The Mighty Emu
"If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds, it would face any army in the world. They could face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks."
- Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Seventh Heavy Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery
Motive: To feed and survive
Commander: N/A
Strength: 20,000 Emus
Weapons: Beaks, talons, fast running, a large appetite, neck dancing
Losses: 50 Emus
Commander: N/A
Strength: 20,000 Emus
Weapons: Beaks, talons, fast running, a large appetite, neck dancing
Losses: 50 Emus
Description
The emu (ee-mew) is the largest bird in Australia and the second largest bird by height in the world. These flightless birds have been known to grow up to 6'6" feet in height; can weigh as much as 121 lbs; and, when sprinting, can reach speeds of up to 50km/h, which is usually faster than a car can legally go in an urban area. They usually live 10-20 years and tend to breed between the months of February and July.
Female emus lay 11-20 eggs each breeding season in a ground nest made by the male. The male then gets off his lazy butt and contributes to the relationship by sitting on the eggs for 8 weeks until they hatch into fine young chicks. However, the man's job is not done yet. He is forced to babysit the chicks until they turn 18 months old, after which he goes off to live his own life, leaving his children to themselves. The emus are fully grown by their 5-6th month.
Emus are omnivorous creatures who hunt for food in the day. They mainly eat native plants depending on seasonal availability, as well as seeds, shoots, and fruit. They also eat insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, and ants. As you well know, they also eat wheat crops, which is what instigated the Great Emu War in the first place. Additionally, they swallow stones to help grind up the food in their gizzard, a body part found in most birds that breaks down food.
Female emus lay 11-20 eggs each breeding season in a ground nest made by the male. The male then gets off his lazy butt and contributes to the relationship by sitting on the eggs for 8 weeks until they hatch into fine young chicks. However, the man's job is not done yet. He is forced to babysit the chicks until they turn 18 months old, after which he goes off to live his own life, leaving his children to themselves. The emus are fully grown by their 5-6th month.
Emus are omnivorous creatures who hunt for food in the day. They mainly eat native plants depending on seasonal availability, as well as seeds, shoots, and fruit. They also eat insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, and ants. As you well know, they also eat wheat crops, which is what instigated the Great Emu War in the first place. Additionally, they swallow stones to help grind up the food in their gizzard, a body part found in most birds that breaks down food.
Combat Assets
Emus primarily protect themselves via kicking at foes using the reach of their legs combined with their 15 cm clawed toes. Their legs are have been rated among the strongest of any animals, and have been known to be powerful enough to tear down metal wire fences. Additionally, the emu has exceptional eyesight and hearing, which can allow the bird to detect foes. If all of its other traits fail an emu, it can always fall back on its ability to quickly run away from trouble and, I quote, take several machine gun rounds without a sweat.
Here is a demonstration of an emu's ability to combat a kangaroo and take away its food by using its naturally gifted prowess:
Here is a demonstration of an emu's ability to combat a kangaroo and take away its food by using its naturally gifted prowess: