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75 Facts About The Emu!

[] for fact 1-19 & 28-67 1. Emus live in most habitats across Australia. 2. The emu is the largest native bird in Australia. 3. The emu is also the second largest bird in the world right behind the ostrich. 4. I f necessary, can sprint at 50 km/h (31 mph) for some distance at a time. 5. Emus are farmed for their meat, [|oil] and leather. 6. The species was named by ornithologist [|John Latham.] 7. I ts [|name] is Latin for "fast-footed [|New Hollander]". 8. I t is estimated that the Emu population is 625,000–725,000, with 100,000–200,000 in [|Western Australia] and the remainder mostly in [|New South Wales] and [|Queensland]. 9. //D. novaehollandiae diemenensis//, a subspecies known as the [|Tasmanian Emu], became extinct around 1865. 10. There are three extant [|subspecies] in Australia. 11. The largest can reach up to 190 to 150 centimetres (75–59 in) in height 1 to 1.3 metres (3.3–4.3 ft) at the shoulder. 12. Emus weigh between 18 and 48 kilograms (40 and 110 lb). 13. Their calls consist of loud booming, drumming and grunting sounds that can be heard up to two kilometers away. 14. The booming sound is created in an inflatable neck sac that is 30 cm (12 in) long and thin-walled. 15. For normal breathing in cooler weather, they have large, multifolded nasal passages. 16. On exhalation, the Emu's cold nasal [|turbinates] condense moisture back out of the air and absorb it for reuse. 17. T hey are most common in areas of [|sclerophyll] forest and [|savanna]woodland, and least common in populated and very arid areas, except during wet periods. 18. Emus predominately travel in pairs,[|[2]] and while they can form enormous flocks, this is an atypical social behaviour that arises from the common need to move towards food sources. 19. Emus have been shown to travel long distances to reach abundant feeding areas. [] for facts 20-27 20. Emus live for 10-20 years 21. Emus also swim very well. 22. The emu's nest is a shallow hole by a bush 23. The nest is lined with leaves, grass, and bark. 24. The female lays from 4 to 20 greenish-brown eggs in a clutch (a group of eggs laid at one time). 25. **Chicks **(baby emus) hatch after an incubation period of about 8 weeks. 26. The male **incubates **(keeps warm) the eggs and cares for the chicks for about 1 1/2 years. 27. Emus are primarily **herbivores **(plant-eaters). [] for fact 1-19 & 28-67 28. They have small [|vestigial] wings and a long neck and legs. 29. On very hot days, Emus pant to [|maintain their body temperature], their lungs work as[|evaporative] coolers and, unlike some other species, the resulting low levels of [|carbon dioxide] in the blood do not appear to cause [|alkalosis]. 30. In [|Western Australia], Emu movements follow a distinct seasonal pattern — north in summer and south in winter. 31. On the east coast their wanderings do not appear to follow a pattern. 32. A n emu will be cautious when approaching civilisation. 33. Emus have only three toes in a[|tridactyl] arrangement. 34. T his adaptation for running is seen in other bird species, such as[|bustards] and [|quails]. The [|Ostrich]has only two toes. 35. E mus are well known for approaching small groups of humans in the wild when prompted by food, in fact, even if the food is not offered to them they can be rather persistent in helping themselves. 36. Emus forage in a [|diurnal] pattern. 37. They eat a variety of native and introduced plant species 38. T he type of plants eaten depends on seasonal availability. 39. They also eat insects, including [|grasshoppers] and [|crickets.] 