Subject: [Tweeters] Emu with Wild Turkeys
Date: Apr 1 12:27:09 2006
From: mike denny - m.denny at charter.net


Hello All,
Yesterday while birding along Luckenbill Rd. in central Walla Walla Co. we
came across a large flock (32 birds) of Wild Turkeys out in a green winter
wheat field. We watched as these big birds rapidly plucked the newly
sprouted wheat plants and ate them. After about six min. of watching we
suddenly noticed an adult Emu right in the middle of the flock also picking
and eating the winter wheat. Now some of the tom turkeys were starting to
strut and display. This is when we observed that this lone Emu was attracted
to one of the strutting tom turkeys and began to follow it all over the
field. The turkey appeared to be less than comfortable with this attention
and was soon running in circles in an attempt to get away from the now eager
Emu. As we watched this now desperate wild turkey started to half run half
fly to get away from the Emu. The Emu would have none of it and soon put its
head and neck back over its back and in a flat out race took out after the
tom turkey towards the brushy banks of the Touchet River. The last we saw
was the tom in the air and the Emu pounding after it. Enjoy this day.
Later Mike

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Mike & MerryLynn Denny
1354 S. E. Central Ave.
College Place, WA 99324
509.529.0080 (h)

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BIRDING, YOU HAVEN'T LIVED!
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