- Nov 9, 2013
- 2,028
- 2,682
- 351
We only have an inkling of what’s going on because we observed Felicity and Noddy Big Ears fight Greedy about five years ago.
Here’s the present state:
Limpychick, a young female without a consort, semi-dominates the house-clearing. But her brother, Tooshtoosh, has a consort! And for about three weeks, T. and Mrs. T. have jockeyed for position againt L.
Now, détente is possible. It has happened before. Tooshtoosh lost a half a pillow-full of feathers last week in a stoush with Limpychick on the very edge of the clearing. And three days later, again stood up to her – but on the very edge of the clearing.
And T. and Mrs. T. are down to the wire. Mid-winter day – we have several observations of this – is the day that the male disappears, to incubate. And that’s only a fortnight away. Both of them should be fit enough, fat enough, to launch the process. But only just: it’s been a poor autumn – that’s why the Dad with the chicks has kept those chicks: hard seasons.
Please feel free to come and observe. It’s hard work. In ten years, we’ve only seen two ‘nest-building trysts.’ And from experience we know that a male sitting perfectly still in the gum trees is very very hard to spot.
Wild Guess?
For ten days more or so, I’ll be able to sneak a ration of wheat to T. and Mrs. T. if I see them.
There is another large pasture just a hundred yards away. They’ll likely maintain a guerilla conflict on the edge of the house-clearing/‘backing on’ to the pasture behind.
Then one morning they won’t turn up. Mrs. Tooshtoosh won’t come for wheat independently. She’s not tame enough. And Tooshtoosh himself will be sitting.
[We got one sighting of Noddy Big Ears after the hatch, about twenty yards from the nest, with a clutch of about six chicks.]
Supreme Emu, Lake Muir. W.A.
Here’s the present state:
Limpychick, a young female without a consort, semi-dominates the house-clearing. But her brother, Tooshtoosh, has a consort! And for about three weeks, T. and Mrs. T. have jockeyed for position againt L.
Now, détente is possible. It has happened before. Tooshtoosh lost a half a pillow-full of feathers last week in a stoush with Limpychick on the very edge of the clearing. And three days later, again stood up to her – but on the very edge of the clearing.
And T. and Mrs. T. are down to the wire. Mid-winter day – we have several observations of this – is the day that the male disappears, to incubate. And that’s only a fortnight away. Both of them should be fit enough, fat enough, to launch the process. But only just: it’s been a poor autumn – that’s why the Dad with the chicks has kept those chicks: hard seasons.
Please feel free to come and observe. It’s hard work. In ten years, we’ve only seen two ‘nest-building trysts.’ And from experience we know that a male sitting perfectly still in the gum trees is very very hard to spot.
Wild Guess?
For ten days more or so, I’ll be able to sneak a ration of wheat to T. and Mrs. T. if I see them.
There is another large pasture just a hundred yards away. They’ll likely maintain a guerilla conflict on the edge of the house-clearing/‘backing on’ to the pasture behind.
Then one morning they won’t turn up. Mrs. Tooshtoosh won’t come for wheat independently. She’s not tame enough. And Tooshtoosh himself will be sitting.
[We got one sighting of Noddy Big Ears after the hatch, about twenty yards from the nest, with a clutch of about six chicks.]
Supreme Emu, Lake Muir. W.A.