It's an emu - that's who

Ranger Rick, April, 2002 by Janeen R. Adil

Emus (EE-mews) live in the Land Down Under. That's Australia, mate--the only place in the world you'll find them. Most of Australia is hot and dry, but that suits these giant birds just fine!

LEGS FOR LONG DISTANCE

Emus have one big thing in common with ostriches, their close cousins: They can't fly! Emus do have stubby little wings. (On hot days, they lift up their wings to cool off their "armpits.") But for traveling, emus depend on their long, strong legs.

And emus really need to get around. They can find food--seeds, flowers, fruits, tender leaves, and insects--only in places where there's been enough rainfall. So when an area gets too dry, the emus move on. They'll often walk hundreds of miles to find a new place to chow down.

WATER, ANYONE?

Wherever emus go, they need plenty of fresh water. The emus at left are taking a break from the hot sun. A cool drink, a little splash on the feathers ... ahhh! Emus don't float like ducks, but they can swim just fine--thanks to their strong legs and big, powerful feet.

DAD'S TURN

It's no surprise that emu moms lay the eggs. But guess who sits on them? Good ol' Dad! (See photo at right.) For two months he'll keep these big blue-green eggs warm. And in all that time he hardly ever eats, drinks, or poops.

To get ready for this big job, male emus eat lots of food and store up lots of body fat. The fat gives them the energy (and water) they'll need later when they can't leave the nest.

BIRTH DAY

Finally, the chicks are ready to meet the world. Below, one chick has just hatched and another is pecking its way out of its thick-shelled egg. Since there can be as many as 20 eggs in a nest, these chicks may soon have lots of company!

ON GUARD!

A little emu chick is a tasty mouthful to a fox, dingo (wild Australian dog), or eagle. But striped feathers help the little birds hide in the grass from danger.

Emu chicks can walk just minutes after hatching. And within a week they'll be running and swimming. Then, in a few months, the emu chicks will start to look more like their shaggy parents.

Mom watches out for predators while Dad sits on the eggs. But after they hatch, Dad's the one who stands guard (right). At night the chicks snuggle down under his feathers. As they get bigger and stronger, the emu chicks will be able to take care of themselves.

HELLO!

The emu above may be looking for a snack. When people feed emus, the birds become tame and often hang out where people are. They may even become pests by demanding food. And that can be a problem. After all, you don't want to mess with a bird that can weigh 100 pounds (45 kg) or more and stand over 6 feet (2 m) tall!

COMING THROUGH

"Watch out for emus," says this road sign (left). You may have seen a warning sign like this where deer or other big animals often cross a road. But whether it's an emu or a deer, creatures and cars just don't mix!

Australian farmers and ranchers also have had to find ways to get along with emus. Years ago, people tried to kill off the big birds because they trampled and ate crops. Now, long fences keep them out of farmers' fields.

So long as there are plenty of wild places to roam in Australia, the birds will do just fine. And that's good news for emus!