Tooshtoosh Has Brought His Chicks

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Update

Tooshtoosh and the Gang of Five are still coming less regularly. Twice I've seen T. peck a chick on the head. And the chicks -- as they have been from a young age -- are getting more and more independent, wandering more 'loosely' about the place.

This morning a wild male with three chicks cruised the fig tree. Does anyone think that the chick closest is larger than the one to its left?

https://imgur.com/Pboswlk

 

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https://imgur.com/a/7yHbPe1

 

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The Divestment has, I think, begun. This morning, one of the chicks squared off against Dad, and he pecked three of them. As noted above, we understand 'divestment' in general principle; but we have never watched it happen. I don't think anyone has ever described the process.

And the three photos?

 

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The one of two chicks with the plate is 2009 -- probably autumn. You can see the fig tree in the background.
The second is 2017. It's Eric's last clutch at the fig tree. One of the chicks in this clutch is Tooshtoosh.
The third is today. Thirteenth year of observing emus at the fig tree. The Dad of the chick in the video is Tooshtoosh, now grown. He is four. This is his first clutch.

 

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Update

Two of the chicks are losing the black-head feathers at the top of their necks. The 'adult pattern' seems to be coming through.

Meanwhile, T. and the Gang of Five remain in a 'loose orbit.' That is, they are definitely still based here. I see them every day or two. But they continue to travel further on their excursions, rather than being regular dawn-and-dusk visitors here, as when they were younger.

 

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https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/watch-this-emu-chick-fronts-up-adult-female.1459011/

 

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Notes forthcoming. But here is LimpyChick, back with a consort. We seen this wonderful business -- seeing a female introduce a consort to the house-clearing -- on perhaps a half a dozen occasions.

One: the Notes will be on the forthcoming turf war.

Two: there is no doubt that the female talks to the consort. He hangs back in the trees, sometimes vocalising, sometimes not. But the female can either urge him forward in a general way, or on one occasion, quite clearly 'order' him to move.

Three: no info on Consort yet. Though he seems a big healthy bird -- alll Eric's family, both males and females, attract fine specimens as mates.

https://imgur.com/FLPrAwZ

 

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As fast as I can type
technical failure!! I had a short clip of a chick running to attack a full-grown female. On its own. No back-up.
Of course, it realised its folly when it got right up close; but it's the best datum yet on this: not a pack attack, but a chick on its own.

A slow-motion turf war is underway. LimpyChick comes and goes with her consort.

 

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The emu sitting is LimpyChick's new consort. No name yet.