Emu babies (chicks) live with their dads until they are about 18months old.
The emu is on the Australian coat of arms along with the kangaroo. Some soldiers in the Australian Army wear emu feathers in their hats.
If attacked from above by other birds such as the wedge-tailed eagle, emus will run in a zigzag pattern. If they are attacked by other animals their main defence is a swift kick or two with their powerful legs.
Animal: Emu
Nickname: Big Bird
Characteristics:
The emu is Australias largest bird. The emu has wings but it can’t fly but he can run really quickly about 50 kilometres per hour. Emus lay eggs just like chickens except one emu egg is about the size of 16 chicken eggs, that’s one huge omelette. The emus feathers are great protection against the hot Australian sun - their very own built in sun suit.
Height & Weight:
Adult emus are around 2m or 61/2 ft high and weigh between 30 and 45 kilograms (66–100 pounds).
Where they live:
It thrives in remote places like the dry plains at Australia’s centre. Emus are nomadic, that means they travel around and don’t just stay in the same area. Don’t try and send a letter to him.
What they eat:
Emus eat a wide variety of leaves, grasses, fruits, native plants, and insects. If there’s lots of food and water around they’ll stay in one place but if there’s not, they’ll move on.
