Additional Information

Southern Cassowary – Photographing this bird was a game of hide and seeks.  One moment it was there and the next gone, disappearing into the dense foliage almost invisible despite its distinctive colouring.  Finally it emerged, responding to the clicking of the camera to stare me down. 

A Limited Edition Print (25) fine art photograph by Elizabeth McNamee.

Typically, all cassowaries are shy birds that are found in the deep forest. They are adept at disappearing long before a human knows they were there.  The calls of the Southern Cassowary consist of an assortment of rumblings and grunts. These calls are often heard long before the bird is seen, and are usually given in response to the sight of potential danger.

There is no mistaking the cassowary for any other bird. With glossy black plumage, a purple and blue neck and red wattles, its head crowned with a distinctive helmet, this bird is a survivor. It is an evolutionary relic, having first appeared millions of years ago, and is believed by some to be the closest living relative to dinosaurs. The southern cassowary is endangered in Queensland and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It’s well known that cassowaries can be dangerous, and indeed together with ostriches they are the only birds known to have killed humans.

The female Southern Cassowary selects a male to breed with and then lays a clutch of large green eggs in a scrape in the ground lined with plant material. Once the eggs are laid, the male is left in charge of the incubation and chick-rearing duties.

The unique story surrounding each animal portrait comes with the print.

These Fine Art Giclee Prints are printed using archival pigment inks and made using 100% cotton, museum grade, archival quality 330gms paper with an ultra-smooth finish which is acid, lignin and chloride free with ph buffering for superb durability and print stability.  It has a bright white surface that delivers a high D-max and wide colour gamut suitable for fine art prints with a print life of at least 75 years if cared for and displayed correctly.  It is recommended that these prints are professionally framed.

All are under copyright.  They are original photographs by the artist.  They are offered in limited edition of 25 per print size, all are signed on the front and numbered.  They are hand signed and numbered on the back and come with a certificate of authenticity.  These prints are supplied unframed and without a mat.  They are posted in a thick protective tube rolled within Archival quality photo tissue for protection.  All purchases of these fine art photographic works are printed on order, please adjust delivery time frame by 10 days to accommodate the custom printing process.