Twelfth Year of Emooz and Autumn Figs

[briefvisit]

Whooo!

Tooshtoosh came home, after just two days away, with a female in tow. (It usually works the other way around: female brings male).

So, Tooshtoosh is in the house-clearing. And here is the new female, quietly skirting the clearing, trying to figure it all out (right in the middle, just for a second, about five yards into the trees)

https://i.imgur.com/HgsQ56O.mp4

And here is Limpychick (female), who currently 'commands' the house-clearing (though she has no consort):

https://i.imgur.com/Mr1vWGq.mp4

Limpychick is 'operating' against the intruder. She has no intention of letting a breeding-pair set up shop. She doesn't care that Tooshtoosh is her brother.

And meanwhile, these are the first real observations for years. It's fine to lie in the autumn sunshine, and listen to the vocalisations.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

Okay, so Limpychick the female, and Tooshtoosh the male are still here. They seem stuck. Limpychick is doin' territorial stuff, but has no consort. Tooshtoosh came back with a female, who hasn't stuck about, and is now back to mooning about the house-clearing -- which is reasonable, as its fig season.

 

[briefvisit]

https://i.imgur.com/4s0c4Nl.mp4

Still puddling along with spazzy-dance footage -- but no matter how bad the footage, it is unique.

So, I was juggling camera and coffee at first light when L. and T. came through on their spazzy-dance run. Probably ran 400 yards.

 

[briefvisit]

This is the third year that L. and T. have got to finish off the cherry tomatoes, as chick, then as yearlings, and this year as young adults:

https://i.imgur.com/Zy8lQOF.mp4

 

[briefvisit]

https://i.imgur.com/f41Lf6b.mp4

The bird closest is Limpychick, the ‘resident’ female. The two behind are Tooshtoosh and his prospective mate.

So you see here one of a million types of ‘operating.’ In this case, the intruder female sized up Limpychick; decided she was a light weight; and simply walked up to the wheat, and began eating. That is, the intruder is operating against the home team.

On her part, Limpychick makes a bit of fuss with her feathers, and she is vocalizing – but she is retreating: absolutely unprepared to tackle the intruder.

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/2PrmcHU

Finally, this is the real thing. L. and T. just burst into spazzy dance in front of me at first light.

You see they run off at the end of the clip. They ran easily 4-600 yards; didn't get back for five minutes, arriving from the far side of the clearing

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

LOL great thread. I would love to raise these some day. They seem to be so good to be around and my wife swears their oil cured her Eczema.

 

[briefvisit]

https://i.imgur.com/ma3sy0Q.mp4

Whoops! Back to front: this is the Limpychick running at the end of the spazzy dance that starts below

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/2PrmcHU

I've never found footage of a wild emu dancing at dawn. So I understand this is a first. Please pardon the quality: it's first light

 

[drumstick diva]

I can sympathize with Limpychick. I don't have a limp but no consort either