of local communities. QPWS recognises the important relationship between traditional owners and the land and will recognise the rights and interests of traditional owners in developing park management arrangements.<br /><br />QPWS will also continue to consult with neighbours about the protection of cultural sites on the QPWS estate and other issues involving the interests of indigenous people. </blockquote><br />Within the context of this policy the Ma:mu TUMRA group are indeed “neighbours” and deserve to be consulted with relation to all QPWS turtle business within their TUMRA region.<br /><br />This simple courtesy would strengthen conservation in this region and help ensure the continued protection afforded by the Ma:mu TUMRA. <br /><br />I am not happy to hear that beach driving at Ella Bay has upset Ma:mu traditional owners. I am also unhappy that lack of consultation regarding “Turtle Business” by QPWS has upset Ma:mu traditional owners at Ella Bay.<br /><br />In the past the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have achieved positive outcomes in this region. Rangers Brenton Haigh and Leroy Brown have acted swiftly to address poaching issues at Ella Bay. Ranger Kerry Walsh acted swiftly to halt the destruction of a colony of the listed Endangered Bramston Beach Pitcher plant by electricity supplier Ergon at Bramston Beach. Ranger Glenn Kvassay acted swiftly to halt illegal sand dredging at Cowley Beach.<br /><br />I suggest now is a good time for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service people to pick up the phone and communicate directly with The Ma:mu TUMRA people, a people who have given up so much and are getting so little back at this moment in time.<br /><br />I certainly do not “have it in” for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service however I am saying best practice has not been observed at Ella Bay and a re think regarding Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service policies and procedures is called for.<br /><br />I will leave you with a parting photo of Ma:mu traditional owner James Epong and his daughter that I took during a December Ma:mu turtle survey at Ella Bay.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0ntsxedI/AAAAAAAAArQ/3Geb-GLvo68/s1600-h/15+James+P1070150.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S2G0ntsxedI/AAAAAAAAArQ/3Geb-GLvo68/s400/15+James+P1070150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431821219960814034" border="0" /></a><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-16238421329240669292010-01-26T17:07:00.009+08:002010-01-26T20:35:32.959+08:00A Pair of White-Bellied Sea-Eagles Haliaeetus leucogaster Eat A Poisonous Toadfish at Ella BayRecently I have been communicating with Queensland Parks and Wildlife regarding the methods used and behaviour of their personnel at Ella Bay. This is something I will blog about in the near future. It has caused me to re examine the low impact methods I use to conduct field observations at Ella Bay as I am always seeking ways to do things better!<br /><br />Whilst looking through my notes and photographs I was reminded of the following interesting observation I made on 12 December 2009. Incidentally this was the same day I first observed Snub fin dolphins at Ella Bay but that’s <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/12/rare-snubfin-dolphins-sighted-at-ella.html">another story</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xEAPtVGI/AAAAAAAAAnY/T61zM8rsNtg/s1600-h/1+SEA+EAGLE.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xEAPtVGI/AAAAAAAAAnY/T61zM8rsNtg/s400/1+SEA+EAGLE.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430972882998875234" border="0" /></a>During this Ella Bay beach walk I was surprised when I accidentally disturbed a pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles that were on the ground near the high tide mark.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>I snapped a photo of each bird as they flew away.<br /><br />This photo was taken at 0834 hrs + 12 seconds<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xEhQ-WKI/AAAAAAAAAng/ZxmTMD5NZ9I/s1600-h/2+eagle+2+EllaBay+12122009+114.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xEhQ-WKI/AAAAAAAAAng/ZxmTMD5NZ9I/s400/2+eagle+2+EllaBay+12122009+114.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430972891862554786" border="0" /></a>And I photographed the other bird seconds later<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xE4y4zHI/AAAAAAAAAno/t82OB0OVNxs/s1600-h/3+eagle+EllaBay+12122009+115.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xE4y4zHI/AAAAAAAAAno/t82OB0OVNxs/s400/3+eagle+EllaBay+12122009+115.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430972898178813042" border="0" /></a>The pair had probably been feeding on something so I looked for the prey item.<br /><br />The first thing I noticed was the prominent scratch marks left in the sand by the birds massive talons.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xFfKqoII/AAAAAAAAAnw/VBGlFC4WHBw/s1600-h/4+scratch+marks+EllaBay+12122009+116+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xFfKqoII/AAAAAAAAAnw/VBGlFC4WHBw/s400/4+scratch+marks+EllaBay+12122009+116+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430972908479094914" border="0" /></a>For those of you that have never seen a White-bellied Sea-eagle’s talons here is a close up!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xFg6mvBI/AAAAAAAAAn4/mIxoZEyrIaM/s1600-h/4.5+talons.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 276px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xFg6mvBI/AAAAAAAAAn4/mIxoZEyrIaM/s400/4.5+talons.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430972908948601874" border="0" /></a>Just the thing for snatching slippery aquatic creatures from the water!<br /><br />I found some entrails left on the ground but no carcass.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xNyc46TI/AAAAAAAAAoA/HOi5vqLJLWw/s1600-h/5+entrail+EllaBay+12122009+117+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xNyc46TI/AAAAAAAAAoA/HOi5vqLJLWw/s400/5+entrail+EllaBay+12122009+117+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973051094755634" border="0" /></a>I could not help but be distracted by the beauty of the tracks that these majestic birds had left in the sand and the drag marks made by those huge talons were awesome.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xOBWrLTI/AAAAAAAAAoI/TUr8YOUFUrc/s1600-h/6+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+118.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xOBWrLTI/AAAAAAAAAoI/TUr8YOUFUrc/s400/6+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973055095221554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xOqPwyCI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/hekgtY7MVmY/s1600-h/7+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+119.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xOqPwyCI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/hekgtY7MVmY/s400/7+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+119.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973066072082466" border="0" /></a>Of course the size of these tracks was nothing to be sneezed at either!