Overview
A picnic in a Victorian national park can often include a curious emu as an uninvited guest. Australia's largest bird is an esteemed guest, as a member of our coat of arms and face of the 50-cent coin.
Encountering emus in Victoria
These oversized birds can be frequently sighted in lush, fertile Victoria. You have a good chance of interacting with emus in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve and Wartook in the Grampians.
Emus are generally peace-loving animals, though it's recommended that you keep your distance as the bird can unleash a powerful kick or pecks when threatened.
Birds that can't fly
Like the ostrich, the emu cannot fly, but it sure can run. With a size of up to 1.9 metres and three-toed feet that can take 2.5 metre strides, it can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres an hour.
Emus live up to 20 years of age, and females can lay several batches of eggs in one season. The males do most of the incubation, losing significant weight as they do not eat during the eight-week incubation. Dear old dads also nurture the newly-hatched chicks, which reach full size after around six months.
