Wild Emus at The Lilly Pilly Tree

[briefvisit]

This shot shows you the ‘sort of mohawk’ by which GB Emu is most easily identifiable:

https://imgur.com/deQwLOX

 

[briefvisit]

It’s always fun watching the would-be consorts. GB’s would-be is remarkably shy. Runs like mad and hides in the gum trees when I appear. But yesterday I put GB’s wheat further out, and just waited. This is a wild emu having his very first grains of wheat:

https://imgur.com/Wg3HXWm

 

[briefvisit]

GB Emu and Offsider are here. So, yesterday afternoon, was – I think it’s her – the wild female. She stepped into the house-clearing, and grazed in the same spot for over a half an hour. Here she is:

https://imgur.com/mMvtkED

And we now start a Noo Project. There are wonderful photos on my tablet, and it’s time to get them out into the world.



So today (if I can figure it out):

https://imgur.com/CX5HKqg

Hmmm . . . not very clear. It's Dad Plus at the plum tree.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

GB Emu’s consort is not getting much tamer. He still bolts when I appear. But he does sneak in for a little wheat when I am not around.



Here is GB patrolling her perimeter. Through my backyard. Past my kitchen window:

https://imgur.com/wYV7R4P

SE

 

[briefvisit]

Oooh! And here is one of those old photos I promised:

https://imgur.com/FFlQLMY

It's Eric The (Legendary) Emu with a clutch of nine. They also just came past the kitchen window.

You can see the fence around the tomatos: the chicks haven't learned The Rule About Not Eating My Garden.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

OMG OMG This clip has never been uploaded. It is maybe eight or ten years old:

https://imgur.com/wlwtB0s

Stopping and starting the video with one hand was a trial.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/4niRgkt

This is random.

One turns off the pump when one goes to town. You open the lid of the pump box; shove your hand in; and switch it off.

Luckily on this day I saw the snake go into the box. And the switching-off-the-pump protocol now includes checking for snakes before you put your arm in.

Oh. It's this guy. Tiger snake. Seriously dangerous character.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

Well, I’ll take a little break: it’s very quiet on BYC here at present.

GB Emu is young. We don’t know about ‘Consort.’ They aren’t really a breeding-pair because that season is months and months away. But . . . they seem to be.



Meantime, there hasn’t been any ‘outside interference’ from That Other Female. So GB Emu and Consort have been enjoying spring, with the entire house-clearing to themselves.

Consort comes closer every day: I put their bit of wheat closer each day.



SE

 

[briefvisit]

No apologies for the video. So, at dawn this morning, both GB Emu and another female (on the opposite side of the house-clearing) were vocalizing.



GB Emu and Consort Emu came out. I threw down some wheat. Consort is much less panicked by my presence – he is becoming a little tame.



Then the stranger female emerged. She didn’t front up GB and Consort, but had a quiet little graze on the edge of the clearing.



A few minutes later, GB decided to drive her off; and here’s the interesting bit: Consort participated. The emu you see running left on the clip is not GB attacking the interloper, it’s Consort.



SE

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/LuGYnet