Nomadic Emus are the third largest bird in the world, after ostrich and cassowary. They are stout natives of Australia. Though they are flightless, they are quick runners with a speed of about 50 km/hr. They have a strange animated, swaying walk. They have survived 80 million years in Australia where they can be found in the deserts, forests, plains and just about anywhere. Emus are quiet and curious birds that simply love playing in water and mud.
Emus live in small parties but like to mate in private. They have small wings with soft and inadequate feathers that are dark-brown to gray-brown in color. They have strong powerful legs that help them run fast and swim easily. They have a pointed beak, blue throat and bright eyes. They are usually 5 to 2 meters tall and weigh about 45 kg. |
| You can spot an Emu anywhere in Australia, from woods to scrubland to grassland to desert areas, except rainforests. They have a life span of 10-20 years.
Emus mate very curiously. The female emu makes strange sounds and invites the male for mating. Now, after she has laid the eggs, the male emu takes on the charge. He sits over the eggs and feeds the babies when the eggs hatch. The male Emu not only feeds the chicks but also protects them from predators like eagles, dingo and feral cats. Emu chicks have a natural camouflage of stripes on their body, which make them almost unsupportable in the grass.
Emus have a very simple diet but they drink lots of water. Their water intake is about 2 to 4 gallons daily! Emus are chiefly herbivores. They eat grass, flowers, seeds, young plants, berries and fruits. However, they sometimes also eat tiny insects. Very interestingly, emus eat very small-sized stones called gizzard stones or gastroliths. They stay in the gizzard and help in grinding the food.
Emus have such an integral part of the Australian culture and so closely bound that people have actually kept the names of places like Emu park and Emu creek. Do visit Australia to watch out this majestic bird, found nowhere but in this magical land.
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