Paluma Range Cassowary Citizen Science Event July 4-6th 2025

Zero Emissions Byron

Join researchers, locals, BirdLife Townsville and bushwalkers to help contribute to our knowledge of cassowaries at their southern extent.

Paluma Community Centre

The Paluma Range represents the southernmost global extent for the southern cassowary however, very little is known about this population of cryptic rainforest ratites. A research project is underway to better understand the abundance, distribution and threats to cassowaries here by way of sign surveys, citizen science sightings, camera traps and collation of historical records.As a Key Biodiversity Area containing 22,050 ha of potential habitat, it is estimated that cassowaries have been roaming these forests and distributing rainforest seeds for ~50 million years. Cassowaries are only sighted on the Paluma Range on occasion and are evidently in low abundance so many questions arise...Have they always been in low abundance here? Are there current or historical threats that have impacted them? Are they undertaking altitudinal migration to access different fruit resources to make a living? Are they able to disperse and interbreed with the core Wet Tropics population to the north? Are they able to navigate the fragmented lowlands to utilize coastal fruit resources?Citizen science reporting of all current or past sightings are helping to add to our body of knowledge and a small cohort of birds have now been captured on camera traps.Please join us on Friday night for dinner and a project update and/or stay the weekend for a range-wide survey to collect camera traps and detect more evidence of cassowaries and contribute to the long-term conservation of this iconic, keystone species. LocationPaluma Community Centre, 65 Mount Spec Road, Paluma 5:00pm Friday 4th July 2025Free Camping @ <a href="https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/parks-beaches-and-community-venues/parks-trails-and-camping/lake-paluma" title="https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/parks-beaches-and-community-venues/parks-trails-and-camping/lake-paluma" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Lake Paluma – Magar Yamba group camping area</a> or self-arranged B&B accommodation at Paluma Village.Friday, 4th July 20251:00 pm Lake Paluma – Magar Yamba group campsite open for set up. 5:00 pm Paluma Community Centre. Welcome, social, presentation and indian curry dinner by donation. Organise survey teams and locations.Saturday, 5th July 2025Early Birds with Altitude surveysCassowary Survey and camera trap retrieval on designated routes.Self-catered.Sunday, 6th July 2025Early Birds with Altitude surveysCassowary Survey and camera trap retrieval on designated routes.Self-catered.Funded by a <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/funding/community-sustainability" title="https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/funding/community-sustainability" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Qld Government Community Sustainability Action – Threatened Species Grant,</a> <a href="https://www.thewoodsfoundation.org/" title="https://www.thewoodsfoundation.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The Woods Foundation</a>, <a href="https://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/" title="https://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens</a> and the <a href="https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/c7fe6c01-15d1-ec11-a7b6-00224811d503/profile" title="https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/c7fe6c01-15d1-ec11-a7b6-00224811d503/profile" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cornell Family Foundation</a>. Supported by <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/groups/birdlife-townsville/" title="https://birdlife.org.au/groups/birdlife-townsville/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BirdLife Townsville</a>, <a href="https://birdlife.org.au/" title="https://birdlife.org.au/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">BirdLife Australia</a>, <a href="https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/" title="https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service</a>, <a href="https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/nrm-nq-dry-tropics/" title="https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/nrm-nq-dry-tropics/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NQ Dry Tropics NRM</a> and <a href="https://www.girringun.com/" title="https://www.girringun.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Girringun Aboriginal Corporation</a> and thank you to the <a href="https://www.cictownsville.com.au/venues/australia/queensland/townsville/venues-directory/paluma-community-centre/" title="https://www.cictownsville.com.au/venues/australia/queensland/townsville/venues-directory/paluma-community-centre/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Paluma Community Centre</a> for the Friday evening.

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