Description
The emu loves to go walkabout. It is only found in Australia and is the second largest bird in the world, after the ostrich. They are flightless birds with long necks and legs and can walkabout great distances, even sprinting at 50km an hour. With their powerful legs, they are the fastest birds in Australia.
The emu is an important cultural icon of Australia appearing on the coat of arms and some coins. Along with the kangaroo, the emu was chosen to symbolize the nation moving forward as the kangaroo and emu can’t move backwards easily.
Emus are important in Aboriginal stories and the Emu in the Sky represents a female emu chasing the males during the mating season. Because emus begin laying their eggs at this time, the appearance of the Emu in the Sky is an indication that the emu eggs are ready to be collected.
Emus can go for a long time without drinking and, when they have an opportunity, they drink a lot. In this painting, we see the emu at waterholes. They find water by following storm clouds. Emus love the water and are strong swimmers. They don’t flap their wings in the water like other birds. They will flop down in a waterhole and roll from side to side until they are wet through and then will stand up and shake themselves.
Emu eggs are seen in this painting. The male emu incubates the eggs for 56 days during which time he loses a third of his body weight. He raises the chicks and protects them, staying with the chicks for two years.
Emus are found in open plains, forests and woodlands. They eat leaves, grasses, seed and native flowers. In this painting, the sun is shining on the emu as he comes to the waterholes. The sun can turn emu eggs from dark green to black.