40. L [|ady birds], soldier and saltbush caterpillars, [|Bogong] and [|cotton-boll] moth larvae and ants. 41. In Western Australia, food preferences have been observed in travelling Emus. 42. T hey eat seeds from //[|Acacia aneura]// until it rains, after which they eat fresh grass shoots and caterpillars. 43. I n winter they feed on the leaves and pods of //[|Cassia.]// 44. I n spring, they feed on grasshoppers and the fruit of //[|Santalum acuminatum]//: a sort of [|quandong]. 45. Emus serve as an important agent for the dispersal of large viable seeds, which contributes to floral biodiversity. 46. Emus also require pebbles and stones to assist in the digestion of the plant material. 47. Individual stones may weigh 45 g (1.6 oz) and they may have as much as 745 g (1.64 lb) in their [|gizzard] at one time. 48. They also eat charcoal, however scientists still have not ascertained why. 49. Emu eyes are golden brown to black. 50. The naked skin on the neck is bluish-black. 51. Emu chicks have longitudinal stripes that help to camouflage them. 52. Emus form breeding pairs during the summer months of December and January, and may remain together for about five months. 53. Mating occurs in the cooler months of May and June. 54. During the breeding season, males experience hormonal changes, including an increase in [|luteinizing hormone] and [|testosterone] levels, and their testicles double in size. 55. Males lose their appetite and construct a rough nest in a semi-sheltered hollow on the ground from bark, grass, sticks and leaves. 56. The pair mates every day or two, and every second or third day the female lays one of an average of 11 (and as many as 20) very large, thick-shelled, dark-green eggs. 57. The number of eggs varies with rainfall. 58. The eggs are on average 134 by 89 millimetres (5.3 in × 3.5 in) and weigh between 700 and 900 grams (1.5 and 2.0 lb),[|[24]] which is roughly equivalent to 10–12 chicken eggs in volume and weight. 59. The first verified occurrence of genetically identical avian twins was demonstrated in the Emu. 60. The male becomes broody after his mate starts laying, and begins to incubate the eggs before the laying period is complete. 61. From this time on, he does not eat, drink or defecate, and stands only to turn the eggs, which he does about 10 times a day. 62. Emus were used as a source of food by [|indigenous Australians] and early European settlers. 63. Aborigines used a variety of techniques to catch the bird, including spearing them while they drank at waterholes, poisoning waterholes, catching Emus in nets, and attracting Emus by imitating their calls or with a ball of feathers and rags dangled from a tree. 64. Europeans killed Emus to provide food and to remove them if they interfered with farming or invaded settlements in search of water during drought. 65. An extreme example of this was the [|Emu War] in Western Australia in 1932, when Emus that flocked to [|Campion] during a hot summer scared the town’s inhabitants and an unsuccessful attempt to drive them off was mounted. 66. Over eight weeks of incubation, he will lose a third of his weight and will survive only on stored body-fat and on any morning dew that he can reach from the nest. 67. **O** nce the male starts brooding, the female mates with other males and may lay in multiple clutches. __Encyclopedia Of the Animal World vol.7__ Bay Books, Sydney 68. The wings are one-tenth of the length of the bird's body 69. Each feather has two identical shafts. 70. The barbs of the feather are widely spaced 71. The feathers are loose and hair-like. 72. The female emu is larger than the male emu. 73. A ruuning emu can make a stride of 9 ft. 74. The wings appear to assist in cooling its body. 75. The tiny chicks leave the nest after two or three days and may offen be seen leading their father rather that their father leading them.

