Hass-o-wary emerged @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
His facial expressions changed, the charming smile disappeared. On an empty belly, ’bad cassowary’ emerged. I called him ‘hass-o-wary’.
Astute leadership @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
’How can I be an astute leader without energy?’ Try saying that with an ‘Arnie’ accent.
The Two Towers are calling @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
It’s time to put this fellowship to the test. He knew exactly where he needed to go. The dark force of the Two Towers had been calling for a while now.
Tower of doom and gloom @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He couldn’t withstand the seduction any longer as he arrived at the first tower of gloom.
No scraps behind the Tower @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
No scraps fell behind this bin?
A closed lid? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
And!? The lid is closed!
Who did close the lid? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Who closed that lid? He was clearly not impressed and had his eyes firmly set on me.
Giant feed walking towards me @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
‘Nice Hassowary’ I thought, as those gigantic claws moved towards me! ’I didn’t close that lid’.
Nice Hass-o-wary? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
I had to stay focused as he passed me once again up-close.
A banquet? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Fortunately for me, he took interest on something else. Fellow followers left their picnic unattended, a banquet could be served.
Nothing? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
His enthusiasm was short lived. There wasn’t much to dine here either. This expedition just doesn’t go his way.
Found something! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
A hollow tree might yield in success. Well, there is something. Something it is.
What’s that smell? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He passed the ’stinger vinegar emergency post’. This wasn’t a smell he preferred. What’s a cassowary to do for a feed?
Feeling emphatic @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
I started to feel a bit emphatic for this devoted bird.
Dodging in between cars @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Dodging in between cars could be helpful. Maybe someone left something eatable?
Red adds perfectly @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Although there was no food to be found here either, the red colour added nicely to this already vivid appearance.
Subtle and determined @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
I overtook the cassowary again as he made his way to the beach. Subtle in appearance, he was determined on his mission.
Unaware beach goers @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Sneaking by in-alert beach goers, he patrolled the beach as he did for 60 million years.
Pretty in pink? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He often just got away with his good looks.
Classic shot @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
I had a wee chuckle as he passed the ominous sign, that left this cassowary stranded.
Obvious signs @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
No one did feed him willingly or by accident.
Not much to choose from either! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
All baskets or picnics left unattended had no food in it.
Frustrated @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Demoralized and frustrated, he retreated into the thick of the jungle.
Cooling down @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
A heavily overgrown creek bed appeared like an oasis. It was time to change tactics.
Stealth tactics @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
A more stealth and surprise approach may result in a successful exploration? The cold creek water may have cooled his temper as he was ready for round two.
Charming! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Did nice cassowary return? He does have a charming smile after all.
Surprise! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Stepping out from camouflage flora, he surprised an unaware camping couple. Hey, what’s in the bucket? His persistence finally paid of.
Social distancing @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
The stunned look on these camper’s faces was priceless. Keeping a social distance between themselves and sharp claws, left this couple undecided on what to do.
Let’s see! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Knowing, that there is fruit in this basket made this an anxious moment. Mangos are a tropical delicately, definitely high on a cassowary’s fruit menu.
That looks juicy! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He swallowed the mango core whole and washed it down with juicy mango rind.
Head over heels @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Eat and repeat for yet another mango. Eventually the owner had the courage to remove this bucket under the cassowary’s beak. It may have been empty too.
What else? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
I can’t blame him not to react earlier. I wouldn’t have. Plus, I have my camera in my hand. His stealth mode approach seemingly worked.
Ghostly appearance @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Like a ghost, he moved ahead over the campground.
Tent cover @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Using tents to cover his tracks on this tactical approach surely helped to surprise unaware campers. However, none of the campers left any food scraps lying around.
Bush scrubs @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He brushed through a few gardens of this campground with little success. He ventured towards the crowded beach once more. There was somewhere he hadn’t investigated.
The second Tower of doom @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
This is a familiar sight?
Some scraps @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He reached the second tower, a crammed and abandoned rubbish bin.
Overloaded @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
The lid couldn’t be closed due to overload.
Hope no one is taking photos! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Although, I don’t think he found much food on his search.
Walking in circles @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Not much at all.
Could there be? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
He inspected the treasure sufficiently.
Lowered head @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Frustrated in denial, he passed the ominous sign once more.
Down but not out! @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
No one willingly fed this cassowary. And this is how this ring story completes a full circle on Etti Beach. What an adventure this was.
Walking with dinosaurs @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Recording this close encounter with my camera for a few hours was simply amazing. This may be my only opportunity to walk with real life dinosaurs. Just fabulous.
Life rescue? @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
Lifeguards were the last ones to see him, for now.
Classic @ Etti Bay, Northern Tropical Queensland, Australia
No doubt that he finds a larger selection of precious native fruits in his tropical forest paradise.
But that’s not all. Another surprise was waiting just around the corner.
Travels with Ben 
That’s quite the big bird
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