Ride 'em, Toady!!

Cane toads are everywhere in Queensland and they are slowly making their way to every corner of Australia. They have now been found in Sydney and Perth (presumably they hitched a ride on a truck or train). They were introduced as a biological control for cane beetles, but soon became a pest themselves, competing with native frogs for the same food. People have various methods of 'controlling' them, including using them in games of backyard cricket, but I think that is cruel (they can't help being successful). The pic above is one we bought at the markets a few years ago. They remove the innards and laquer them so they go hard and then mount them in various poses. This guy rode the prairie for several years, until his leg broke off.

Ah, Toady! You lived hard and died young! (or is that lived young and died hard?).

It's not easy being green

Another example of Queensland wildlife that bites back ... green ants, also known as weaver ants, because they weave leaves together to make their nests. The Aboriginals call them 'sugar ants' because their rear ends contain a sweet syrupy substance. The Aboriginals bite their rear ends off literally and eat them. I suppose it's a natural source of energy and according to bush tucker experts, it's a great panacea for colds and sore throats too. Some people have even been known to make green ant lemonade (hmmm).You wouldn't want to bite the wrong end of one these guys though, as green ants can deliver a nasty bite, spraying formic acid into the wound. I guess I would too if someone was treating me like an M&M.

Thunder down under

This is the time of year in tropical Queensland when the poinciana or flame trees begin to flower. They go from green to brilliant red overnight and they are supposed to signal the start of the wet season. No rain on the radar for a week or so yet, so maybe they're out of whack, just like everything else weather-related around here at the moment. I do have a few twinges in my gammy leg though, so maybe the monsoon's not too far away. They are predicting more severe flooding than usual this year and at least six cyclones (along with the usual 33 degree heat and 90% humidity), so we are bracing ourselves for another summer from hell.

Family portrait

Snapped this at Townsville's Cultural Festival a few years ago. Even though you can't see their faces (I am assuming they are mother and son, but they could be a couple), there is something just plain nice about this little group. They seem completely in harmony with one another. Everything from the relaxed attitude of the birds to the woman's 'galah' coloured scarf says what a neat little family group they are. And yes, the birds are tethered, but they don't seem to mind. This is one of my favourite pics, because it gives me the warm and fuzzies every time I come across it.

Paradise lost?

A top spot in a great part of the world ... the Picnic Bay jetty on Magnetic Island has a special place in the hearts of North Queenslanders.
Built in 1959, it was used by the ferry to bring tourists from the mainland. But when a new ferry terminal was built in Nelly Bay, the people all went away and Picnic Bay jetty was left to the fishermen and seagulls. It continued to provide a tranquil piece of paradise for the locals until it was badly damaged in cyclone Yasi and now it lies in ruins, with the government reluctant to spend the money on its repair. Would be a shame to see it go, as it sums up what Magnetic Island is all about ... kicking back and getting away from it all.

Deadly anniversary

Hard to believe it's been six months since cyclone Yasi bulldozed its way across North Queensland. Seems like yesterday we were emerging from our front door in the morning light and surveying the destruction all around. It was like walking onto a battle field after the fighting has passed. You could still hear the roar in the distance and the ground was littered with leaves, debris and severed tree limbs. It was the longest night of our lives (Yasi was about 100 kilometres wide and took some ten or twelve hours to fully pass over us) and we were the lucky ones. North of us in Innisfail and Cardwell, they are still rebuilding even now. Amazingly enough, the only casualty from cyclone Yasi was a young guy who died from asphxiation after running a generator indoors. That night was as close as I ever want to come to Mother Nature's destructive fury. We have resolved to get out early if there is ever a next time.