Organization research chart** === The largest can reach up to 190 to 150 centimetres (75–59 in) in height 1 to 1.3 metres (3.3–4.3 ft) at the shoulder. Emus weigh between 18 and 48 kilograms (40 and 110 lb). They have small [|vestigial] wings and a long neck and legs. === || **Life Cycle**
 * ||  || ===Physical characteristics===

Emus live for 10-20 years. Chicks **(baby emus) hatch after an incubation period of about 8 weeks.** ||  || **Body Functions** Emus also require pebbles and stones to assist in the digestion of the plant material. **On very hot days, Emus pant to** [|**maintain their body temperature**]**, their lungs work as**[|**evaporative**] **coolers and, unlike some other species, the resulting low levels of** [|**carbon dioxide**] **in the blood do not appear to cause** [|**alkalosis**]**.** ||  || **Location / Habitat Emus live in Australia.T hey are most common in areas of [|sclerophyll] forest and [|savanna]woodland, and least common in populated and very arid areas, except during wet periods. ** ||  || **Adaption
 * The tiny chicks leave the nest after two or three days and may offen be seen leading their father rather that their father leading them.** ||  || **Growth**
 * The wings appear to assist in cooling its body.**

Emus have only three toes in a [|tridactyl] arrangement; this adaptation for running is seen in other bird species, such as[|bustards] and [|quails]. The [|Ostrich]has only two toes. Emu chicks have longitudinal stripes that help to camouflage them. ** ||  || **Problems** Europeans killed Emus to provide food and to remove them if they interfered with farming or invaded settlements in search of water during drought. An extreme example of this was the [|Emu War] in Western Australia in 1932, when Emus that flocked to [|Campion] during a hot summer scared the town’s inhabitants and an unsuccessful attempt to drive them off was mounted. ||  || **Behavior** Emus form breeding pairs during the summer months of December and January, and may remain together for about five months. Mating occurs in the cooler months of May and June. ||  || **Diet  They eat a variety of native and introduced plant species. T he type of plants eaten depends on seasonal availability. They also eat insects, including [|grasshoppers] and [|crickets.] L [|ady birds], soldier and saltbush caterpillars, [|Bogong] and [|cotton-boll] moth larvae and ants. ** **T hey eat seeds from //[|Acacia aneura]// until it rains, after which they eat fresh grass shoots and caterpillars. ** || **I n winter they feed on the leaves and pods of //[|Cassia.]// I n spring, they feed on grasshoppers and the fruit of //[|Santalum acuminatum]//: a sort of [|quandong.] ** ||  || **Predators / Prey

One of the predators of the emu is Aborigines (indigenous Australians). A lot of emus are killed for meat, oil, and leather.** ||  || **Family groups

A group of emus are called a flock. Emus predominately travel in pairs,[|[2]] and while they can form enormous flocks, this is an atypical social behaviour that arises from the common need to move towards food sources. ** ||  || **Relatives

Relatives of the emu are** [|ostrich,][|cassowary, and other large birds.] ||  ||   ||









E- Europeans killed Emus to provide food and to remove them if they interfered with farming or invaded settlements in search of water during drought. M- Males lose their appetite and construct a rough nest in a semi-sheltered hollow on the ground from bark, grass, sticks and leaves. U- Unlike the ostrich the emu has three toes to help them run faster. S- Some emus can live up to 20 years.
 * Sloppy Copy drafts of writing**

Menu (Male and Female eat different kinds of foods) Male Emu: Insect salad- A variety of native veggies (depending on season) with a light topping of insects. Grasshopper smoothy- Lots of lightly frozen grasshoppers mixed around with other fruits to make a delicious green color. Fried cricket- A bucket full of crickets still barley alive that have been fried and with a small layer of mango sauces. Female Emu: Caterpillars Sub- A two-foot long sub with manly caterpillars (Soldier and saltbush caterpillars, your choice.) but some Acacia seeds, fresh grass, and shoots. On special days the cook will make moth larva subs but not always.

Question and Answer with Mr. Emu and Me.

Me: Would you have been a female if you had the chance to?

Mr.Emu: Yes I would because when you are a male you lose 1/3 of your body weight just for a couple of kids...thats all!!! All I got to eat was the insects around me and the morning water dew because of the 8 week incubation! 8 WEEKS!!! Me: I would have to agree with you on that, but being the female must be hard too right?

Mr.Emu: I guess so because all the females are bigger and way over weight so they get hunted more for meat and carry to lots of pounds around with them. There skin is also more tender then males are so they also get hunted for clothing more to. There is one more thing, they have to go through a pregnancy that hurts a lot...I heard. I still don't think I that males are lucky.

Me: Now I know about male and female emus so lets talk about the little chicks.

Mr.Emu: Okay, where do I start. How about t**he tiny chicks leave the nest after two or three days and may offen be seen leading their father rather that their father leading them. What about the** chicks have longitudinal stripes that help to camouflage them.

Me: Okay. I came here to learn about emus so what do you think is a awesome thing about emus?

Mr.Emu: I have always thought that emus gizzard's are awesome. They can hold stones that weigh up 45 g. individual and all together 1.64 lb. at one time! Also emus are one of few bird species that can't fly and the largest bird native to Australia so we can boss around all the other wimpy small birds. Our wing's assist in cooling our body. **On very hot days, Emus pant to**[|**maintain their body temperature**]**, their lungs work as**[|**evaporative**]**coolers and, unlike some other species, the resulting low levels of** [|**carbon dioxide**] **in the blood do not appear to cause**[|**alkalosis**]**.**

Me: Well thats cool! Now how about you tell me about emu history.

Mr.Emu: Well my favorite thing about emu history is the Tasmanian Emu, although they became extinct around 1865. Those guys would be all over that island!

