More of an ‘old man’ than ‘a new man’

CONGRATULATIONS to Sinéad Shanahan of Stonehall Farm in Limerick.

Her emus, which hail from Australia, have hatched chicks for the third year in succession. Compliments also to the proud parents, particularly the daddy. He needs a bit of encouragement because emu males do all of the rearing. Mammies, as soon as they have laid the eggs, take no further interest in them, leaving incubation and baby-minding to the father. Nor do the emu daddy’s problems end there. When the brood leaves the nest, he will have to chaperone and guard his charges for another 70 days or so. It was thought that the proud father led his offspring around, but now it’s believed he traipses after them in desperation.

This bird version of the ‘New Man’ is a bit of a rara avis. In only about 6% of the world’s 9,600 bird species, does the male incubate the eggs without any help from his mate. In the case of the rhea, the reasons why the male takes over are clear. Rheas are vegetarians. Plant fibres are hard to digest and it takes time to do so effectively. Herbivores tend to be big, with large stomachs. But, if you are a bird, being big comes at a price; you won’t be able to fly. There are advantages to being grounded, of course; flightless birds don’t need to be weight-watchers and, when it comes to gorging themselves, they can afford to let it all hang out. Nor are there constraints on the size of a flightless bird’s eggs or clutches, which is why emus can lay up to 20. However, having put so much of her resources into the next generation, the poor mum-to-be is exhausted and in no condition to sit, fasting, on eggs. The male has no choice but to take over the show.