I was recently promoting a series of marathons I was doing in support of an Australian kids charity Bravehearts.
During our fundraising I was referred to as brave on a number of occasions, for committing to multiple long runs.
As I'm not fearful of running far, I didn't view myself as brave. Surely you need to be fearful first, in order to be brave.
So I took on a challenge to promote Bravehearts, in which I truely needed to be brave.
I am Onithophobic. Terrified of Birds!! Yes, that is actually a thing, I have been bird phobic for as long as I can remember.
So I decided to have a bird encounter. Now I don't like to do things by halves, so a budgie (as scary as they are), wouldn't cut it, so I chose the deadliest bird I new of. I would have an up close and personal encounter with a Cassowary.
Okay then...........
I met this creature at Featherdale Wildlife Park, a lovely little Australian native wildlife park, in Western Sydney. If you haven't heard of the Cassowary before, imagine an Emu crossed with a Velociraptor. While they are actually, apparently, a fairly shy creature, they have been know to kill people when they feel threatened. They are fast, and have huge sharp talons.
I took this photo on my Iphone 5. So yes I was that close to it, to be able to get this image on a phone.
This is the image I clicked when it lunged.
I'm not afraid of birds but the bird in your picture really looks like one mean bird not to be messed with. We have a Bird Park in Singapore even where people pay to go see birds.
Love it - but how about those magpies??!!
I try not to think to hard about the magpies, or I have trouble going outside. The native minors are scary, and unassuming dive bombers as well.
They are terrifying!
I think you just discovered some sort of prehistoric dinosaur
Nice portrait
ok this is one crazy shot! whaaaatttt haha