Uncover the mystery: Which bird has these large footprints in the sand?
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The Australian coastline is a treasure trove of natural wonders and mysteries, and every so often, something unusual captures the imagination of locals and nature enthusiasts alike.
This was precisely the case when a Tasmanian resident stumbled upon a series of large, intriguing footprints etched in the sand while enjoying a leisurely stroll along Sisters Beach on the island's northern coastline.
The footprints, roughly the size of a human hand, trailed for an impressive 50 metres along the beach, prompting the beachgoer to snap a photograph and share it with the community in hopes of identifying the mysterious creature responsible.
The image quickly sparked excitement and speculation among Aussies, who took to the internet to voice their theories and guesses.
Many suggestions were tossed around, with guesses ranging from the common to the comical. Geese and swans were among the top contenders.
‘This page was recommended by a friend to help us identify this footprint,’ the beachgoer wrote.
Making a tongue-in-cheek joke, he continued, ‘Whoever made it walked at least 50 metres along the beach. My guess is it's the extremely rare Tasmanian Cassowary.’
The online community's detective work was a mix of earnest sleuthing and light-hearted banter.
'I’d go with Australian Pelican—the lowest print shows webbing,' one local confidently stated.
Another chimed in, 'Someone suggested Cape Barren Goose...I think probably too large for that species.'
And some dared to dream a bit bigger: 'Maybe even an albatross in a rare landing?'
However, the idea of a cassowary taking a beachside promenade in Tasmania was quickly debunked by Dr Eric Woehler of BirdLife Australia.
‘Cassowaries are a tropical bird and they're found in northern Queensland like Cape York, places up there,’ he said.
‘They're not a species that have ever existed in Tasmania.’
Dr Woehler also mentioned the extinct Tasmanian emus, which were a smaller version of the mainland emu and disappeared with the arrival of European settlers in the 1800s.
After examining the photograph, Dr Woehler offered his expert opinion, aligning with many of the online community's guesses.
'You can see the three toes on the foot; the impression is way too big for a gull, and it's unlikely an albatross was walking around the beach. It's almost certainly a pelican.'
The mystery seemed to be resolved when, on Monday morning, 3 June, a pelican was spotted near the boat ramp at Sisters Beach, much to the satisfaction of the curious Aussies who had been following the story.
A walk to the beach can be a relaxing experience, but this experience can turn into something else, especially when curiosity strikes.
In a previous story, a woman came across a large sea snail while visiting the Pallarenda Dog Beach.
It was initially mistaken for a large empty shell until it moved and was identified as a northern snail species. What creature was it? Find out by reading the story here.
Have you ever encountered mysterious animal tracks on your walks along the beach or in the bush? What did you think they were, and did you manage to solve the puzzle? Share your stories with us in the comments below!
This was precisely the case when a Tasmanian resident stumbled upon a series of large, intriguing footprints etched in the sand while enjoying a leisurely stroll along Sisters Beach on the island's northern coastline.
The footprints, roughly the size of a human hand, trailed for an impressive 50 metres along the beach, prompting the beachgoer to snap a photograph and share it with the community in hopes of identifying the mysterious creature responsible.
The image quickly sparked excitement and speculation among Aussies, who took to the internet to voice their theories and guesses.
A Tasmanian resident found footprints as big as his hand and wondered what animal this was. Credit: Facebook
Many suggestions were tossed around, with guesses ranging from the common to the comical. Geese and swans were among the top contenders.
‘This page was recommended by a friend to help us identify this footprint,’ the beachgoer wrote.
Making a tongue-in-cheek joke, he continued, ‘Whoever made it walked at least 50 metres along the beach. My guess is it's the extremely rare Tasmanian Cassowary.’
The online community's detective work was a mix of earnest sleuthing and light-hearted banter.
'I’d go with Australian Pelican—the lowest print shows webbing,' one local confidently stated.
Another chimed in, 'Someone suggested Cape Barren Goose...I think probably too large for that species.'
And some dared to dream a bit bigger: 'Maybe even an albatross in a rare landing?'
However, the idea of a cassowary taking a beachside promenade in Tasmania was quickly debunked by Dr Eric Woehler of BirdLife Australia.
‘Cassowaries are a tropical bird and they're found in northern Queensland like Cape York, places up there,’ he said.
‘They're not a species that have ever existed in Tasmania.’
Dr Woehler also mentioned the extinct Tasmanian emus, which were a smaller version of the mainland emu and disappeared with the arrival of European settlers in the 1800s.
After examining the photograph, Dr Woehler offered his expert opinion, aligning with many of the online community's guesses.
'You can see the three toes on the foot; the impression is way too big for a gull, and it's unlikely an albatross was walking around the beach. It's almost certainly a pelican.'
The mystery seemed to be resolved when, on Monday morning, 3 June, a pelican was spotted near the boat ramp at Sisters Beach, much to the satisfaction of the curious Aussies who had been following the story.
A walk to the beach can be a relaxing experience, but this experience can turn into something else, especially when curiosity strikes.
In a previous story, a woman came across a large sea snail while visiting the Pallarenda Dog Beach.
It was initially mistaken for a large empty shell until it moved and was identified as a northern snail species. What creature was it? Find out by reading the story here.
