JUMPING CROCS and FLYING KITES

27^th August, 2012

And we’re off again!  This time we are heading south for a short distance and then turn east towards Kakadu. We take a detour at the Adelaide River to visit the Window on the Wetlands visitor centre where the ecology of the wetlands is displayed in informative panels.  As we continue towards the river we spot a large flock of pelicans hunting for fish. 

Pelican Ballet

They are paddling around, dipping their beaks in the water, paddling again and repeating everything in complete synchronisation.  It’s like watching a perfectly orchestrated ballet on water.  Not far from the pelican ballet is the stepping off point for the …… wait for it …….. SPECTACULAR JUMPING CROCODILE CRUISE.  There are several jumping crocodile cruises operating on the Adelaide River and last time around we decided against seeing this tourist icon as we thought that the operators were training the crocodiles to jump and didn’t believe we should support this sort of venture.  After much debate and actual observations of crocodiles in the wild it has now been proven that crocodiles can and do jump from the water when they are after prey.  Birds sitting on tree branches hanging over the water are prone to getting a nasty surprise as are fishermen and tourists who think they are out of harm’s way standing high up on a river bank.  We know we have arrived at the croc cruise when we spot a rather large fibreglass croc outside a bungalow beside the river.

Who's a pretty boy then?

It’s only a short time before the next cruise goes and while waiting we read about all the croc attacks that have taken place in the top end over the last few decades.  Probably not the best thing to read when heading out on a croc cruise.  We make our way down the gangplank to what we think is our tour boat

Nice boat eh?  Well our boat is on the other side of this boat ...

only to find that our boat is moored on the other side and is about a quarter of the size of the big boat.  Well we did say that we wanted to get a really good view of the crocs!  No sooner had we pulled away from the dock than a large croc swam towards us.

Here he comes ....

Our tour guide/boat operator explained that he had been operating the croc tour for nearly thirty years and the crocs now know the sound of the boats that feed them and if they are hungry they swim towards the boat as it comes down the river.  We’re sure that all the other boaties on the river are pleased to know that the crocs can tell the difference between their boat and the boat that feeds them.  This 3.5 metre male croc seems to be really intent on getting a feed and even follows the boat to shore where our croc feeder dangles a piece of meat on a really long stick over the front of the boat.

Coming around the front of the boat ....

That doesn’t work as our big croc gets very territorial and chases a smaller croc away that was trying to sneak up on the other side of the boat so we putter back out into the middle of the river.  Once our big croc was happy that the smaller croc was no threat he swam back out to us and checked out the tasty meat morsel that was being offered.

Mmmmmmm!  Yummy meat on a rope ...

Then with a flick of his tail he propelled himself into the air with jaws open.

Up Up and Away ...

He missed on his first attempt but the second attempt was more successful.

Ahhhh!   Got it  .....

It was amazing to see the croc launch itself out of the water with just the energy created from its tail.  His whole body was clear of the water except for the tail.  Once he had his dinner he slowly swam back to the river bank and we continued down the river.  Our next ‘saltie’ didn’t take long to appear.  He had been lying up on the river bank buried in the mud and was still caked in it.

OK - You wouldn't look good either if you were covered in mud!

This croc was about 4 metres and had a few goes at the bait.

Whoops - missed!

Finally he managed to get a really good leap in and got his reward.

My right side is better for a profile shot ...

As our boat cruised down the river our tour guide gave us lots of interesting information about the ‘salties’.  Several crocs approached the boat and a couple of them jumped for their dinner.  If they don’t jump the croc feeder will not let them have a free meal.  The last croc was a large 4.5 metre male that followed the boat to the river bank.  In the water you only see part of the head, back and tail but out of the water there is no hiding their amazing size.

Mud is really good for the complexion ...

The croc seemed hungry but then he by-passed the bait

Hmmm .... human smorgasbord

and started to eyeball the passengers.  It was a spooky feeling as he stared at each passenger in turn on that side of the boat and you just knew he was sizing you up as a prospective meal.  Luckily for us it was time to turn around and make our way back up river.  Along the way our croc feeder turned into a bird feeder.

Coming down for a feed ...

As we motored along a bunch of ‘whistling kites’ flew beside the boat and swooped on the morsels of food that was thrown to them.

Lining up ...

These birds have such marvellous control when they fly

Complete control ...

and although we nearly always see them hunting for prey ahead of brush fires or taking advantage of road kill it was great to see them flying beside us.

Whistling Kite in action

Two hours later we were back at the dock and Wok couldn’t resist hamming it up with the fibreglass croc.

Faster Wok  ... Faster ....

We’d had a wonderful time on the jumping crocodile cruise.  The name definitely says it all – SPECTACULAR!