Southern Cassowary – Photographing this bird was a game of hide and seeks.  One moment it was there and the next gone, disappearing into the dense foliage almost invisible despite its distinctive colouring.  Finally it emerged, responding to the clicking of the camera to stare me down. 

A Limited Edition Print (25) fine art photograph by Elizabeth McNamee.

Typically, all cassowaries are shy birds that are found in the deep forest. They are adept at disappearing long before a human knows they were there.  The calls of the Southern Cassowary consist of an assortment of rumblings and grunts. These calls are often heard long before the bird is seen, and are usually given in response to the sight of potential danger. The female Southern Cassowary selects a male to breed with and then lays a clutch of large green eggs in a scrape in the ground lined with plant material. Once the eggs are laid, the male is left in charge of the incubation and chick-rearing duties.

There is no mistaking the cassowary for any other bird. With glossy black plumage, a purple and blue neck and red wattles, its head crowned with a distinctive helmet, this bird is a survivor. It is an evolutionary relic, having first appeared millions of years ago, and is believed by some to be the closest living relative to dinosaurs. The southern cassowary is endangered in Queensland and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It’s well known that cassowaries can be dangerous, and indeed together with ostriches they are the only birds known to have killed humans.

These Fine Art Giclee Prints are printed using archival pigment inks and made using 100% cotton, museum grade, archival quality 330gms paper with an ultra-smooth finish which is acid, lignin and chloride free with ph buffering for superb durability and print stability.  These prints are supplied unframed and without a mat.