Scrubhens fight for Territory

Over the last few weeks we have seen several Scrubhens; they have decided that the area around our houses and the orchard looks like a good new territory. It has been a regular occurance to see a pair wandering around. I love their personalities so it is good to see them around.

Scrubhens are megapodes, also called the Orange Footed Jungle Fowl, they build large mounds of leaves as nests, and the eggs are incubated by the breakdown of the leaves. The process is controlled by the male bird, who adds and removes leaves as needed. The babies are not looked after when they hatch and can fly within a couple of days.

The local aborigines call them 'Cherooka' due to the long drawn out calls that make...Cheroooookaaaa.

The birds we see comprise two pairs, and the new territory is hotly in dispute. It is common to see the males flying up to 4m in the air squawking and packing at each other. They clearly have no love lost...


Mason's Tours on Facebook

4th Generation of the Mason Family arrives

On 16 October 2009 Amelia Toni Ann Mason was born, and she is the 4th generation of the Mason family to live at Cape Tribulation. She is named after her great grandmothers, Elsie Amelia Dorothea Mason and Toni Berden and her Grandmother Ann Mason. Mother and baby are doing well.

The Cassowaries are back!

During the last month we have had some great Cassowary sightings on out guided walks. Cassowary poo has been evident on the paths for a few years now and the birds are not bothered by humans at all.

This is very gratifying, because for some time from about 1985 to 2000, cassowaries were rarely seen at Cape Tribulation. Researchers even suggested that at some point they must have been shot, as oral history recorded that they were common at Cape Tribulation as recently as the 1970s. Certainly I can remember them as being common in my childhood.

Although forest clearing and predation by wild pigs definately affects there population, neither would seem to account for the decline in the 90s. In fact some areas of the Daintree maintained very high concentrations of Cassowaries even when other areas showed a decline.

My personal theory is that there must have been some sort of disease that came here in the introduced birds like chickens, ducks and geese that were bought in by settlers, that decimated the Cassowaries here. I suspect that we are now seeing the progeny of the resistant birds, and that is why numbers have been seen to increase from about 2000 onwards....

Masons Tours are now on Facebook

Mason's Tours on Facebook

Dugong Rescue Cape Tribulation

On August 17 2009, a tourist came into our shop and reported that he had seen a Dugong (Sea Cow, Manatee) stranded at the southern end of Coconut Beach. I went straight there, verified it, and rang The Bat House and National Parks. The bat House sent volunteers immediately to keep it went an prevent sunburn. They later built a shelter over it.

More locals arrived and a ranger, and it was decided not to wait for the tide which was hours off, but to use a tractor to move it to the sea. Rod from Cape Trib Sea kayaking provided the sling, Jason and Trav from Ocean Safari the muscle, and National Parks the tractor.

A lot of effort saw the dugong returned to the sea and swim away. A great result!

No-one seems sure why the dugong stranded. It was young male, perhaps inexperienced, who was inside the fringing reef at a time of rapid tide movement. maybe he will be more careful next time...

Sorry the pics are in the wrong order...they reversed when I loaded them!

Who is looking at who?

This White Lipped Green Tree Frog was discovered recently on a Mason's Nightwalk. At times it was hard to work out who was the spectator as the frog moved its head from side to side, checking out the walkers. Everyone was able to get fantastic shots, and this specimen was a really bright green.

White Lipped Green Tree Frogs can be seen any time of year, but are easier to spot in the green season, when they migrate to castal swamps at Cape Tribulation and breed in their thousands. The croaking sound like aboriginal clicking sticks from a distance.

Mason's nightwalks are on real jungle trails, with boardwalks or concrete paths. It is real jungle all the way. The guide carries a spotlight and all guests are given rechargeable flashlights.

Why not try the excitement of a Mason's Nightwalk when you come to the Daintree?

February weather great!

Despite all the media hype, the weather at Cape Tribulation has been generally fantastic in February. While it is true that some areas, notably Ingham and Karumba have suffered massive floods, we have not.
Ingham is well south of Cairns, near Townsville, and Karumba is on the west coast of Queensland, nowhere near here.
The picture was taken on the Valentine's day weekend, a couple of kilometres east of Cape Trib, and shows the wonderful calm conditions, and blue skys. The fish were biting too!
While it is true that March can be a very wet month here, I urge anyone thinking of coming here to ring first and ask about the weather on 07 40980070, rather than relying on the media.

Mason's Cafe Opens

Mason's Tours are pleased to announce the opening of Mason's Cafe. The cafe has been operational for some years but was previously leased and traded as Myall Creek Takeaway. Run by Sharon Mason, the cafe serves burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches,wraps, shakes, fresh juices and much more. Sharon is commited to having daily specials, and offerings so far have included Thai Fish Cakes, Salt and Pepper Calamari, Lasagne (including a yummy vego version), and Chicken Pasta salad.

Mason's Cafe sells Tichum Creek Coffee, grown on the Atherton Tableland, west of Cairns. 'Mario's Blend' is delicious, and the ground coffee can be purchased on site if you wish to take some home. Local Daintree Tea is also served, and likewise can be purchased on site.

All cakes and biscuits served on Mason's 4WD Tours are prepared in the Cafe, and being freshly baked are proving popular. Ann Mason has trained Sharon to make all the old favourites such as Banana and Walnut cake so look out for the family recipes on your next Mason's Tour.

Sharon is also making yummy decadent cakes for sale in the cafe well so look out for these when you visit!

Mason's Cafe also can cater to groups who want lunch as a one off or on a regular basis. Please phone 40980016 to order. Our Green season hours will be 1030 to 1600, but this may vary so ring to check if you are not sure.

Mason's Cafe is 34km north of the Daintree Ferry midway between Cape Trib Resort and Spa and PK's Jungle Village