Difference between revisions of "Emu"
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'''Emus''' are large flightless [[bird]]s similar to small [[ostrich]]s. Emus are native to [[Australia]] where they eat [[seed]]s, [[insects]], and [[shrub]]s. | '''Emus''' are large flightless [[bird]]s similar to small [[ostrich]]s. Emus are native to [[Australia]] where they eat [[seed]]s, [[insects]], and [[shrub]]s. | ||
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| + | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | Emus are built like ostriches, and are similarly powerful and stubborn animals. They are well known to Aborigines, who would often steal their gigantic eggs for meals that were much prized, not least for the danger that such pilferage entailed. They were also well-known to the white settlers, for their habit of damaging fences that happened to be in their way. Frequently they would take over the farm household’s outhouse - “the dunny” in Australian vernacular - a small shed sheltering a toilet built a little way from the house. When eviction was attempted, the subsequent tussle would often conclude with the destruction of the dunny, sometimes as an act of spite by the emu itself. Many experts now hold that these are just bush myths, and the destruction was not intentional, but this hardly explains the many recorded instances in which the exiled emu would return late at night and methodically flatten the structure with a series of well-aimed kicks, while a herd of fellow emus observed from a little distance, with obvious appreciation. Such events led to the coining of one of bush Australia ’s most well-known sayings, the jocular curse: “May an emu kick your dunny down!” | ||
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| + | ==Origins== | ||
According to the [[origins theory]] model used by [[creation science | creation scientists]], emus, like all flightless non [[aquatic]] birds, originated in the [[Middle East]] and are the descendants of the two emus that were taken aboard [[Noah's Ark]] prior to the [[Great Flood]]. | According to the [[origins theory]] model used by [[creation science | creation scientists]], emus, like all flightless non [[aquatic]] birds, originated in the [[Middle East]] and are the descendants of the two emus that were taken aboard [[Noah's Ark]] prior to the [[Great Flood]]. | ||
| − | Also according to creation science theories, after the Flood, emus bred from the Ark passengers then [[migrate]]d to Australia. There is debate whether this migration happened over land<ref name="ag1">[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/migration.asp "How did animals get from the Ark to places such as Australia"], Answers In Genesis</ref> -- as it is thought that Australia was still for a time after the Flood connected to the Middle East before the supercontinent of [[Pangea]] broke apart<ref>[http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2808 "Pangea and the Flood"], Apologetics Press</ref> -- or if they [[rafting (ecology) | rafted]] on mats of [[vegetation]] torn up by the receding flood waters.<ref name="ag1"/> | + | Also according to creation science theories, after the Flood, emus bred from the Ark passengers then [[migrate]]d to Australia. They were accompanied by other unique Australian fauna, making their way together as a group, and all helping each other traverse the dangerous archipelagos that formed stepping stones on the way. The emu’s long neck would have enabled it to look out for hostile animals along the way, and it could well have carried some of the smaller animals on its back, just as the kangaroos carried the koalas in their pouches when their little legs began to tire. Emus are hardy and strong animals, and can defend themselves with potentially lethal kicks, as well as savage pecks from their oversize and rock-hard beaks, so they could well have provided the small group of incipient Australian fauna a measure of protection on their long trek from Noah’s Ark. |
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| + | There is debate whether this migration happened over land<ref name="ag1">[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/migration.asp "How did animals get from the Ark to places such as Australia"], Answers In Genesis</ref> -- as it is thought that Australia was still for a time after the Flood connected to the Middle East before the supercontinent of [[Pangea]] broke apart<ref>[http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2808 "Pangea and the Flood"], Apologetics Press</ref> -- or if they [[rafting (ecology) | rafted]] on mats of [[vegetation]] torn up by the receding flood waters.<ref name="ag1"/> | ||
The [[theory]] that [[God]] simply generated emus into existence there is considered by most creation researchers to be contra-[[Bible|Biblical]]. | The [[theory]] that [[God]] simply generated emus into existence there is considered by most creation researchers to be contra-[[Bible|Biblical]]. | ||
Revision as of 06:01, July 13, 2007
Emus are large flightless birds similar to small ostrichs. Emus are native to Australia where they eat seeds, insects, and shrubs.
Behaviour
Emus are built like ostriches, and are similarly powerful and stubborn animals. They are well known to Aborigines, who would often steal their gigantic eggs for meals that were much prized, not least for the danger that such pilferage entailed. They were also well-known to the white settlers, for their habit of damaging fences that happened to be in their way. Frequently they would take over the farm household’s outhouse - “the dunny” in Australian vernacular - a small shed sheltering a toilet built a little way from the house. When eviction was attempted, the subsequent tussle would often conclude with the destruction of the dunny, sometimes as an act of spite by the emu itself. Many experts now hold that these are just bush myths, and the destruction was not intentional, but this hardly explains the many recorded instances in which the exiled emu would return late at night and methodically flatten the structure with a series of well-aimed kicks, while a herd of fellow emus observed from a little distance, with obvious appreciation. Such events led to the coining of one of bush Australia ’s most well-known sayings, the jocular curse: “May an emu kick your dunny down!”
Origins
According to the origins theory model used by creation scientists, emus, like all flightless non aquatic birds, originated in the Middle East and are the descendants of the two emus that were taken aboard Noah's Ark prior to the Great Flood. Also according to creation science theories, after the Flood, emus bred from the Ark passengers then migrated to Australia. They were accompanied by other unique Australian fauna, making their way together as a group, and all helping each other traverse the dangerous archipelagos that formed stepping stones on the way. The emu’s long neck would have enabled it to look out for hostile animals along the way, and it could well have carried some of the smaller animals on its back, just as the kangaroos carried the koalas in their pouches when their little legs began to tire. Emus are hardy and strong animals, and can defend themselves with potentially lethal kicks, as well as savage pecks from their oversize and rock-hard beaks, so they could well have provided the small group of incipient Australian fauna a measure of protection on their long trek from Noah’s Ark.
There is debate whether this migration happened over land[1] -- as it is thought that Australia was still for a time after the Flood connected to the Middle East before the supercontinent of Pangea broke apart[2] -- or if they rafted on mats of vegetation torn up by the receding flood waters.[1] The theory that God simply generated emus into existence there is considered by most creation researchers to be contra-Biblical.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "How did animals get from the Ark to places such as Australia", Answers In Genesis
- ↑ "Pangea and the Flood", Apologetics Press