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xO6NU7SI/AAAAAAAAAoY/q9AJl-x3-wM/s1600-h/8+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+123.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xO6NU7SI/AAAAAAAAAoY/q9AJl-x3-wM/s400/8+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+123.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973070356835618" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xPGy_yKI/AAAAAAAAAog/r1YFRmRZFhw/s1600-h/9+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+124.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xPGy_yKI/AAAAAAAAAog/r1YFRmRZFhw/s400/9+tracks+EllaBay+12122009+124.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973073736059042" border="0" /></a>I was distracted by a crab that had boldly stood his ground after I caught it eating some scraps.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xakaTz2I/AAAAAAAAAoo/GLxT9an9i0I/s1600-h/10+crab+EllaBay+12122009+120+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xakaTz2I/AAAAAAAAAoo/GLxT9an9i0I/s400/10+crab+EllaBay+12122009+120+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973270664138594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xbAzGDUI/AAAAAAAAAow/EqVmfa5kEjk/s1600-h/11+crab+EllaBay+12122009+121+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xbAzGDUI/AAAAAAAAAow/EqVmfa5kEjk/s400/11+crab+EllaBay+12122009+121+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973278284287298" border="0" /></a>The eagle footprint in the background will give you some idea of scale!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xbdHb2II/AAAAAAAAAo4/cQPCXWKGsoU/s1600-h/12++crab+EllaBay+12122009+122+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xbdHb2II/AAAAAAAAAo4/cQPCXWKGsoU/s400/12++crab+EllaBay+12122009+122+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973285885794434" border="0" /></a>Ok enough distractions it was back to the serious job of locating what the birds had been eating and I found their rather smelly breakfast next to some leaf litter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xbopf8yI/AAAAAAAAApA/0vR9J3Uw1HY/s1600-h/13+toadfish+EllaBay+12122009+125.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xbopf8yI/AAAAAAAAApA/0vR9J3Uw1HY/s400/13+toadfish+EllaBay+12122009+125.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973288981459746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xcBoeauI/AAAAAAAAApI/H_oHLLLyjAc/s1600-h/14+EllaBay+12122009+128.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S16xcBoeauI/AAAAAAAAApI/H_oHLLLyjAc/s400/14+EllaBay+12122009+128.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430973295688051426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S17hen3tD8I/AAAAAAAAApY/19CvDTT78m4/s1600-h/15+toadfish+EllaBay+12122009+126%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S17hen3tD8I/AAAAAAAAApY/19CvDTT78m4/s400/15+toadfish+EllaBay+12122009+126%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431026116870344642" border="0" /></a>To my surprise it was a toxic toadfish that the White-bellies Sea-eagles had been feasting on.<br /><br />Before I continue I want to give a bit of a warning so listen up! Toadfish are VERY poisonous and eating ANY part of them can and most probably will kill you. Our seas are full of wonderful fish to eat and these toxic critters are definitely not one of them!<br /><br />The toxins in a toadfish are concentrated in the skin and the internal organs (liver I seem to recall) so it was interesting to note the skin had been cut to expose the flesh underneath.<br /><br />It was certainly unusual feeding behaviour as this toxic toadfish was scavenged (I found it by scent eventually) and it was far from fresh.<br /><br />I was curious to find out if the consumption of toadfish by White- bellied Sea eagles had been observed by others and I was happy to discover that it had!<br /><br />A report by James A Fitzsimons from Deakin University describes a very similar event. I recommend checking out the linked PDF report as it is a very interesting short story: <a href="http://www.deakin.edu.au/dro/eserv/DU:30001537/fitzsimons-takingofadeadprickly-2002.pdf">"The Taking of a Dead Prickly Toadfish Contusus brevicaudas by a White-Bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster"</a>.<br /><br />Respect to Mr Fitzsimons for his thought provoking report and I must agree that the ability to utilise toxic toadfish as a food source which other scavengers would bypass could give White-breasted sea eagles an advantage over other coastal scavengers.<br /><br />Toadfish are commonly washed up at Ella Bay and this is the first time I have seen them scavenged by anything!<br /><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-45490034605522728642010-01-25T08:48:00.003+08:002010-01-25T08:58:12.366+08:002010 International Year of BiodiversityAs some of you may already know 2010 is <a href="http://www.cbd.int/2010">International Year of Biodiversity</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqqkg5a7I/AAAAAAAAAmw/Fb7wuEuLp_M/s1600-h/1+logo-header-iyb-en+copy+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 72px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqqkg5a7I/AAAAAAAAAmw/Fb7wuEuLp_M/s400/1+logo-header-iyb-en+copy+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430473267779038130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqq0xx-TI/AAAAAAAAAm4/_WLXwCiP9r4/s1600-h/2+UN+year+of+biodiversity+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 389px; height: 265px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqq0xx-TI/AAAAAAAAAm4/_WLXwCiP9r4/s400/2+UN+year+of+biodiversity+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430473272144820530" border="0" /></a>The following is the <a href="http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sgsm12695.doc.htm">UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message</a> for the International Year of Biodiversity (2010):<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><blockquote>Over the past half-century, human activities have caused an unprecedented decline in biological diversity. Species are going extinct a thousand times faster than the natural rate a loss now being further compounded by climate change. A wide variety of environmental goods and services that we take for granted are under threat, with profound and damaging consequences for ecosystems, economies and livelihoods.<br /><br />In 2002, world leaders agreed to substantially reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. The 2010 Biodiversity Target was subsequently integrated into the Millennium Development Goals. It will not be met.<br /><br />Tropical forests continue to be felled, destroying valuable endemic species and disrupting local, regional and global climates. Climate change and ocean acidification are destroying coral reefs. Fisheries are increasingly overexploited, condemning millions of the world’s poorest people to unemployment and malnutrition.