Wild Emus at The Lilly Pilly Tree

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Last night, we heard two females vocalizing. One was the one we assume is Offsider: ‘jumbled’ and fairly quiet. The second was quite like the normal early-hours vocalization of a female in residence: a string of booms. Not quite loud, but much louder than Offsider’s efforts.



Were ‘they’ both Offsider? Did another female roll up at dusk, and roost? Was it Undersized Emu?



Stay tuned, readers.

 

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https://imgur.com/faWa0TB

I don't even remember this. But it's Toosh Toosh's first clutch -- five chicks. Remember we were talking about the vigilance of Dads? Watch Toosh Toosh in this clip.

 

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https://imgur.com/GFtw9Co

 

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So, Undersized Emu? We recall that it was here about a year ago, in the company of a similarly-undersized emu.

Now look at this old clip above. It's another emu. We guess the clip was taken late in (a wet) spring -- it's not well into autumn because the chick would be adult.

But is it a chick? this undersized emu? Well, you can hear it cheep.

So, its black-head pin feathers and its cheeping tell us it's a chick; but look at its plumage!! It's the plumage of an adult emu!

????????

SE

 

[AntiqueB]

It's tiny.

Wouldn't it be odd for a chick to be with so many large adults?

 

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Yes. You can see the adults give it a few half-hearted swipes.

 

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Lots going on here.



Firstly, two days of pouring autumn/winter rain.

Secondly, we think that Undersized Emu is female. It was certainly making female-ey noises yesterday morning! (But The Old Guy here is reluctant to make a call on this until he is way sure!)



Finally, last night, two female emus, presumably Offsider Emu and Undersized Emu, vocalized at astonishing length. Indeed, on and off from last light until first.



About 99% of the vocalisations were, we think, Offsider – ‘jumbled.’ But interspersed were occasional classical booms. About half strength.

 

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Now, what follows is Wild Conjecture, and nothing more:

is it possible that Undersized Emu's 'entering the arena,' so to speak, has sparked a turf war? It's getting close to the right time of year.

Perhaps until now, Undersized Emu has just been an annoyance to Limpy Chick and Offsider. But if last night's amazingly lengthy vocalisations were in fact Offsider, then perhaps she's begun to tres actively secure her and L.C.'s territory for breeding -- ??

SE

 

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Vocalisations were back to normal last night. That is, a bit of ‘jumbled’ (Offsider) but no provocative booming from The Other Female.



And the other female is almost certainly Undersized Emu.



So, at first light, Offsider began making what we recognize as mating vocalisations, and plonked down on the ground with her tail high in the air. There’s no doubt that a mating was about to take place. The Undersized Emu made what we’re almost certain was a couple of ‘booms.’



Offsider forgot about mating, and got up to confront U.E.



It was a nice lesson in emu language. There were four or five forms of vocalization being provided by the three emus present. Two of these – the mating invitation and a female boom – we recognised. But the others?



Nb: dawn observations will end very very shortly. The Old Guy Here is struggling to be out in the cold of the garden at dawn. We are now definitely in the winter half of autumn, not the summer half.

 

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Dad has cut The Cheeky Chicks lose! Photos later.