My Agriculture Class and Our Emu Journey!

[Banaynaychicken]

Okay, I admit that I laughed and laughed over the emus with arms.

Now here’s your homework:

what does ‘vestigial’ mean? And do emus have a vestigial claw tucked under each wing? (Think of the little fore arms of the T. Rexs in Jurassic Park)

And is there a South American bird that can still fly . . . but also still has a functioning claw on the front of each wing?


So, if you get your homework right -- feel free to consult other teachers -- you'll be able to say in class, 'Well actually, guys . . . emus do (sorta) have arms!'

aHA!!

I didnt even have to GOOGL!

Just as there are vestigial organs, there are vestigial, or "useless/serving no purpose" body parts as well.

Emus do in fact have claws!! Little tiny ones on their "wings". (I just call them stubs.....) .

Whales also have something similar, a little "leg" before their flukes, as if they went BACK to the water from land!

As for a bird that flies in regions of South America and has this vestigial little "finger" or "claw", it is called the Hoatzin, stink bird, or Canje Pheasant. Very beautifully colored it almost looks like a Jurassic raptor!!

Homework DONE

*drops mic.*

 

[briefvisit]

A plus!

And your reward is a photo from the gallery:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641934/lightbox/post/9546167/id/5288774

In 2013, I walked a thousand miles while observing rothschildis, sometimes out for four hours a day, sometimes at night, to watch and listen. Although your project is splendid for many reasons, I think you and your class mates would enjoy the 'formal' work. The observation area ultimately extended ten miles wide and three deep, across a range of terrains. You dress appropriately, take sultanas and a cushion and binoculars, and spend sometimes an hour creeping into position. The photo is from the observation area. This low spot was once part of an extensive wetland that the emus certainly lived around.

My rule is: 'Let them come to you.'

Apart from the emus, you get to observe kookaburras, white and red tailed black cockatoos, corellas, kangaroos, snakes, goannas, wild horses, BIG eagles, and other stuff.

The best observations are when they never see you: you're in position when they appear; they mosey past; they mosey out of sight. And my favourite thing is knowing how to find the roosts

Supreme Emu

 

[mich9510]

How are things going with your emooo eggs? I have an emu chick I hatched from an egg named Daryl. Daryl will be 7 weeks old on Wednesday. I'm fairly new to ratites but if you have any questions I'd be happy to share my experience.

Michelle

 

[DoubleB13]

How long do they take to hatch

 

[briefvisit]

nearly eight weeks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/641934/mating-season-in-australia

 

[Banaynaychicken]

How are things going with your emooo eggs? I have an emu chick I hatched from an egg named Daryl. Daryl will be 7 weeks old on Wednesday. I'm fairly new to ratites but if you have any questions I'd be happy to share my experience.

Michelle

We are scheduled to hatch the first weekend after break with our initial egg, and then about 5 days later with the second. We didn't want our little guy to be lonely.

 

[EmuEnthusiest]

I am hatching five emu eggs which all of them together were a whopping $25. Today is day 44 and I am getting excited, When both of ours hatch I hope we can share knowledge about Emu Incubation.

 

[briefvisit]

Would love data from both of you on 'wiggling': a wild male incubating starts getting 'wiggle signals' from the eggs about half way through.

Here is a photo of a wild male and his clutch, passing my garden a few days ago. See how well-developed the toosh feathers of the back chick are?:

 

[Banaynaychicken]

Would love data from both of you on 'wiggling': a wild male incubating starts getting 'wiggle signals' from the eggs about half way through.

Here is a photo of a wild male and his clutch, passing my garden a few days ago. See how well-developed the toosh feathers of the back chick are?:

Very Cute!!

I actually have no idea what a wiggling signal would be!!

I've been away from the eggs for a week as they are incubating at the school, and we are on spring break.

HOWEVER rest assured that our teacher checks in every day.

I would assume the egg doesn't actually wiggle around too much, but enough to show signs of life correct? (I have noticed that the eggs are moving from one west to east in the incubator even though the automatic turner "turns" north to south.)

 

[briefvisit]

Hey, Banaynay. I only have data from BYC incubators -- I've never gone into the bush and tried to stick my hand under a wild male incubating -- but apparently, you should actually see the eggs in the incubator move -- wiggle.

Autumn here now. The Cheepers are hanging out down at the fig tree.

SE