<br /><br />The failure to protect biodiversity should be a wake-up call. Business as usual is not an option. We need a new biodiversity vision. We must manage our forests sustainably so they can store carbon, protect watersheds and provide resources and income. We must conserve coral reefs so they can continue to protect coasts from storms and support livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people. We must ensure the long-term viability of our seas and oceans.<br /><br />To raise awareness of the impending crisis and to spur the world to act, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. In September 2010, the General Assembly will hold a special high-level meeting on the subject. It will give the international community an opportunity to demonstrate much-needed leadership in advance of the Nagoya Biodiversity Summit, which will adopt a new strategic plan for implementing the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.<br /><br />In this International Year, we must counter the perception that people are disconnected from our natural environment. We must increase understanding of the implications of losing biodiversity. In 2010, I call on every country and each citizen of our planet to engage in a global alliance to protect life on Earth. We must generate a greater sense of urgency and establish clear and concrete targets. Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life.</blockquote><br />On a local level I have been pretty disappointed with the amount of respect our local Cassowary Coast Regional Council has shown towards the environment and the preservation of our regions biodiversity.<br /><br />During a recent television interview I saw our local Mayor, Bill Shannon, talk a lot about the rights of developers to develop environmentally sensitive properties and say very little about how his council planned to protect the southern cassowary in those areas. You will find a link to the ABC television interview in the story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2010/01/abc-730-report-examines-fragmentation.html">The ABC 730 Report Examines Fragmentation and Fencing of Cassowary Habitat at Mission Beach</a>.<br /><br />The southern cassowary is a keystone species that is vital to maintaining our regions biodiversity through its seed distributing activities.<br /><br />I believe that the Endangered Southern cassowary should be our regions mascot for this International Year of Biodiversity!<br /><br />Few other animals contribute so directly to maintaining our forests diversity. If you would like to know more about cassowaries and biodiversity check out this <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/03/forest-gardeners.html">earlier post</a>.<br /><br />Perhaps our Cassowary Coast Councilors should watch the following video by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.<br /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7592397&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="250" height="188"></embed><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/7592397">UN Secretary General Welcome Message for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1630383">CBD</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />Below are some key statements from the video that are worthy of consideration.<br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our lives depend on Biological diversity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Species and ecosystems are disappearing at an unsustainable rate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">We humans are the cause.</span><br /></div><p><br />Before I go I want to share with you some neat new photos of Joov, a Mission Beach cassowary who has been bush for 4 months and has recently visited Liz Gallie. Liz has photographed Joov since he was a little Cyclone Larry survivor. Boy has he grown!<br /><br />Of course Joov has been on the blog before in the story <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/05/joov-fringe-dweller-by-liz-gallie.html">Joov the Fringe Dweller</a> by Liz Gallie<br /><br />That’s enough from me….here are the photos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqrMghkoI/AAAAAAAAAnA/a8VUmsV0l54/s1600-h/3+JoovDSC07238bc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqrMghkoI/AAAAAAAAAnA/a8VUmsV0l54/s400/3+JoovDSC07238bc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430473278514893442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqr1jwe5I/AAAAAAAAAnI/qBYMTX9Jbu4/s1600-h/4+JoovDSC07235b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqr1jwe5I/AAAAAAAAAnI/qBYMTX9Jbu4/s400/4+JoovDSC07235b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430473289534307218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqsM2dtUI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/__QPTDV1YUw/s1600-h/5+Joov+DSC07351b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1zqsM2dtUI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/__QPTDV1YUw/s400/5+Joov+DSC07351b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430473295786784066" border="0" /></a>All levels of government, including our local Cassowary Coast Regional Council, need to realise that their current management of Endangered Southern cassowaries at places like Mission Beach is simply not working.<br /><br />I will close with a final quote from UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-moon<br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">“Business as usual is not an option” </span><br /></div><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-30401307912893146832010-01-24T18:57:00.006+08:002010-01-24T21:05:34.292+08:00Ella Bay’s Great Grey Ghost: The Great-billed heron Ardea sumatranaElla Bay is well known for its biggest bird, the endangered Southern cassowary.<br /><br />Ella Bay is also home to another huge bird which is even harder to photograph, the Great-billed heron, a wary bird that has evaded my camera on many occasions at Ella Bay!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnwP2HKJI/AAAAAAAAAlo/L5bkQm1Yjbc/s1600-h/1heron++Ella+bay+27112009+105+-+new+%282%29+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnwP2HKJI/AAAAAAAAAlo/L5bkQm1Yjbc/s400/1heron++Ella+bay+27112009+105+-+new+%282%29+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258960542673042" border="0" /></a>My own experiences with this bird generally consist of frustrating fleeting glimpses of the tail end of this huge bird disappearing into the mangrove swamps. The Great-billed heron certainly does not like human company and is quick to scoot if disturbed.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>This Great-billed heron often hunts around the mouth of Barra creek which runs through the proposed resort complex/property development at Ella Bay.<br /><br />Although I see this wary bird often in this area, the Ella Bay Pty Ltd wildlife surveys conducted by BAAM (Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd) have failed to list it even once which I find unbelievable as the bird is over a metre tall!<br /><br />Last November I decided to try and stalk this bird and confirm its identity.<br /><br />Using a low depression in the sand as cover I crept up on this favourite early morning haunt of this bird in the hope it may be present. It was a gamble as I did not know if the bird would be there or not.