Autumn

March

Saltwater Crocodile - Crocodile hatchlings appear during March, the mother sometimes helps to dig out the hatching young, carrying them down to the relative safety of the water. Incubation temperatures in the nest will determine the gender of the offspring. Nest temperatures of 32-33°C will result in males, anything warmer or cooler produces females. Temperatures typically vary from the top of a nest to the bottom, producing both genders. A difference of 0.5 - 1ºC in incubation temperature results in markedly different sex ratios.

April

Daintree Rainforest Flowering Sequence – April sees the start of a sequence of Daintree Rainforest plant species ready to flower, (subject to seasonal conditions) both the Blackbean and Black Wattle can be seen flowering during this time. The World Heritage Rainforest is home to one of the highest populations of primitive flowering plants in the world, 12 of the 19 primitive species are found here.

Black-necked Stork - When looking for a mate, the male constructs a nest to try to attract a female. Breeding pairs stay together for a number of years, sometimes even for life. When the young hatch, they are naked and helpless and are taken care of by both parents for several weeks.

May

Barramundi Season –The Barramundi Season runs between February and October. Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites, they start life as males, reaching maturity at around 3 to 4 years of age and later change gender and become females, usually at around age 5. The female produce large numbers of small, non-adhesive, pelagic eggs between 0.6 mm and 0.9 mm in diameter (one 22 Kg female was recorded as having 17 million eggs). The Barramundi are carnivores, feeding mainly on smaller fish as well as crustaceans. Highly prized by anglers for their fighting ability, barramundi are reputed to be good at avoiding fixed nets and best caught on lines with fishing lures, this fish has gained a reputation as one of Australia's finest eating fish.