- Jun 8, 2010
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There were six emus for breakfast this morning, except one of them is a sheep named 'Victa.' (Only Australians will appreciate this joke. We have a brand of lawnmower called 'Victa.') The two emu-emu visitors were Eric the Emu and Mrs. Eric. Eric has changed the pecking-order: he was, until recently, subordinate to Greedy, my alpha emu; but he has reclaimed top status. I fuel the discord with a teacup of wheat. I throw the wheat down near the fig trees, and sit on the ground hard by, with my mobile phone camera at the ready, and wait. So far, I haven't got the best action on video; but I should soon (and can perhaps have it transferred to Youtube). Greedy attacks Eric, who knocks chunks of feathers off him quite literally. Greedy then goes and bullies Felicity. Felicity then goes and bullies Number One. Number One then goes into the back yard a sanctuary from Eric and tries to bully Victa the sheep, who has no idea what's going on, and just wants to be left alone to chew his grass. Number One approaches Victa with feathers flared, walking sideways and grunting. Victa goes, 'BAAAAA!!' and Number One runs away.
Mrs. Eric lurks on the edge of the gums until the fracas is done, then comes and shares the wheat with Eric.
Update: just yesterday, readers, I had one of the most interesting experiences in nearly three years at the farmhouse:
I heard the serious gluk gluk glukking that indicates that my birds have spotted foreign emus. I managed to sneak out to the back step without being seen. An adult emu with five chicks came into the house-clearing from the East, an absolute first: chicks usually just lurk in the gums on the North, where the fig trees are, while the adult scoffs figs. This time they came into the open, and started eating some wheat on the ground, and scratching their tushes. I have had a single chick come that close, but never a clutch. They are still under a metre (I know which clutch they are. Ive seen them at a distance a number of times.), and at the just-post-downy stage, still dark and downy on their necks, but with well-developed tail feathers. They had no idea I was there, and even played a little in the sunshine.
Meanwhile, Eric the Emu, a semi-wild emu, was jumping up into the peach tree to knock down peaches, which he then scoffs. (Ive seen him swallow a peach bigger than a golf ball, and his eyes bugged out of his head as he worked it down.) Altogether, there were my three birds, their two parents, the adult and five chicks, and a cousin lurking on the edge of the gums twelve emus!
Felicity has developed a daring technique for confronting foreign emus: when foreign emus hove into sight, my three birds go to Full Fussing Mode feather-flaring, glukking, sideways-walking and sometimes scrap with the interlopers, sometimes not. Felicity has adopted the technique of coming into the backyard, safe behind a barbed-wire fence, and doing her threatening from there. What a sook!
Supreme Emu
Rocky Gully, W.A.
Mrs. Eric lurks on the edge of the gums until the fracas is done, then comes and shares the wheat with Eric.
Update: just yesterday, readers, I had one of the most interesting experiences in nearly three years at the farmhouse:
I heard the serious gluk gluk glukking that indicates that my birds have spotted foreign emus. I managed to sneak out to the back step without being seen. An adult emu with five chicks came into the house-clearing from the East, an absolute first: chicks usually just lurk in the gums on the North, where the fig trees are, while the adult scoffs figs. This time they came into the open, and started eating some wheat on the ground, and scratching their tushes. I have had a single chick come that close, but never a clutch. They are still under a metre (I know which clutch they are. Ive seen them at a distance a number of times.), and at the just-post-downy stage, still dark and downy on their necks, but with well-developed tail feathers. They had no idea I was there, and even played a little in the sunshine.
Meanwhile, Eric the Emu, a semi-wild emu, was jumping up into the peach tree to knock down peaches, which he then scoffs. (Ive seen him swallow a peach bigger than a golf ball, and his eyes bugged out of his head as he worked it down.) Altogether, there were my three birds, their two parents, the adult and five chicks, and a cousin lurking on the edge of the gums twelve emus!
Felicity has developed a daring technique for confronting foreign emus: when foreign emus hove into sight, my three birds go to Full Fussing Mode feather-flaring, glukking, sideways-walking and sometimes scrap with the interlopers, sometimes not. Felicity has adopted the technique of coming into the backyard, safe behind a barbed-wire fence, and doing her threatening from there. What a sook!
Supreme Emu
Rocky Gully, W.A.
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