Page 13 - Tropic Magazine Issue 11

Tropic
In season

In season

Tropic’s expert guide to
the best of TNQ nature
this April and May.

Words Nicky Horstmann
Birds/ Figbirds in full song Sphecotheres vieilloti
No one can argue that life in the wet
tropics lacks sensory stimulation. If it’s Plants/ Pepper of significance
not the ever-present feel of moisture Figbirds provide an important service to the
clinging to the skin or the perfect environment. They spread seeds. One plant
fragrance of flowering frangipanis that that benefits from this is the Common
reminds us of how special our region is, Pepper vine (Piper caninum). Closely related
then the sounds of our backyards and to the pepper we might grind over our meals,
forests certainly will. Who can forget the this vine can be found climbing up trees in
frog chorus after rain, or the electric and the rainforest, in swampy areas, or
persistent drone of cicadas in the bush? sometimes creeping over the ground.
Similarly, the days when trees appear to Indeed, it can appear quite regularly in your
come alive with the loud, cheerful garden, courtesy of a generous figbird. It’s
clamour of birds happily feasting. the fruit of this vine that draws your
Figbirds (Sphecotheres vieilloti) are attention - spikes of orange berries do stand
frequently the cause of radio and TV out. Scientifically, the Common Pepper vine
volumes being adjusted upwards during excites great interest as it has been found to
the day. Their excited screeching will last contain several different chemicals that
as long as the tree presents them with the could be of real medical significance. My favourite place is North
berries or figs that they so desire. The Go the Wet Tropics! Queensland. It has for a
figbird’s gregarious habit sees flocks of naturalist everything. It has an
20 or more gorging (and nesting)
together. amazing rainforest which is
The male northern figbird is easily quite unlike any other
distinguished. His back is olive green, his rainforest in the world. Not
front yellow and his head is black
featuring a pink to red skin patch around only does it have that but down
the eye. The females, however, are a on the coast it has the Great
duller brown with streaky underparts and Barrier Reef.
are more likely to be ‘identified’ by the
company that they keep! Piper caninum Sir David Attenborough

Rusty’s Markets: Orchid encounters
April and May heralds a renewed interest in all form of Cooktown Orchids, Queensland’s
things culinary as the variety of locally grown floral emblem. Make sure that you check out
vegetables expands. What can be better? As the the orchid growers’ stalls for these lilac
weather cools a little, cooking delicious meals beauties and then suffer the agony of trying to
becomes a more desirable activity and decide which one is coming home with you.
shopping trips to Rusty’s Markets can provide
a main course of inspiration, along with a side MORE: rustysmarkets.com.au
of patriotism. The patriotism comes in the