First fieldwork

[Yowie in a hat]

Did my first fieldwork on friday when I walked a trail in the hills between Cairns and Kuranda. I was hoping that places where pigs or bandicoots have been digging might have some prints, no luck with mystery prints but they did hold pig prints. I'll go back another time and try again.

Also came across a terrible stench at one point. Not really rotten but reminded me of a mixture of mothballs and cow manure (strange I know). I marked the trail at this point and on my return stopped to see if I could detect the scent again. When I was back at the same spot I couldn't smell anything besides the normal smell of the rainforest. Friday was a very still day so I cant explain the stench disappearing, unless whatever was making it moved away or somehow stopped releasing the odour. I hear "Sulfur" mentioned a lot, anyone ever smelled mothballs in an encounter?

I also saw a couple of tree breaks as you can see in the photos. I think they are probably the work of a person in the first photo and the wind in photos two and three but I am open to other peoples ideas.

I am also currently working with a member of the Kuku Yalanji tribe from Mossman area. I asked him about the Big Hairy Man and Little Hairy Man. He confirmed that they do exist and promised to tell me more later. I'll let you know what he says.

As a final point I'm finding it hard to take a decent photo in the rainforest with my cheap camera (poor light and no open space certainly dont help). If I did have a sighting and manage to point and shoot I dont think my photos would do the cause any good, unless of course whatever I saw stood very very still.

Yowie in a hat (mysterious and sun smart)

[Rusty2]

Hi Yowie in a hat ,
I stumble'd across a similar find on the weekend and noticed "holes" in the snapped area's where grub's had been , Did you inspect or notice anything like that ?
I'm getting addicted to the search for these animals .

Nice work ! Keep looking .

Cheer's , Rusty2.........

[hairy lad]

hi yowie in a hat! good to see you out and about, some great work there, looks promising. as an ex cairns guy, you might like to try the area out near mila mila. there have been numerous sightings over the years. i know the area that you were in and i would say its a definite area of interest. i have also walked the trails between crystal cascades and lake morris, i saw some tree breaks in this area about 4 years ago.
keep up the great work.

[Yowie in a hat]

Rusty2,
I didn't check for grubs in the snapped trees. I did check the piece of timber that had fallen from one of the trees and the break appeared to be fresh (the wood was still red and sappy). There didn't appear to be any breaks in the bark that might have weakened this particular part of the tree.

Hairy Lad,
This is from the Crystal Cascades - Lake Morris trail. I'm keen to get on to the trails that run from Barron Gorge up to Kuranda as well.

On another note large things encountered in the area aren't always so mysterious. On this walk I heard something off the side of the track and on closer inspection could hear a pig grunting - I didn't bother trying to get a line of sight with it.
The last time I walked this trail I passed a jogger who warned me about a juvenile cassowary that stood on the track and refused to let him pass. I didn't see the bird but I have gotten into the habit of identifying trees I reckon I could climb quickly and stay up for a while if necessary.

[Rusty2]

There didn't appear to be any breaks in the bark that might have weakened this particular part of the tree.

Sorry Yowie in a hat ,
Wasn't trying to shoot you down . I think "they're" looking for grub's .

Cheer's Rusty2....................

[Yowie in a hat]

Hi Rusty2,
Not sure that I get your meaning. What are you trying to say with that last post?

[Rusty2]

What are you trying to say with that last post?

Hi Yowie in a hat ,
I reackon , the big buggers are looking for grub's in the wood . I am only assuming but I think they have exceptional hearing and can hear the grub's inside the tree . Maybe buy putting their ear's up to the tree or as "dashboard" said "by tapping the tree" . Some grub's are high in protein and might be worth the energy to snap off the odd tree .

Iam only guessin mate ,

Cheer's Rusty2..........

[pixieb]

Why would they not rip the whole tree apart?? If there was grubs in the tree I reckon they would not be isolated to just one spot. Surley they could get it over their knee and break it again??... Just a thought.

[pixieb]

Maybe its not for food but just entertainment.

[Yowie in a hat]

I agree that the grubs would be a handy protein meal.

I think it should also be remembered that anything boring a hole in the trunk of a tree will create a weak spot. This could explain why some trees break while neighbouring trees are unaffected. In future I will look at tree breaks for signs of being gripped by the big guy or teeth marks as these are not so easily accounted for as the work of a borer and a wind gust.

I think this has been discussed before but tree breaks may also be a way of marking territory. Snapping a relatively thick tree would not only say "I'm here" but also "This is how strong I am so keep out!"

[Rusty2]

Hey people ,
I think this wattle has been chewed . It's about 14 foot of the groung and very spindley but it may have been pulled down and chewed before springing back into position . God only know's . All we can do is guess .

Cheer's Rusty2..............

[Geoff]

I was at the Barron Falls on a full moon night 23 years ago, we were parked in the carpark you could hear the falls to the right. To the left was cliff face rainforest vegetation next minute this screaming something was not happy, shone the torch in that direction and saw trees swaying like something was pissed off.