I wonder if this is a tick for Ontario birders???
Emu alert! Escaped Aussie birds spotted in rural Ontario town
Residents of a small town in southwestern Ontario have been rubbing their
eyes in disbelief lately as a couple of giant Australian birds wander around
their community.
The two emus escaped their pen a couple of weeks ago and have been living in
the woods, fields and trails around the town of Harrow, about 40 kilometres
south of Windsor.
Emus are metre-and-a-half-tall birds that resemble ostriches and can run at
speeds of up to 65 kilometres per hour.
In the woods just east of the town, local residents sometimes see coyotes,
wild turkeys, foxes, deer and bald eagles.
But Jennifer Golden and her family were shocked when they looked out of
their woodland home Sunday morning and saw one of the giant birds.
"He hung around for probably half an hour up and down the ditch, and he was
in the front yard and on the porch," Golden told CBC News.
It's the first time the emu visited her home, but her neighbours across the
street have been watching the two of them regularly, she said.
Sandi Soulliere, the emus' owner, told CBC News the birds jumped the
enclosure fence after they became excited when her horses broke through
another fence.
Despite their exotic origin, the birds can blend into the woods around the
town just as easily as deer, Soulliere said.
"They're really funny because they can stand behind a little tree and you
can't see them," she said.
But Soulliere said residents should take caution once the emus emerge from
hiding, as the birds can kick hard with their long legs if they feel
threatened.
Two weeks ago, local police received a call from a terrified cyclist after
one of the emus decided to chase the rider on a bike trail.
Soulliere said she is also worried for their safety as the first winter
storm approaches the area. She said he hopes they will wander back home
through the open gate as soon as they become cold.
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