<br /><br />Crawling on my belly is something I thought I had given up years ago but I saw some movement in the trees and my pulse quickened!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnwU6VruI/AAAAAAAAAlw/k4vuyNZgoHM/s1600-h/2+heron+P1060114.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnwU6VruI/AAAAAAAAAlw/k4vuyNZgoHM/s400/2+heron+P1060114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258961902579426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnwowH6RI/AAAAAAAAAl4/D-mp7wFLWxM/s1600-h/3+heron+P1060119+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnwowH6RI/AAAAAAAAAl4/D-mp7wFLWxM/s400/3+heron+P1060119+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258967228442898" border="0" /></a>Alas it was only a White faced heron <span style="font-style: italic;">Egretta (Ardea) novaehollandiae</span>. Though they are a fair sized bird at close to 70 cm tall it wasn’t the prize I was hoping for and it looked like my grey suited metre plus friend from the mangroves had eluded me again.<br /><br />As I scanned the creek side vegetation once more I noticed a large grey heron settling on a large dead tree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnxHj3jmI/AAAAAAAAAmA/a9KO7re19Yo/s1600-h/4+tree+COMPRESSED+Ella+bay+27112009+104+-+new+RIA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnxHj3jmI/AAAAAAAAAmA/a9KO7re19Yo/s400/4+tree+COMPRESSED+Ella+bay+27112009+104+-+new+RIA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258975498538594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnxbyMNpI/AAAAAAAAAmI/v3odc0l4Ot0/s1600-h/5+heron+Ella+bay+27112009+104+-+new+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wnxbyMNpI/AAAAAAAAAmI/v3odc0l4Ot0/s400/5+heron+Ella+bay+27112009+104+-+new+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430258980927321746" border="0" /></a>Paydirt!<br /><br />Finally I had got close enough to this elusive bird to get some photos without being spotted. The Great-billed heron was having a bit of an early morning preen so I snapped away whilst it was distracted.<br /><br />I must admit my camera is far from adequate for this sort of work!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn4UFn02I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/EPURRg_PoCk/s1600-h/6+heron+Copy+of+1+Ella+bay+27112009+105+-+new+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn4UFn02I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/EPURRg_PoCk/s400/6+heron+Copy+of+1+Ella+bay+27112009+105+-+new+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430259099120423778" border="0" /></a>Looking again from a distance you can see how well this birds grey camouflage hides it from the casual observer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn46IUYpI/AAAAAAAAAmY/0b2-VVSmEVg/s1600-h/7+heron++Ella+bay+27112009+105+-+new+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn46IUYpI/AAAAAAAAAmY/0b2-VVSmEVg/s400/7+heron++Ella+bay+27112009+105+-+new+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430259109332279954" border="0" /></a>I managed to snap off a couple more shots but old eagle eyes spotted me and flew off north toward Biggerabarra Creek.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn5YBv5vI/AAAAAAAAAmg/BOttLKVbNgA/s1600-h/8+heron++P1060122+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn5YBv5vI/AAAAAAAAAmg/BOttLKVbNgA/s400/8+heron++P1060122+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430259117357786866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn5vhqHDI/AAAAAAAAAmo/QLNPVy9j9MU/s1600-h/9+heron+P1060124+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S1wn5vhqHDI/AAAAAAAAAmo/QLNPVy9j9MU/s400/9+heron+P1060124+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430259123665640498" border="0" /></a>It was good to see that my grey ghost of the Ella Bay coast was indeed a Great-billed heron.<br /><br />It was interesting to read <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/birds2000/pubs/gb-heron.pdf">a federal government document about Great-billed herons</a> that stated:<br /><blockquote>Clearance of mangroves and other coastal vegetation, reclamation of mudflats and other forms of human disturbance are likely to cause desertion of breeding areas (Marchant and Higgins, 1990). </blockquote>I wonder if putting 5000 people in Ella Bay would pass as…. “Other forms of human disturbance”… I think it might!<br /><br />The Slater field guide to Australian birds states the Great-billed heron is “Rare on coastal rivers and mangroves” and “Appears to be shrinking from civilisation, so if you find one nesting, have a quick look and leave it undisturbed”.<br /><br />At the end of the day you can guarantee that this massive bird will not be pleased to see 5000 odd new human residents to this fragile bay as is being demanded by property developer Ella Bay Pty Ltd.<br /><br />Let’s hope Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett AM MP ensures that Ella Bay remains a wilderness area for its many special and endangered residents.<br /><br />So much of our precious Wet Tropics coastline has been sacrificed to feed the never ending financial hunger of property developers already.<br /><br />Cheers Russ<br /><br />Please note I am using the correct Creek names used by Ma:mu traditional owners (The Mandubarra Mob) out of respect for a people whose love for this country exceeds even my own.Russell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-3570940989910739042010-01-14T14:30:00.005+08:002010-01-14T15:32:54.453+08:00The ABC 730 Report Examines Fragmentation and Fencing of Cassowary Habitat at Mission BeachElla Bay Pty Ltd wish to fence the 3 kilometre long Ella Bay Road so when I was told there was a cassowary trapped behind a fence at Mission Beach on ABC television you can bet I was interested!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066GE5tDrI/AAAAAAAAAlI/OH5TiWxJkug/s1600-h/1+Fence+cassowary+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066GE5tDrI/AAAAAAAAAlI/OH5TiWxJkug/s400/1+Fence+cassowary+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426479214585777842" border="0" /></a>I missed “Endangered Cassowaries Under Threat” on the ABC’s 7.30 report but fortunately the internet came to the rescue and I was impressed by the ABC’s story.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Before I continue I would like to state that I have a great respect for the Australian Broadcasting Commission as they present stories without prejudice and do not bow to direct or indirect pressure from advertisers like many commercial media sources appear to in my opinion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066GTtIGnI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/xnJSKD70uh4/s1600-h/2+ABC+Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 126px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066GTtIGnI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/xnJSKD70uh4/s400/2+ABC+Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426479218559556210" border="0" /></a>The ABC was the first media organisation to find and follow up on my Turtle Surveys around Bramston Beach and Ella Bay.