Wild Emus at The Lilly Pilly Tree

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'Perhaps he is still young.'

Don't know.

Spent a half hour at dawn watching Bush and Haystack. They arrived early early, and pecked up every every grain of wheat.

And Limpy Chick? Well, if he's out there, he's about half way through, and is getting cheeps and wiggles from his eggs.

 

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https://vimeo.com/1096453458/ca05c41d9b?ts=0&share=copy

This was taken about ten days ago, while we were off-line.

 

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While observing at dusk, I saw Undersized Emu approaching at a run. And to my surprise, there was a mob of emus behind here. It was Bush and Haystack and U.E.’s consort and three of The Cheeky Chicks.



We have no idea what is going on. Indeed, this year’s observations have been the least usual in a long time.



So, Bush and Haystack? They seem to be a ‘breeding-pair’ in the sense that they are a male and a female that get about together. Is it possible that they have fought for and command a nearby pasture? And have just somehow figured out the wheat thing here?

This would account for them turning up each morning, but having no interest in commanding the house-clearing.

 

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What about U.E. and her consort? They definitely have a bigger ‘orbit,’ or they would be turning up here more often. So: a breeding-pair, in orbit in this district for months. Let’s wait and see.



The Cheeky Chicks? These guys make more sense to us. Their Dad cut them loose some weeks ago. One of the four comes and goes. The other three are sensibly staying together through their second winter. They are too young and scrawny to pose a threat to anyone much, so they usually get left alone.



Note: still figuring out how to post photos on my new computer.



Note: all seven turned up here for breakfast this morning.

 

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https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1096455564/f6d2da7db2

Quite random: White-Tailed Black Cockatoos.

 

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Friday back from town. Supreme Emu plus beer:



Bush and Haystack here at first first light. U.E. and consort here later.



Still struggling with videos on Windows 11



This morning, went out and checked two nearby pastures, pastures that perhaps U.E. and consort, or Bush and Haystack, command. They are both crappy, and no visible poop.



But there are a lot of pastures, so here is Krazee Theory Num. 1:



Matings are due any moment now. We have two of what we think are breeding pairs: U.E. and consort, and Bush and Haystack. They show no interest in taking control of the house-clearing here, but are they in command of nearby pastures? They were perhaps fighting to secure (less desirable nearby) pastures while Limpy Chick and Offsider were getting an early start here.



This is pretty flimsy. What we’ll look for is U.E.’s consort and Bush not turning up for breakfast in the middle of next month. This would give us three datum: a breeding-pair is present for a substantial period, then the male disappears (to sit on eggs).

 

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https://vimeo.com/1096816476/75e062c53d?ts=0&share=copy

This is U.E. You can see the thick plumage on her neck.

She may be undersized -- in the video below, she backs away from Bush and Haystack. But she's a clever and a good-looking bird.

 

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https://vimeo.com/1096818640/fd70cf3510?ts=0&share=copy

This clip is a perfect insight into emu behaviour. You should be able to identify the four birds. The big 'sandy' bird front and centre -- whom you hear vocalise -- is Bush, the male of the Bush-Haystack pair.

The bird at rear left is U.E.'s consort. Still very shy, and clearly not going to involve himself in an affray.

The bird standing a little back is Haystack, Bush's consort. You see both that she has her tail raised -- ?? -- and that she moves from rear to centre stage, then holds her ground as Bush does the heavy lifting.

[And yet again . . . we have a breeding-pair with a dominant male!]

And the bird dancing about? It's U.E., of course. Her plumage is unmistakable. Now watch her carefully: you see she gets out of Bush's way quick smart, but she then loops right back -- she's not afraid. It's a really interesting and usual behaviour on her part: move fast and nimbly; loop back to the wheat.

SE

 

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Now here's a random treat. This is an old old clip. The bird on the left? Don't know. The bird on the right is Felicity, one of the three chicks tamed here in 2008.

https://vimeo.com/1096821906/606b05f0b9?ts=0&share=copy

You see the interloper advancing. Felicity -- a nice person, but not a powerful female -- vocalises and raises her ruff.

Now, I'm not sure about all the prancing about on the interloper's part -- I was in the way filming, as well -- but the interloper also has her ruff raised. (We can't a vocalisation, but that's probably there as well.)

Perfect interaction: Felicity makes a small show of strength, then bolts. Simple as that.

SE