Lost! Read Online Free PDF Page A

Yellow-Spotted Bob Frog!’
    Bindi giggled. ‘Of course you were!’
    Robert scrutinised the man in the red shirt. ‘Are you Jonas?’
    Jonas nodded.
    â€˜Well, everyone’s been looking for you. Come on!’ Robert grabbedhis hand and began leading the limping man through the bush.
    Jonas turned back to Bindi and DJ. ‘Does this small boy know where to go?’
    Robert continued walking, dragging the backpacker with him. ‘I think you’ll find I’m the only one here who didn’t get lost today!’
    Bindi and DJ followed behind, chuckling. Robert had a point!

The next day, having reunited the German tourists, Bindi’s and DJ’s families made their way along the rough dirt path towards the plunge pool at the base of Jim Jim Falls. The last part of the walk was rough going and they needed to carefullypick their way over boulder after boulder. The difficult journey was worth it, as the closer they got to the end of the gorge, the more impressive the view ahead became.
    DJ, Bindi and Robert walked side by side. After the stress of the day before, it was wonderful to take in the beauty of the park without worrying about Jonas. He and Ines were resting up after Jonas got the all clear from the doctor.
    â€˜Wow!’ exclaimed Bindi. ‘This place is awesome!’
    â€˜Pretty cool, huh?’ DJ agreed.
    They turned to look at Robert, who was peering into some nearby bushes.
    â€˜What are you looking for, little buddy?’ asked Bindi.
    DJ smiled. ‘Trying to find another yellow-spotted what’s-a-ma-call-it?’
    Robert looked smug. ‘Nope. Not interested in frogs today. I’m determined to find a Tassie tiger before we leave Kakadu tomorrow.’
    Bindi and DJ laughed. ‘Good luck with that, mate!’ they both called out as they ran towards the beautiful clear blue pool at the bottom of the falls.

    Bindi felt fantastic lying on her back in the cool water. The stress from the day before melted away. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the tranquillity. That is, until it was broken by a loud screech from a familiar cockatoo.
    Bindi opened her eyes and looked up at her majestic friend as he swooped down the gorge and landed in a nearby tree. She looked over at DJ, who winked back at her. It made them feel special to think they were still being watched over by their feathered friend.
    A woman sunning herself nearby on the rocks shook her fist at thenoisy creature. ‘Stupid bird! I can’t hear myself think.’
    Bindi smiled. They were definitely noisy. But cockatoos were also intelligent, mischievous and had heaps of personality. She wouldn’t want to silence them for anything. After all, this one had proved over and over again that he was indeed a guardian of the bush.

ANIMAL FACT FILE
    SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO

    The sulphur-crested cockatoo is probably Australia’s best known parrot. These birds are often kept as pets, as they are extremely intelligent and are very good at learning to talk.
    They can live to be more than 70 years old.
    They grow to about 50 centimetres in length, and weigh 750–950 grams.
    The cockatoo population is widely distributed throughout most types of open-timbered country in northern, eastern and south-western Australia.
    They eat the seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants, grains, bulbous roots, berries, nuts and leaf buds.
    Sulphur-crested cockatoos nest in hollow limbs or holes high up in eucalyptus trees, near water. They breed between August and January in the south and March to September in the north of the country.



Become a
Wildlife Warrior!
    Find out how at
www.wildlifewarriors.org.au

    When out bushwalking,
make sure you stay on
marked walking tracks.