<br /><br />The interview I was given by ABC journalist Marian Nguyen meant a lot to me as it raised awareness of the conservation value of these two areas significantly. By the way if you want to hear that interview and check out the neat images <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2009/03/06/2509516.htm">click here</a>.<br /><br />Ok I’m starting to wander here so let’s get back to the story!<br /><br />Mission beach is facing some massive Cassowary Habitat problems and places like Ella Bay have the potential to travel in precisely the same direction.<br /><br />I’m pleased to see that <a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/">conservation group C4</a> is working hard to identify and correct the many threats to Mission Beach cassowaries.<br /><br />Mr Bob Irwin (father of the late Steve Irwin) has proudly stood up as an ambassador for the endangered southern cassowary and you will see him on the video.<br /><br />Words cannot express my gratitude to Mr Bob Irwin who is proudly fighting for a species that needs all the help it can get when many men his age are looking at winding down and taking it easy. More power to you Bob.<br /><br />If you would like to know a little more about Bob’s work with cassowaries <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/11/bob-irwin-speaks-up-for-endangered.html">click here</a>.<br /><br />I would also like to express my gratitude to the journalists and crew from the ABC who did a damn fine job of presenting a concise and interesting story…Well done!<br /><br />There is some interesting dialogue at the beginning of the story which begins with Tony O’Malley (Mission Beach local planning officer with Terrain Natural Resource Management)on his mobile phone calling for rangers to assist a cassowary which has been trapped and confused by a fence.<br /><br /><blockquote>TONY O'MALLEY: Hi Audrey, it's Tony, I'm down at Oasis and there's a cassowary trapped on the outside of the fence.<br /><br />PETER MCCUTCHEON, REPORTER: An ancient giant of North Queensland's tropical rainforest has stumbled across modern suburbia.<br /><br />It's an adult and it's walking up and down the fence and I think it's probably been here since at least 4:30 it's now after 5pm...<br /><br />PETER MCCUTCHEON: Mission Beach environmentalist Tony O'Malley is asking wildlife rangers to come to the rescue. Why is it walking up and down the fence?<br /><br />TONY O'MALLEY: Fences don't exist in the natural world. To them that's like vines that they can walk through and, you know, they're not massively intelligent. </blockquote><br />Exactly Tony and when I see developer like Ella Bay Pty Ltd presenting fences as the solution to cassowary management I think exactly the same thing.<br /><br />Even worse when I see tame zoo cassowaries trained to use a gate by property developers who then advertise it in the media as a solution to wild cassowary management! Then my research uncovers the fact that this gate isn’t even a decent deer gate, the purpose for which it was designed!! Look <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/10/satoris-innovative-cassowary-gate.html">here</a> if you would like to know more!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066G510ZxI/AAAAAAAAAlY/4e-009GY8kA/s1600-h/3+the+7.30+report..jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 193px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066G510ZxI/AAAAAAAAAlY/4e-009GY8kA/s400/3+the+7.30+report..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426479228796561170" border="0" /></a>Ok I have talked plenty!<br /><br />To see the 7.30 report story “Endangered Cassowaries Under Threat” <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201001/r496883_2605600.asx">click here </a><br /><br />You can find more information including a <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2790008.htm">transcript here</a>.<br /><br />Mr Bob Irwin summed the issue up quite concisely when he said…<br /><br />“If we don’t do anything then the Cassowaries are gone”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066HTjmdiI/AAAAAAAAAlg/y_uCPO7Lib0/s1600-h/4+edit+1+P1060805.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S066HTjmdiI/AAAAAAAAAlg/y_uCPO7Lib0/s400/4+edit+1+P1060805.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426479235699471906" border="0" /></a>Cheers Russ <br /><br />Also….If you would like to check out some of the 20 other cassowary stories on the blog <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/search/label/cassowaries">click here</a>.Russell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-12833142141972491632010-01-11T20:44:00.007+08:002010-01-11T21:04:47.578+08:00Dogs and Cars threaten Australia’s remaining Endangered Southern Cassowaries at places like Mission Beach and Ella BayLately I have blogged a fair bit about recent cassowary deaths due to vehicle strike incidents at Mission Beach in Far North Queensland. The 2 latest killings were hit and run incidents which made me question how many cassowaries are hit by vehicles and simply wander off into the bush to die from their injuries, unnoticed and unrecorded.<br /><br />Domestic and feral dogs also present a major threat to our endangered cassowaries as noted in a <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/10/cassowaries-at-mission-beach-recovery.html">recent brochure</a> released by C4 (<a href="http://www.cassowaryconservation.asn.au/">Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation</a>)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdXK3cAqI/AAAAAAAAAkA/36oa7wjU2vc/s1600-h/1+brochure+.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdXK3cAqI/AAAAAAAAAkA/36oa7wjU2vc/s400/1+brochure+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462459988968098" border="0" /></a>Liz Gallie from C4 brought this matter to my attention again recently.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>In my own area at Bramston Beach we have recently endured dog packs hunting and decimating local wildlife so I can appreciate their concern.<br /><br />It is not uncommon to find domestic dogs roaming through cassowary habitat and hunting as a pack. Here is a photo I took last year (note the collars).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdXmp0nQI/AAAAAAAAAkI/8tFJNkD9ziQ/s1600-h/2+dog+pack.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdXmp0nQI/AAAAAAAAAkI/8tFJNkD9ziQ/s400/2+dog+pack.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462467448052994" border="0" /></a>At my own home (Bramston Beach cassowary habitat) feral dogs became such a problem that council officers placed soft jaw traps and destroyed 2 very large and aggressive dogs just metres from the house. One of them is in the photograph below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdXzadjBI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/p8NIYTRT70o/s1600-h/3+Feral+dog+%40+Bramston+Beach+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdXzadjBI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/p8NIYTRT70o/s400/3+Feral+dog+%40+Bramston+Beach+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462470873287698" border="0" /></a>Another 3 feral dogs were also killed during the same period at nearby Wyvuri swamp less than a kilometre away.