Tooshtoosh Has Brought His Chicks

[briefvisit]

'How long is he off the nest each day?' He isn't! And one of the great successes of this Project is that we have -- 'BYC Mating Season in Australia' -- a complete record of a hatch, probably the first ever.

So, one of The Fuzzy Bits is the 'days of laying,' which lead up to the beginning of incubation. But there is a point at which a male has a pile of big green eggs in front of him, and he settles himself down, and apart from getting up to turn the eggs a number of times a day, he does nothing but sit. Doesn't drink; eat; or poop.

'And will the current chicks all go on their way?' -- eventually yes. But it's another fuzzy zone. We have observed six clutches over thirteen years -- that is, at length here in the house-clearing. We've observed lot of clutches elsewhere.

This ties in with our interest in understanding what constitutes 'maturity.' For example, on a number of occasions, I've observed a female with an entourage of males. One is likely the prospective consort. But sometimes there are birds that I'd guess are quite young males.

Take another perspective on this, Ursuline: imagine that you are going into the Darwinian arena with females like Greedy (the only ever double-alpha female) and Felicity. You start your third year of life in the spring. You are only four or five months beyond your last baby feathers. Now, I've seen Greedy Emu single-handedly attack a mob of twelve emus. If lil ol' you gets in her way, she'll thrash a pillow full of feathers off you in a heartbeat.

So perhaps young birds have a year or two between physical maturity and 'social' maturity?

 

[briefvisit]

'What happens if one of the current chicks decides they want to stay with Dad?' Dad won't let him.

' I wish them a happy Emu life.'
Between them, Eric the Emu and his son Tooshtoosh have brought 23 chicks to the house-clearing. Only four are perhaps now still physically recognisable. But I'd assumed that three -- the 'original chicks' -- were dead because I'd not seem them for years. But about six months ago, after four-and-a-half years of absence, an emu standing quietly out the side of the house turned out to be Felicity. She got a double ration of wheat and some treats. I gave her a big pat.
And a couple of weeks later, she disappeared into the bush again

Supreme Emu

 

[Ursuline Chick]

I find this thread so interesting. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I can't wait to hear the next installment in the lives of these Emus, especially now that I am getting a better understanding of there lives.
I will be following this thread, as I have been.

 

[briefvisit]

We'll finish up here with a Situation Report. Perhaps open a new thread:

Felicity Emu, known since late 2008, and identifiable, was here just some months ago.

Tooshtoosh begins his fourth year next month. He will remain the 'backbone' of the project, as he is the only known male.

The chciks were actually all here yesterday. Limpychick is seriously losing the battle to beat them off: they just ignore her.

LimpyChick is Tooshtoosh's sister, a homebody (injured when Eric and others were killed), may or may have not laid with 'Con' the consort.

The logging on my block is changing my world, but LimpyChick and the chicks are adjusting very well. Trucks rumble past, but they just go on grazing.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

Update

We've lost a chick. Turned up obviously ill one morning. Disappeared. I found its body in the bush the other day. Cause unknown -- but I wish there were not so many chunks of glass and wire all over the countryside.

Meanwhile:

 

[briefvisit]

'OMG OMG -- didn't there used to be trees here?!"

Change is the only constant, readers. The logging of my block is well underway. The chicks have adjusted very well. They don't bolt even when trucks pass by just seventy yards away.

But LimpyChick has got smart, and gone bush.

 

[briefvisit]

The adult here, behind the chicks, is female. She turned up, quietly vocalising and circling the edge of the house-clearing, two days ago. I'm sure she's been here before: really quite tame. Haven't gotten close enough to get a good look. But she's a big bird.

SE

 

[Ursuline Chick]

So sorry to hear of the loss of one of the chicks. I am glad the others are doing well.
Does the sighting of the female mean Tooshtoosh may be ready to leave his chicks and mate again?

 

[briefvisit]

'Does the sighting of the female mean Tooshtoosh may be ready to leave his chicks and mate again?'

Some confusion here. Toooshtoosh left in mid-winter. The chicks stayed, as a unit. The female we sighted was 'random,' though I am almost sure that it has been here before.

SE

 

[kbgh]

Are they clear cutting the trees? If so what are the plans for the barren land? It's a shame they are ruining the natural habitat of the emus. How close to your house are they cutting?