Blue and Lucy were my emus.  Emus are large flightless birds native to Australia.  They stand about 5' tall and weigh in around 130 pounds.  One interesting peculiarity about these birds is how they rear their young.  The male bird assumes all responsibility for parenting.  The male emu sits the nest and protects the young chicks once they hatch.  In February 2000 Lucy laid eight eggs.  Blue patiently sat the eggs for 45 days.  While sitting his nest, he completely refused food and water.  All eight eggs hatched and Blue successfully reared his brood.

Blue and Lucy "playing" Bacci Ball at a summer gathering in 1998.  When emu chicks are raised around people, they are friendly and extremely curious.  It seemed they were always under foot when they were little.

Blue, Lucy and one of their siblings (which a neighbor later adopted) cooling off on a hot summer day.  Emus LOVE to get sprayed with a hose.

Blue and Lucy Having some fun in the snow

January 2000 ~ Blue sitting on his eggs

Blue had 8 eggs to tend. He got up from the nest only to turn his eggs.

Here is one of the chicks just after hatching.  Papa Blue was gracious enough to allow us to part his feathers for this photo.

This chick is just a couple of days old.  The mottled and striped pattern of the young emus' feathers provides excellent camouflage.

Here's Blue with his chicks when  the chicks were about 8 months old.

Once the chicks hatched, Lucy had to be separted from Blue and his brood.  Blue was VERY protective of the chicks and he perceived Lucy to be a threat to his babies.

Emus can "pinch" with their large sharp beaks.

Emus also can nflict serious injury to each other or people with a powerful kick.  The have very sharp nails on their 3 toed feet.

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