<br /><br />Believe it or not the problem persisted until DPI feral animal control officer Michael Graham organized a local baiting program covering over 10 properties which brought feral dog populations down to tolerable levels.<br /><br />The use of baits, particularly 1080, disgusts me however the alternative which was to allow the continued decimation of our local wildlife was no longer an option.<br /><br />Within months smaller marsupials could be seen again in our area and Agile wallabies and Rufous pademelons returned to their previous haunts.<br /><br />That said, I don’t ever want to participate in another baiting program and I place the blame for the feral dog problem squarely at the feet of irresponsible dog owners who dump their dogs and pig hunters who lose their pig dogs when hunting.<br /><br />Well that’s enough from me lets get back to Liz Gallie and c4 and the emails I recently received.<br /><br /><blockquote>I would like to bring to your attention the serious environmental harm that is being allowed to occur at Mission Beach.<br /><br />Is it legal to breed and advertise dogs for profit, especially hunting dogs, in a high biodiversity area that has a state and federal recognition of dog attack being a major threat to an endangered species?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/southern-cassowary/pubs/sth-cassowary.pdf">http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/southern-cassowary/pubs/sth-cassowary.pdf </a><br /><br />The local vet commented on cassowary dog attack in the Tully Times news article attached.<br /><br />Local, state and federal laws are either not being enforced or do not exist to protect an endangered species that in the entire wet tropics is not believed to number more than 1200 individual breeding adults.<br /><br />What action is going to be taken now to address this urgent situation?<br /><br />Sincerely<br /><br />Liz Gallie </blockquote><br /><br />This is the article from the Tully Times, 13 November 2008 that Liz refers to in her email. (Click on the image for a larger view).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdYahH1yI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JlvRYoX-lpk/s1600-h/4+dogs+a+threat+Tully+vet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdYahH1yI/AAAAAAAAAkY/JlvRYoX-lpk/s400/4+dogs+a+threat+Tully+vet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462481370208034" border="0" /></a>The second email referred to a recent advertisement for hunting dog puppies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdYujk7hI/AAAAAAAAAkg/qHHYOVGqXZ0/s1600-h/5+noticeboardWongaling+Notice+board+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdYujk7hI/AAAAAAAAAkg/qHHYOVGqXZ0/s400/5+noticeboardWongaling+Notice+board+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462486749212178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdr2EZKVI/AAAAAAAAAko/xNwqomb72eg/s1600-h/6+puppies+Dogs+for+sale1+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdr2EZKVI/AAAAAAAAAko/xNwqomb72eg/s400/6+puppies+Dogs+for+sale1+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462815183415634" border="0" /></a>I found the contents of this email very disturbing.<br /><br /><blockquote>Puppies for Sale<br /><br />A phone call enquiry has revealed that there are 6 puppies for sale. The dogs are living at Wongaling Beach.<br /><br />The owner of the dogs was not available but her grandmother was able to give some information about the dogs. The puppies’ parents are called Bobo and Lily.<br /><br />It is confirmed that they are very good hunting dogs as they apparently go hunting every morning for wallabies and pigs.<br /><br />They are not accompanied on the hunts.<br /><br />Read about the Bandog <a href="http://www.dog-names.org.uk/bandog.htm">http://www.dog-names.org.uk/bandog.htm</a><br /><br />and the wolfhound <a href="http://www.dog-names.org.uk/irish-wolfhound.htm">http://www.dog-names.org.uk/irish-wolfhound.htm</a><br /><br />It is with great concern that the keeping and backyard breeding for profit, of hunting dogs is being allowed to happen in our high biodiversity area. Dog attack is recognised as a major threat to the endangered cassowary. Mission Beach is recognised as supporting the highest density of cassowaries in Australia. It is also recognised as being home to one of the important remaining cassowary populations within the Wet Tropics. (Cassowary Recovery Plan <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/southern-cassowary/pubs/sth-cassowary.pdf">http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/southern-cassowary/pubs/sth-cassowary.pdf</a>)<br /><br />If we have to wait another year before our local Council recognises the need to be proactive in enforcing current, or introducing appropriate laws to protect the high biodiversity of our area, then I have to question whether the current representatives are worthy to govern over such a special place.<br /><br />Dog control is only one of the escalating threats to the natural environment and endangered species of our area as a result of the ad hoc overdevelopment that has been allowed to occur.<br /><br />The public statement by Mayor Bill Shannon that there be consideration for a cassowary breeding program on Hinchinbrook Island in response to the two recent cassowary road deaths supports those concerns. When is this Council going to refer to the Mission Beach Habitat Action Plan as its environmental guidance?<br /><br />I have been a resident of Mission Beach for thirty six years and am appalled that such serious environmental harm is being allowed to occur to one of the most beautiful places in the world.<br /><br />Yours Sincerely<br /><br />Liz Gallie </blockquote><br /><br />Before I continue I wish to make one thing very clear ….I LIKE DOGS! Our dog is a trained assistance dog and a much loved member of our family. Too often I read dog stories by dog haters and if you find me critical you will find my criticism aimed at the dog’s owners rather than the K9 itself!<br /><br />The parents of the hunting dog puppies are familiar and very interesting breeds to me.<br /><br />My father, (a dog trainer and instructor) has owned 3 Wolfhounds. Finola, his latest wolfhound, although not large by wolfhound standards is quite capable of sitting my 6 foot 2 over 100 kg plus frame on the turf during a bit of rough and tumble play. During a recent lightning strike at my father’s house she knocked a door off its hinges with one hit to get outside. They are big powerful dogs.<br /><br />Wolfhounds are a sight hound meaning they hunt by sight rather than scent. They have a natural instinct to chase (like a greyhound) and need to be kept on a lead at all times when out. Their large size and chasing ability make them desirable as pig hunting dogs especially when crossed with other breeds.<br /><br />The following video clearly demonstrates the natural chasing/hunting instinct of the wolfhound. There is a reason why there are no wolves or wild boars left in Ireland!