Native to Australia and second to the ostrich in size, an emu in full stride is a spectacular sight. Reaching speeds around fifty kilometres (30 miles) per hour, emus run confidently through the Australian bushland, superbly built for such speed and agility. 
The indigenous rock art at Gundabooka shows several emus with their three prominent toes, highlighting the importance of the statuesque bird as a source of food and feathers.This photo is from the driver's car window in remote Gundabooka National Park. Trying to time the gaps between the roadside trees and keep the car in a straight line, this photo gives some impression of the speed and agility which emus move.
The females lay deep green eggs around the size of a human hand. In a reversal from most of the animal kingdom, the females woo the males. After partnering, the males sit on the eggs while the females leave and partner a second and even third time laying another clutch of eggs.
Nice catch of the Emu! He looks huge.
ReplyDelete@barbara: They look great in flight. And they are deceptively large if you get to stand near one (no chance of that in Gundabooka - they are naturally suspicious of humans in this National Park).
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of that role reversal - girl emu power!
ReplyDelete@heather: They do seem to strike one for the women...
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