BunyipCo: 2023

Saturday 23 December 2023

Cyclone Jasper

Severe Tropical Cyclone Jasper was a powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone that impacted northern Queensland with torrential rainfall. The third disturbance of the 2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season and the first named storm and severe tropical cyclone of the 2023–24 Australian region cyclone season, Jasper originated from an area of low pressure located in the South Pacific Ocean. The system was initially slow to develop while tracking southwestwards through the South Pacific Ocean in Fiji's area of responsibility but began to consolidate the following day. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) upgraded the system to a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Australian scale and name it Jasper. The storm quickly intensified and became a Category 4 tropical cyclone on 7 December; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimated sustained winds of 220 km/h (140 mph). Jasper soon entered an environment of increasing wind shear, causing the system to steadily weaken. Its low-level circulation centre became totally exposed and it maintained a poorly defined convective structure as it approached northern Queensland. Jasper later reintensified, and on 13 December, made landfall as a Category 2 tropical cyclone off the eastern coast of the Cape York Peninsula near Wujal Wujal. Jasper then weakened into a ex-tropical low and remained traceable overland as it moved southeast, and was last noted on 21 December.
Throughout Jasper's existence, moderate to locally intense rainfall accompanied the system; the storm dropped very heavy rainfall, peaking at 2,252 mm (88.7 in) at Bairds near the Daintree River. If verified, this would make Jasper the wettest tropical cyclone to impact Australia on record. Many locals used personal watercraft to extract people who were trapped on their roofs within the coastal suburbs. Some flights were canceled at the Cairns Airport. One man died in Far North Queensland due to flooding caused by Jasper and two more are missing.

We sustained no important damage at our place but just next door there was a disaster. The property is closer to the creek and lower than we sit.

Our creek was the scene of devastation. This was not cause by wind but by rain. We had almost 2m of rain from Wednesday to Sunday. Anything that could be washed away was.

The water went right up to the top of the stairs in this place.

The water from the creek completely covered these two cars and tipped the hot water heater. In addition we were without power from Wednesday to Sunday.

After a week the cassowaries emerged, no worse for wear. Mr Cassowary had some damage to his casque but that was about it. He seemed a bit wan and tired. But he and his three chicks survived.

This chick seems quite healthy despite its ordeal. Where the cassowaries spent the week of rain and wind is a mystery but Mr Cassowary(who is over 45 yrs old) has had a lot of experience and knows what to do.

Monday 20 November 2023

Mass Emergence: Termites

On the morning of 20 November 2023 the small dome of Termes sp. located near the Brush Turkey mound erupted for about a half hour with thousands of alate (winged) reproductive termites taking flight. This was noted before in this Blog on 20 September 2010 from the same mound. See: https://bunyipco.blogspot.com/search?q=Termes The weather was cloudy and it has not rained for weeks. So just what triggered the emergence is hard to say. If it rains later in the day, then maybe the termites are good weather forecasters.

Click on the photo to enlarge

Close examination will reveal that the mound is completely covered with termites that are about to fly off.

One of the flying termites.

Having mated, females select a suitable site for a new nest and commence housekeeping. Only an extremely small percentage of individuals are successful in establishing a new nest. Birds, lizards, insects and other wildlife feast on the insects and other environmental factors limit successful establishment of a nest.

Tuesday 14 November 2023

Cassowary update 2

The young cassowaries are growing nicely despite the extraordinary dry conditions that we have at present. It seems that there are palm fruits and other rainforest trees dropping fruits and flowers that they eat to sustain them. The stream is still running so there is no thirst problem. Hopefully the chicks are beyond the desires of the local goannas. Wild pigs might be a problem should they encounter the sleeping birds at night.

Remember to click on the image to enlarge

Mr Cassowary and the three chicks.

Mrs Cassowary presents no threat to the chicks but the male bird gives way when she appears. He moves well away and waits until she leaves. The chicks wander around under her feet and she makes no threatening moves.

Cattana Wetlands Night Walk 11 November 2023

Cattana Wetlands is a developing coastal rainforest north of Cairns, Queensland. It was once a sugarcane field but the Cattana family gifted the area to the Cairns Regional Council for natural replanting. Ponds were already present at the site and have been naturally populated by aquatic plants, fish, insects AND the odd crocodile. Replanting of thousands of trees and shrubs has been undertaken largely by the volunteers of the Friends of the Cairns Botanic Gardens https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/botanic-gardens.

It is remarkable to see the growth of trees and shrubs over a ten year period. The Friends have had a number of Night Walks and Moth Nights to stimulate interest. In addition, Bird Walks, Bat Nights and Fish Surveys have proved popular. An astronomical night is planned as some of the open areas and lack of ambient light seem perfect for star gazers. As with many tropical activities, the weather can be a problem.

Remember to click on the photos to enlarge

Green Lacewing, Chrysopidae

Glyphodes multilinealis, Crambidae

Oenospila flavifusata, Geometridae

Thalassodes pilaria, Geometridae

Asura sp, Arctiidae

Haritalodes sp., Geometridae BR

Agrotera sp. Crambidae

Palpita sp., Crambidae

Calolampa sp., Blaberidae, BR

Balta sp female on Lomandra flower spike, Ectobiidae

Balta sp female on Lomandra flower spike

Carbrunneria maxi, Ectobiidae

Neomantis australis, Iridopterygidae

Xanthogryllacris punctipennis, Gryllacrididae, last instar male

Nunkeria sp., Gryllacrididae

Friday 20 October 2023

Let Me In!

Might is right.

Cockatoos get what they want using a combination of numbers, loud squawking and display of the very menacing beak.

The Brush Turkey usews much the same technique but the cockatoos are no match.

Wednesday 4 October 2023

Cassowaries 2023 Update 1

Remember to click on the image to enlarge

Today the male Cassowary showed up with the three chiks and the large female.

The male was intimidated by the female and kept his distance while the chicks moved freely amongst the two adults.

Saturday 23 September 2023

Cassowary Chicks of 2023

On 23 September 2023 Mr Cassowary showed up with three young chicks. He usually ends up with one or two, additional chicks succumbing to predators or accidents. One year he ended up with no chicks at all.

It was obvious that they were young and inexperienced. They stayed close to Pops and were very observant. They will have to be because it is early springtime and hungry snakes, goannas and predatory birds are nesting. A slight error could spell death.

The bubs are very curious about all the new sights, sounds and smells. It seems that they are very young and the dad must have been nesting rather close to our house. Now let's hope the neighbourhood dogs and cats behave themselves.

Sunday 23 April 2023

Autumn Beauties

The season is changing in the northern tropics of Australia. Daily temperatures are gradually lowering and the "wet season" is coming to a close--hopefully. With the days slightly shorter, there is a changing regime of insects. Many of the same species stick around until conditions become too dry or cool, but many others are appearing.

Here are a few insects that have been coming t the lights.

Remember to click on the photo to enlarge