<br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aTkMehy645M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aTkMehy645M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br />I am familiar with Bandogs due to my experience in the security industry and they are something else all together.<br /><br />These massive dog are a cross between Mastiff type dogs and Pit bull terriers according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandog">Wikipedia</a>. The mix was designed to combine the “courage and tenacity of an American Pit Bull Terrier with the large size and guarding instinct of a Mastiff.”<br /><br />They are a pretty heavy duty piece of hunting dog as the photo below illustrates.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdsFcpSwI/AAAAAAAAAkw/jmAQCXflfu8/s1600-h/7+Bandog+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 376px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdsFcpSwI/AAAAAAAAAkw/jmAQCXflfu8/s400/7+Bandog+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462819311667970" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately in a one on one fight with a cassowary (and I have a very strong respect for a cassowaries strength and defensive abilities) the smart money is on the dog. Check out the video below if you want to know why!<br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pQK54qnXVVQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pQK54qnXVVQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br />The smaller dog is a Belgian shepherd and the big dog that looks like a cross between a D9 bulldozer and your worst nightmare is Curly who is of course a Bandog.<br /><br />Interestingly the Bandog name comes from the fact they were kept on a leash or band. There was a good reason for this!<br /><br />I am not even going to discuss the issue of hunting dogs being allowed to hunt unattended for native animals in Mission Beach and it’s not a practice I approve of even when the owners are in attendance.<br /><br />Liz and C4 have every right to be furious about this behaviour.<br /><br />I am concerned about the popularity and availability of these large hunting breeds as pets as well as working animals. I believe that as many cassowaries are killed by unrestrained pets as there are by feral/hunting dogs. Keep in mind that <a href="http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/register/p00820au.pdf">“Blue Arrow” the last known Cassowary on Mount Whitfield</a> was killed by just 2 domestic dogs.<br /><br />I have been observing dingo behaviour lately and believe they pose a far lower threat to cassowaries than feral or domestic dogs due to their smaller size and instinct for self preservation. A dingo is not willing to receive a serious wound in its hunt for prey as even a minor injury can lead to its death. These large hunting breeds simply do not have that level of self preservation and their sheer aggression overrides what little they have. This is why pig hunters have to provide their dogs with protective body armour as illustrated below (by the way these hunters were hunting in Ella Bay National Park, <a href="http://ellabayforever.blogspot.com/2009/10/pig-hunters-coming-from-satoris.html">click here</a> for that story.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdsbmMocI/AAAAAAAAAk4/u2FASjV__n4/s1600-h/8+pig+hunters+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdsbmMocI/AAAAAAAAAk4/u2FASjV__n4/s400/8+pig+hunters+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462825257312706" border="0" /></a>Did you notice the wolfhound cross in the photo?<br /><br />At the end of the day dog ownership entails certain responsibilities. It is the duty of our government to enforce and create laws to protect native species such as our endangered southern cassowary from irresponsible dog owners.<br /><br />Primarily the duty of enforcing local K9 control regulations especially those concerning dangerous breeds falls fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council. Let’s hope they start acting more diligently in the near future.<br /><br />I am sick and tired of reading about and seeing images of our endangered cassowaries that have been senselessly slaughtered by dogs like the unfortunate bird below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdsyhTJLI/AAAAAAAAAlA/QA_0kjZMa9U/s1600-h/9+dog+attack+victim+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0sdsyhTJLI/AAAAAAAAAlA/QA_0kjZMa9U/s400/9+dog+attack+victim+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425462831410783410" border="0" /></a><br />Cheers RussRussell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-457788646303318660.post-29411523255227446802010-01-11T17:46:00.008+08:002010-03-01T21:05:58.846+08:00World’s largest orchid Grammatophyllum speciosum flowers at Bramston Beach in Australia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rzmZn8cTI/AAAAAAAAAh4/jFB_gJWpRyA/s1600-h/1+gram+flower+%282%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rzmZn8cTI/AAAAAAAAAh4/jFB_gJWpRyA/s400/1+gram+flower+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416542160187698" border="0" /></a>Bramston Beach and Ella Bay both have some wonderful native orchid species growing in the wild.<br /><br /><a name='more'></a>Of course there is the beautiful Golden Orchid <span style="font-style: italic;">Dendrobium discolor</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rzmqrSKfI/AAAAAAAAAiA/ZcboS6SLklc/s1600-h/2+GOLDEN+ORCHID+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rzmqrSKfI/AAAAAAAAAiA/ZcboS6SLklc/s400/2+GOLDEN+ORCHID+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416546737596914" border="0" /></a>And if you know where to look the rare lutino form of golden orchid, the canary yellow <span style="font-style: italic;">Dendrobium discolor</span> variety <span style="font-style: italic;">broomfieldii</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rznA5noLI/AAAAAAAAAiI/h8RbCpt2DBM/s1600-h/3+broomfieldii%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rznA5noLI/AAAAAAAAAiI/h8RbCpt2DBM/s400/3+broomfieldii%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416552703303858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rznXhdGUI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/clzcK04LSvw/s1600-h/3a+broomfieldii+103.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rznXhdGUI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/clzcK04LSvw/s400/3a+broomfieldii+103.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416558775966018" border="0" /></a>Then there’s interesting orchids like the spider orchid <span style="font-style: italic;">Dendrobium tetragonum</span> variety <span style="font-style: italic;">giganteum</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rznqiVnyI/AAAAAAAAAiY/3t3DdODtsfY/s1600-h/4+spider+orchid.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rznqiVnyI/AAAAAAAAAiY/3t3DdODtsfY/s400/4+spider+orchid.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416563879943970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz-DIGZ9I/AAAAAAAAAig/3ukdfsCiCaI/s1600-h/4a+spider+orchid.