The cassowary stomps through the jungle in recreation of lost glory - but really, since everything else has gotten smaller, it's still basically a dinosaur.
5 hrs ago·edited 5 hrs agoLiked by Librarian of Celaeno
I once watched a great blue heron swallow a massive, 5+ foot long bull snake, and then casually walk the length of the field behind me looking for more. I see pelicans flying around, riding the thermals, and sometimes landing in the lake behind my house. I can't help but think about the dinosaurs when these two bizarre birds show up regularly each year.
Great article! We should all try to be more like the noble cassowary, and harken back to our nobler ancestors.
On a side note, unless I’m mistaken, you’ve been using “distain” when you should have used “disdain”. The former is a verb meaning to stain or dishonor, whereas the latter is both a noun and verb, and is the word I think you had in mind.
Brilliant! I love the color around their heads, just imagine if a t-rex had that kind of vivid coloring. My family lived in Florida for a while, I miss the sheer prolific abundance of the wildlife there. Well, except the mosquitoes and the ants, anyway.
Thanks again, Librarian - I always enjoy learning something! I'd say I've found my new spirit animal, but I'm a bit too extroverted and social to live up to cassowary ideals.
I'm genuinely curious - what got you started down the path of cassowary research?
I've long suspected that what scientists call dinosaurs are just larger, more archaic versions of animals that exist today. Some were birds, some were reptiles, and a few, perhaps, were mammals. (The fact that they laid eggs is no impediment to this, just look at the duck-billed platypus. ) This line of thinking means that there was never a time when "dinosaurs" went extinct. Their larger, less adaptive kin died off after the catastrophe, or even catastrophes, which were followed by atmospheric changes that destroyed their habitats and finished them off.
This was an excellent essay, as usual. We should all strive to be like the Cassowary.
This was great. Of course it was a Florida Man who was drawn in by their intoxicating primal power and flew too close to the sun...
It’s the risk you take when striving for Floridian authenticity. As a native, I understand.
The cassowary stomps through the jungle in recreation of lost glory - but really, since everything else has gotten smaller, it's still basically a dinosaur.
It is a comically stern and belligerant looking animal. I've seen em a couple of times (not in the wild).
PS: It's Sheila, not Sheela (that's an Indian name!)
...maybe after Sheila Chisholm:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Chisholm
Thank you, and I fixed it.
I once watched a great blue heron swallow a massive, 5+ foot long bull snake, and then casually walk the length of the field behind me looking for more. I see pelicans flying around, riding the thermals, and sometimes landing in the lake behind my house. I can't help but think about the dinosaurs when these two bizarre birds show up regularly each year.
Great article! We should all try to be more like the noble cassowary, and harken back to our nobler ancestors.
On a side note, unless I’m mistaken, you’ve been using “distain” when you should have used “disdain”. The former is a verb meaning to stain or dishonor, whereas the latter is both a noun and verb, and is the word I think you had in mind.
You’re right. I’ll correct it shortly. It’s autocorrect from my phone.
Brilliant on so many levels.
Thankyou for this literary work of art.
You nailed many aspects of Aussie culture.
Thank you very much.
Brilliant! I love the color around their heads, just imagine if a t-rex had that kind of vivid coloring. My family lived in Florida for a while, I miss the sheer prolific abundance of the wildlife there. Well, except the mosquitoes and the ants, anyway.
Hilarious!
Thanks again, Librarian - I always enjoy learning something! I'd say I've found my new spirit animal, but I'm a bit too extroverted and social to live up to cassowary ideals.
I'm genuinely curious - what got you started down the path of cassowary research?
I saw a random video online of one approaching a sunbathing woman on a beach and went down a rabbit hole.
I love it. My wife and I call that an "Alice", and they're almost always educational and amusing.
As I read this, I couldn't help but think of Ross from the sitcom Friends 😆
Excellent! Well done.
The combination of information, adroit references and tongue in cheek interludes make your musings a joy to read.
I've long suspected that what scientists call dinosaurs are just larger, more archaic versions of animals that exist today. Some were birds, some were reptiles, and a few, perhaps, were mammals. (The fact that they laid eggs is no impediment to this, just look at the duck-billed platypus. ) This line of thinking means that there was never a time when "dinosaurs" went extinct. Their larger, less adaptive kin died off after the catastrophe, or even catastrophes, which were followed by atmospheric changes that destroyed their habitats and finished them off.
This was an excellent essay, as usual. We should all strive to be like the Cassowary.