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Australian Emu


Australian Emu
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3817 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-12-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Tamron 28-300XR, Hoya UV 62mm
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-02-07 4:06
Viewed: 14647
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This charachter can be found beside a cafe along the Fitzgerald Glade enroute between Rotorua and Tirau. He was very friendly until our dog decided to show an interest then all the Emu wanted to do was peck her through the wire fence and got quite agressive.

DESCRIPTION: Largest bird inhabiting Australia (5.7 feet tall, 110-120 pounds in weight). Flightless; wings are only 1/10th the length of its body. Brown in color; after molting, new feathers may appear nearly black, fading to pale brown with age. Bases of feathers are white. Each feather has two shafts, with barbs so widely spaced that they do not interlock to form firm vane as in most birds; they form a loose, hair-like body covering. Feathers growing near base of spine differ from those covering rest of bird; they have longer barbs and are set wide apart, giving appearance of a mop-like tail. Skin on head and neck often free of feathers and has a bluish tinge. Intensity of this color varies according to: (1) season of year; (2) changes in surroundings; and (3) behavior of nearby birds. Sexes are similar in plumage except for period prior to egg laying when female's head and neck are covered with black feathers. They have 3 toes; the underside of each toe is flattened with a broad pad. Two main calls: a gutteral grunt and a throbbing drum.

DIET: Fruits, flowers, insects, seeds and green vegetation; love caterpillars. Ingest large stones into gizzard to aid grinding process. Need water daily.

LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE: Nest is a shallow depression next to a bush made with leaves, grass and bark. Usually breed in period from May through August. Male has several hens; he incubates eggs and raises young. Does not begin sitting until 5-9 eggs are laid. Hen lays 9-12 eggs, each weighing 1-1 1/2 pounds. Clutch exceeds 20 eggs in good season, numbers 4-5 in poor season. During 8 weeks incubation period, male does not drink, rarely eats, and loses 10-20 pounds. Eggs are dark green, almost black. Chicks are cream in color with brown longitudinal stripes and dark dots on head. Leave nest after 2-3 days. Male guards the chicks for up to 18 months. Chicks hatched away from father do not know how or what to eat. Life span is 5-10 years in the wild, longer in captivity.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS: Fast runner, can reach speeds of up to 40 mph for short bursts. Running bird can make a stride of nine feet. Expert swimmer. Bill is broad and soft, adapted for browsing and grazing. When food is abundant, large stores of fat are developed. They move great distances for food except when males are sitting on eggs.

Image Information
Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 12:35 p.m.
Date: 30th December 2004
Weather conditions: Raining
Lens: Tamron 28 - 300mm XR
Filter: Hoya 62mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/90
F-Stop: F/5.6
Flash: No
Tripod: No
Focal Length: 59mm
ISO: 400
red45, gerhardt, LordPotty, LisaDE, jossim, dew77, liquidsunshine, PDP has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2005-02-07 4:38]

Wow! Looks like awaken dinosaur :-) What a eye and what a hairs :-) Great face, great pose, great portrait. Excellent post Pam!

Nice close up, Pam. The little feathers shows nicely. Youbetter watch out... this bird has a strange look in it's eye. :)

Great shot. Well done.

Superb shot Pam! They really do look like Australians don't they? Is the fat Kunekune pig still at Fitzgerald glade?
(We might be leaving Pirongia soon.We'ree looking at a house in Blackball on Monday. Thats Blackball as in the wee mining town near Greymouth. Quite a change from the Waikato!)

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1490 W: 72 N: 1427] (4744)
  • [2005-02-07 6:31]

Wow! So close, just wonderful. Razorsharp details. Good POV & DOF. I agree with Gerhard; this bird looks like he's going mad ... what a strange eye. :)

Excellent capture Pam, I know how hard it is to get a great shot like this of Emu's I've taken quite a few myself and its very difficult to take a picture this sharp with all the head bobbing they do, Nice composition and colour, over all one to be very proud of

  •      
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12252)
  • [2005-02-07 9:27]

Superbe prise de vue. J'aime les détails et le regard de cette oiseau. Merci pour l'envoi et bonne journée

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2005-02-07 11:14]

Super portrait Pam!Feathers' detail on top are very good.You've catched a great look

Very good portrait with excellent quality and very good DOF, well done.

Excellent portrait shot Pam,
Superb detail of the feathers, and a very nice pose
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-02-07 13:26]

Fantastic mug-shot Pam. The details are terrific and technically it's very good. Well done.

Great mug shot, I like the feather and bill detail.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-03-23 8:44]

Pam, this is just very nice. Excellent portrait of the guy above. Excellent composition and dof.

The bg is great too.

Great job.

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 451 W: 0 N: 975] (8383)
  • [2005-05-22 10:48]

The eyes of this bird are really magic. Photo is razor sharp and very natural.
Well done.

regards,

Zeno.

Great capture
focus is spot on
very crisp clear image
Cool Emu shot
don't know if he looks angry or fed up
TFS
Dave R

Hello Pam,
What a portrait. If these birds could talk they would compete comedians like Billy Connolly - I bet! Have a great day. Thomas

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