Representing our country on our Coat of Arms, the Emu needs no introduction.
Being flightless, when nesting time comes around which is usually in Winter, the emu will nest on the ground. How many eggs are laid does vary, but usually the number ranges from five to 12.
Sometimes more than one female will have laid in the same nest. It is the male only that sits on the nest and incubates the eggs.
He also rears the chicks and looks after them for about a year and a half.
Some years ago, I came across an emu’s nest with 17 bright green eggs in it. It takes approximately eight weeks for the eggs to hatch but I had to keep making several trips to the site before I found the male at the nest.
I did my best to keep out of sight and moved up behind the cover of some bushes. I was able to get an open view from where I was and I got some clear shots.
It was probably the shortest time that I have ever needed to get the photos I wanted and I left soon after, without seeming to disturb my subject at all.
Another interesting experience that I had with Emus was when I was at a property outside of Gracemere. I had gone there to photograph birds on a large lagoon.
I had parked my car at a distance from the water as I didn’t want to frighten away the birds that that were there and was walking to the site. Suddenly over the hill, a small flock of emus came wandering along. There were adult birds and some smaller ones.
I had my camera up and firing from which I got some good photos of the group.
