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| The Emu, largest bird in Australia
and the second largest bird in the world, can reach a height
of 6 feet and weigh 110 pounds! These large, shaggy birds
have loose double feathers. |
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Skin on the head and neck of
the Emu is often free of feathers and has a bluish tinge.Their
neck and legs are long, but their wings are tiny (8 inches).
After molting they are dark brown, but as the sunlight fades
the the dark color of their new feathers, the birds become
a light brown. Chicks are cream in color with brown longitudinal
stripes and dark dots on head. |
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Emu can be found in mainland Australia.
It is widespread and lives in eucalypt forests, woodlands,
mallees, heathlands and desert shrublands and sandplains.
It is found in desert areas only after heavy rains have caused
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and heavy fruiting of shrubs. The Emu also lives close to
Australia's big cities. |
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| The Emu
eats a very nutritious diet. They take the parts of plants
that have the most nutrients: seeds, fruits, flowers and young
shoots. They also eat insects and small vertebrates when they
are easily available, but in the wild they do not eat dry
grasses or mature leaves even if that's all there is to eat.
Emu swallow large pebbles--up to 1.6 ounces--to help their
gizzards grind up food. They also often eat charcoal. (Perrin
and Middleton, 1985). They must have daily access to fresh
water. |
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In arid Australia, the food
supply in one place can quickly run out and this often means moving
hundreds of miles to find another source of food. The Emu has two
adaptations to this way of life - 1)when food is abundant, an Emu
stores large amounts of fat, and is able to use these while looking
for more food and 2)Emu are only forced to stay in one place when
the male is sitting on eggs. At other times they can move without
limitation.(Perrin and Middleton, 1985). |
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| Mating season begins
in December and January. Emu pair up and the pair stay in
the same territory for at least five months before incubation
begins. The nest is a shallow depression located next to a
bush, made of leaves, grass and bark. It holds 15-25 eggs,
which come from several hens. It is the male that sits on
the nest and incubates the eggs. |
Emu mom and chicks |
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8 week incubation period, the male does not drink, rarely
eats, and loses 10-20 pounds. Once hatched the chicks leave
the nest after 2-3 days. The male guards the chicks for up
to 18 months. Chicks hatched away from the father do not know
how or what to eat. After
5-7 months the parent-young bond breaks down and the male
may then remate for the next season's nesting. At 2-3 years
of age, the young are fully mature and capable of reproduction.
(Perrin and Middleton, 1985; Grzimek, 1972; del Hoyo, Elliot,
and Sargatal, 1992). |
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Some interesting facts about
Emu are:
1. Emu are fast runners and can reach speeds
of up to 40 mph for short bursts. A running bird can make a stride
of nine feet!
2. Emu are expert swimmers!
3. The Emu has been a resident of Australia
for at least 80 million years!
4. Emu have two main calls: a gutteral grunt
and a throbbing drum. The males sometimes make calls which sound
like "e-moo" and can be heard over long distances.
5. When Emu eggs are fresh, they are dark
green, but become almost black with time.
6.The Emu appears on the Australian coat
of arms.
7. Emu were used to model the movement of
the smaller dinosaurs in the movie "Jurassic Park."
8. The Emu is naturally curious and enjoys
pecking gently at shiny and colorful objects.
9. Emu have 3 toes; the underside of each
toe is flattened with a broad pad. |
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