Me: Yes but I was looking for something more informational, okay!

Mr.Emu: Fine. You probily want to now about the [|Emu War] then. Well the number of emu starting to get amok and people started to complain. [|Major Meredith][|got a armed force of soldiers with] [|Lewis machine guns.][|Over the course of a week 20,000 birds were actually killed...It was so hard to go through that long painful week without dying. So many deaths.]

Me: That was one of the most touching interviews I have ever had. I am so SO sorry folks but we r.. r..ran out of time. See you next time at Interviewing Animals. GOOD BYE!!!

**Revised Writing

E- Europeans killed Emus to provide food and to remove them if they interfered with farming or invaded settlements in search of water during drought. M- Males lose their appetite and construct a rough nest in a semi-sheltered hollow on the ground from bark, grass, sticks and leaves. U- Unlike the ostrich the emu has three toes to help them run faster. S- Some emus can live up to 20 years.

Menu (Male and Female eat different kinds of foods) Male Emu: <span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;">Insect salad- A variety of native veggies (depending on season) with a light topping of insects. <span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;">Grasshopper smoothy- Lots of lightly frozen grasshoppers mixed around with other fruits to make a delicious green color. <span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;">Fried cricket- A bucket full of crickets still barley alive that have been fried and with a small layer of mango sauces. Female Emu: <span style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; letter-spacing: 0px;">Caterpillars Sub- A two-foot long sub with manly caterpillars (Soldier and saltbush caterpillars, your choice.) but some Acacia seeds, fresh grass, and shoots. On special days the cook will make moth larva subs but not always.

** Question and Answer with Mr. Emu and Me. Me: Would you have been a female if you had the chance to? Mr.Emu: Yes I would because when you are a male you lose 1/3 of your body weight just for a couple of kids...thats all!!! All I got to eat was the insects around me and the morning water dew because of the 8 week incubation! 8 WEEKS!!! Me: I would have to agree with you on that, but being the female must be hard too right? Mr.Emu: I guess so because all the females are bigger and way over weight so they get hunted more for meat and carry to lots of pounds around with them. There skin is also more tender then males are so they also get hunted for clothing more to. There is one more thing, they have to go through a pregnancy that hurts a lot...I heard. I still don't think I that males are lucky. Me: Now I know about male and female emus so lets talk about the little chicks. Mr.Emu: Okay, where do I start. How about t**he tiny chicks leave the nest after two or three days and may offend be seen leading their father rather that their father leading them. What about the** chicks have longitudinal stripes that help to camouflage them. Me: Okay. I came here to learn about emus so what do you think is a awesome thing about emus? Mr.Emu: I have always thought that emus gizzard's are awesome. They can hold stones that weigh up 45 g. individual and all together 1.64 lb. at one time! Also emus are one of few bird species that can't fly and the largest bird native to Australia so we can boss around all the other wimpy small birds. Our wing's assist in cooling our body. **On very hot days, Emus pant to** [|__**maintain their body temperature**__] **, their lungs work as** [|__**evaporative**__] **coolers and, unlike some other species, the resulting low levels of** [|__**carbon dioxide**__] **in the blood do not appear to cause** [|__**alkalosis**__] **.** Me: Sweet. Your second largest bird in the world! A cassowary are large birds too, are you a relative to it? Mr.Emu: Yes I am in fact, and emus are also a relative of ostrich and some other large birds! That is birds we are related to but the groups that we travel in are called flocks that can be enormous, which is the common move towards food sources more. Me: Well thats cool! Now how about you tell me about emu history. Mr.Emu: Well my favorite thing about emu history is the Tasmanian Emu, although they became extinct around 1865. Those guys would be all over that island! Me: Yes but I was looking for something more informational, okay! Mr.Emu: Fine. You probily want to now about the [|__Emu War__] then. Well the number of emu starting to get amok and people started to complain. [|__Major Meredith got a armed force of soldiers with__] [|__Lewis machine guns. Over the course of a week 20,000 birds were actually killed...It was so hard to go through that long painful week without dying. So many deaths.__] Me: That was one of the most touching interviews I have ever had. I am so SO sorry folks but we r.. r..ran out of time. See you next time at Interviewing Animals. GOOD BYE!!!