Wild Emus at The Lilly Pilly Tree

[Evadig]

There is autumn in the dawn air.

Already? Here I do not even scent spring!

 

[briefvisit]

‘Do you often see emus like LC and Offsider who seemingly pair up, but do not produce chicks?’



Well, first: we don’t know that LC and Offsider won’t breed because it’s still months to breeding time. LC and Offsider are unusual in that they formed a pair so very early.



And otherwise? Well, here is what we know, Antique:



if a Planet Rothschildi female brings her consort here and breeds, which has only happened two times in 17 years, we know that a pair bred. If a Planet Rothschildi male brings his chicks here on the Tour of Life, then we know that a pair bred – but we don’t know the female because the breeding/incubation happened elsewhere.



Otherwise, over the years we have seen quite a lot of prospective consorts come and go – that is, a female brings them here. Then the pair usually just go bush again. Sometimes the male doesn’t make the grade, and leaves.



[We had one rejected male come back one time, in company with a female. It was just fortunate that the male in question had distinctive markings, and was recognised months later: Speckles and Mrs. Speckles.]



So once again, the situation is insufficient data.

Years ago, we took a wild wild guess at how many emus – male, female, chicks – might be on this property at any given time. And what we determined is that we don’t know. We know that there are emus in this district – we see them regularly. We know that they breed – we see Dads with their clutches. We know a good deal about territorial behaviour and mating – these things we can learn about from our observations. But total numbers, and cohorts thereof, no.

 

[briefvisit]

‘Already? Here I do not even scent spring!’

I was unsure about posting this, Evadig -- it’s in the 90’s today. But dawn is later now. And it is cool in the garden at dawn. (I planted pea seeds yesterday.)

 

[briefvisit]

The chicks were here yesterday, and we noticed that they came into the house-clearing 40 yards ahead of their Dad. They themselves were in a quite tight little unit, but clearly comfortable to be well ahead of Dad.

SE

 

[briefvisit]

Two trees now have 'autumn leaves.' Mornings are cool.

But Dad is still with his Chicks??

 

[AntiqueB]

Think they're going for three years together?

 

[briefvisit]

'Think they're going for three years together?'

Good observation this morning. (Fine fine autumn morning in the garden.) Photos and notes later.

Third year together? Well, I wonder if we need a new category here, if we are observing something we have no experience of.

 

[briefvisit]

https://imgur.com/6951Ep0

 

[briefvisit]

Whether the Chicks stay with their Dad or not, it’s fig time (for emus – no ripe ones yet); and the home-team breeding-pair has finished its wheat, and is moving down to drive the Cheeky Chicks away from the figs.

 

[briefvisit]

And:

only one chick was cheeping this morning. And I can identify one of the chicks, which is less 'sandy' than the others.