General News
28 November, 2020
Award winning bird
A serendipitous drive through the Tablelands has led to a Far North Queensland Photographer and Bird Guide taking out one of the top awards at the recent 2020 BirdLife Australia Photo Awards.
A serendipitous drive through the Tablelands has led to a Far North Queensland Photographer and Bird Guide taking out one of the top awards at the recent 2020 BirdLife Australia Photo Awards.
In June of this year, Jun Matsui was driving a friend home on the Palmerston highway just out of Millaa Millaa when he spotted a female cassowary on the side of the road. Rather than just driving by he pulled over to get other cars to slow down and hopefully coax the cassowary back into the forest away from the passing cars.
Being an avid bird watcher Jun decided to take some photos just as the cassowary started to preen itself stretching her neck over.
Jun said he was surprised at how beautiful the photo turned out.
“I didn’t want to chase her away, I just wanted to make sure she didn’t get hit by a car,” he said.
"While I waiting she did some preening and eventually disappeared into the forest. Even not showing her face, she's beautiful,’ he said.
Jun won a thousand dollars cash for winning the award for best Bird Portrait and award he has now won twice in a row.
“I also won the award last year for my portrait of a cassowary at Kuranda,” he said.
Jun said he works as a bird tour guide taking people across Far North Queensland introducing them to some of the unique birdlife that live in the tropics.
“I’ve been working as a bird watching tour guide, so I knew that she was very relaxed and not stressed,” Jun said.
“I was just hoping that she would walk back in the forest without being harmed, instead I managed to take this amazing photo.”
To see more Jun’s photos go to www.birder.travel
