I walked from Cotter reserve up to the little picnic area at the top of the dam today with my grandson. There was a group of four emus up there. As I walked past them about 10m away, a big (presumably) male decided I was a threat to his
group and approached me aggressively to within a couple of metres. I chased him with my Akubra and he finally retreated.
Five minutes later, we were walking back and passed them again. The old man had taken a dislike to me and attacked me again, this time not to be dissuaded with a hat. He got within striking distance and was growling or honking. Another
man was there and he had a camera on a selfie-stick. This was more of a threat to the emu and he finally retreated.
An interesting experience, if a little unnerving. I don’t know whether I crossed an invisible proximity threshold, or it is my red hair (what’s left of it) or I said something offensive. I was the closest person to the birds in both encounters,
so it was probably proximity.
David Rosalky