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz-DIGZ9I/AAAAAAAAAig/3ukdfsCiCaI/s400/4a+spider+orchid.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416948437903314" border="0" /></a>There are also endangered species like the beautiful Swamp orchid <span style="font-style: italic;">Phaius tankervilleae</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz-Tdpr8I/AAAAAAAAAio/o3WL042PKGg/s1600-h/5+swamp+orchid107.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz-Tdpr8I/AAAAAAAAAio/o3WL042PKGg/s400/5+swamp+orchid107.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416952823263170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz-965yjI/AAAAAAAAAiw/Ya3MP5zLrJc/s1600-h/5a+swamp+orchid+%282%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz-965yjI/AAAAAAAAAiw/Ya3MP5zLrJc/s400/5a+swamp+orchid+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416964220242482" border="0" /></a>And the endangered blue orchid <span style="font-style: italic;">Dendrobium nindii</span>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz_OHYjsI/AAAAAAAAAi4/s5Wf1WLEbM8/s1600-h/6+blue+orchid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz_OHYjsI/AAAAAAAAAi4/s5Wf1WLEbM8/s400/6+blue+orchid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416968567557826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz_ry7NuI/AAAAAAAAAjA/vxBhq-zAXrA/s1600-h/6a+blue+orchid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0rz_ry7NuI/AAAAAAAAAjA/vxBhq-zAXrA/s400/6a+blue+orchid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425416976534812386" border="0" /></a>But I’m not focussed on these great native plants today as I want to introduce you to the largest orchid species in the world <span style="font-style: italic;">Grammatophyllum speciosum</span> commonly known as the tiger or giant orchid.<br /><br />This exotic plant is not native to Australia but seems very happy growing as a garden plant here!<br /><br />To be honest my plant is a baby when you consider that this species can weigh well over a tonne in the wild. It’s about 15 years old and this is its second flowering (and yes I am very patient at times).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.orchidspecies.com/grammspeciosum.htm">Orchid species.com</a> had this to say about <span style="font-style: italic;">Grammatophyllum speciosum</span>.<br /><br /><blockquote>A large epiphyte and occasional lithophyte occuring in lowland forests near streams and rivers at elevations of 100 to 1200 meters in Myanamar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Moluccas, the Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, Bismark Islands, Papua and New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and is recorded to be the heaviest orchid in the world and is capable of becoming huge in cultivation.<br /><br />They have erect to spreading, very long, cylindric, yellowish with age, many ridged and noded pseudobulbs enveloped completely by leafless and leaf-bearing sheaths and carrying thin textured, distichous, linear or ovate, obtuse or acute, decurved in apical half leaves that are articulated to the basal leaf sheaths and blooms in the fall and early winter as well as in the summer and have a 4 to 10 foot [120 to 300 cm] long, basal, erect to arching, racemose, many flowered inflorescence that carry 30 to 50 sometimes fragrant, waxy, successively opening, long-lasting flowers with the lowest flowers being imperfect and distant.<br /><br />This species has erect,spreading or drooping psuedobulbs that can be up to 3 meters long and leaves that go well up the stem giving them more of a palm tree look. Can be slow to bloom, plants need to be large and have a lot of backbulbs and even still the orchid can be sporadic, at best, to bloom. This species is often found in conjunction with ants and may benefit from their presence.</blockquote><br />Thank you orchid species.com and you can check out some of their photos <a href="http://www.orchidspecies.com/grammspeciosum.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />Back to my plant an interesting feature of this species is the way its first few flowers are always malformed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0ZaO-pVI/AAAAAAAAAjI/YQC3B-zA7PM/s1600-h/7+gram+deformed+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0ZaO-pVI/AAAAAAAAAjI/YQC3B-zA7PM/s400/7+gram+deformed+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417418497238354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0ZtvciwI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/G7vSggtyxJk/s1600-h/8+gram+deformed+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0ZtvciwI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/G7vSggtyxJk/s400/8+gram+deformed+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417423733689090" border="0" /></a>At the beginning its single flower spike was nothing to write home about. This photo was taken on 11 December 2009.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0Z9LyvII/AAAAAAAAAjY/xKsarXEuayU/s1600-h/9+flower+spike.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0Z9LyvII/AAAAAAAAAjY/xKsarXEuayU/s400/9+flower+spike.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417427879115906" border="0" /></a>By 24 December 2009 it was starting to look quite handsome.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0aQBtZLI/AAAAAAAAAjg/555-56NhzxM/s1600-h/10+gram+spike+24122009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0aQBtZLI/AAAAAAAAAjg/555-56NhzxM/s400/10+gram+spike+24122009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417432937096370" border="0" /></a>By 2 January 2010 it was really looking good<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0ag0Z8rI/AAAAAAAAAjo/8MDlpOORXQY/s1600-h/11+gram+spike.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0ag0Z8rI/AAAAAAAAAjo/8MDlpOORXQY/s400/11+gram+spike.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417437444698802" border="0" /></a>And today I think I will call it quits with photographing this plant!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0xZyP75I/AAAAAAAAAjw/iFGgXHNfBaY/s1600-h/12+Gram+spike11012010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0xZyP75I/AAAAAAAAAjw/iFGgXHNfBaY/s400/12+Gram+spike11012010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417830693597074" border="0" /></a>Oh before I go here is a little photo of the plant with a bucket next to it for scale!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0xtgbiEI/AAAAAAAAAj4/8epa18DyiPs/s1600-h/13+gram+scale+11+12+2009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Pi3vc3Go67s/S0r0xtgbiEI/AAAAAAAAAj4/8epa18DyiPs/s400/13+gram+scale+11+12+2009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425417835987568706" border="0" /></a>When it gets as big as the giant 2-ton plant displayed in crystal palace in 1851 I will really have something to blog about!<br /><br />Cheers Russ<br /><br />Ps please note I have used commonly used older scientific names for many of the native orchids as anyone who looks them up further on the net or in books will have half a chance that way!Russell Constablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04933516209283025115noreply@blogger.com8