EMU: Wandering Spirit

Second only to Ostrich in size, Emu is a large, flightless bird. A native of Australia, Emu appears with Kangaroo on Australia’s Coat of Arms. This distinctive looking Bird thrives by roaming around Australia.

Long and strong legs enable Emu to run swiftly, and to walk long distances. His fat reserves enables Emu to live during lean times. In addition, when food is exhausted in one area, Emu will walk hundreds of miles search for more food. Unable to fly, Emu exploits where He lives by keeping His feet to the ground, wandering from place to place.

The nomadic Emu shows that adventure can be found around the next corner. Explore and find out what you seek. But do not keep wandering to the point that you become dissatisfied easily. Also stay and finish what you are doing.

Important Emu Teaching: Attentiveness and Action
“These great flightless birds of the open plains forage attentively in family groups and pair off during breeding season to share time together. The male then assumes the role of incubator directing his attention to the care of the eggs for 60 days and then the chicks as they grow. When spurred into action, an Emu can reach speeds of 55km per hour, making it difficult for predators to run them down.” Copyright: “Wisdom of Australian Animals”, Ann Williams-Fitzgerald.

Emu’s Teachings Also Include:
“Emu Dreaming lends itself to the teaching of effective parenting skills and the endurance that is required to execute the role.” Copyright: “Animal Messengers”, Scott Alexander King.

OSTRICH: Speed and Knowledge

A native of Namibia, Ostrich is the world’s largest Bird. At speeds of 70 km per hour, She runs faster than any other two-legged animal. Not only that, She also lays the largest eggs. What many people remember about Ostrich is her bizarre appearance: her long skinny neck and legs.

The !Kung tribe of Namibia hold Ostrich in great reverence. She provides for them by offering her meat for nourishment and her eggs for water carriers. In ancient Egypt, Ostrich was the representation of Ma’at, the Goddess of truth and justice. She weighed the heart of the deceased for truth. Those who passed her test went into Osiris’ presence, while those who failed were cast into the Netherworld of darkness.

Unique among birds, Ostrich has hoof-like feet, which help Her to run rapidly from danger. Kicking up sand as She goes, Ostrich swings from side to side as She runs across dry riverbeds. Even when walking, She is not slow. Powered by strong leg muscles, Ostrich walks about eight kilometers per hour.

Learn from Ostrich when and how to run from danger. She does not bury her head in sand; instead She runs. The notion of Her putting her head in the sand comes from Ostrich’s lowering her head as a means of protection. However, if alarmed, Ostrich will begin trotting fast. When totally frightened, She sprints away quickly on her strong feet. Ostrich understands that speed and knowledge will protect her.

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Although Emu resembles Ostrich, They are not related.

TITANIS WALLERI (“TERROR BIRD” OF NORTH AMERICA): Dare to Explore

First found in a cave in Florida in the 1960s, Titanis walleri became known for being the only “Terror Bird” to leave South America and head north.  Since Titanis walleri was the size of a person, She hunted Lizards, Snakes, Rodents, and small Birds in North America.  As the last of the “Terror Birds” of South America, Titanis walleri became an apex predator of Southeastern United States.

            Titanis walleri was a remarkable Bird, an able predator who hunted alongside Mammals, and thrived.  Many believe that She was one of the first Animals to take part in this Interchange between North and South America.  By living in North America from five mya to two mya, She also demonstrated the complexities of the Great American Faunal Interchange.  Titanis walleri was believed to go north before the land bridge was fully formed between the two continents.  She island-hopped and swam, activities unexpected in such a Bird. 

            Titanis walleri was an explorer, who left her familiar home and went to unknown regions.  She thrived in areas ruled by Mammals, on her own terms.  She can help us leave our familiar but unhappy situations to seek more for ourselves.  Titanis walleri can show you way out, and prod you on with her sharp massive beak.  Let Her give you the courage to dare to explore.

PHORUSRHACID FAMILY (“TERROR BIRDS”): Pay Attention

After the extinction of the Dinosaurs, for a brief period, Birds ruled the world before the rise of Mammals.  The Phorusrhacid Family (known as “Terror Birds”) ruled South America which was isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years.  Because of this, “Terror Birds” were dominant there during the late Miocene and Pliocene epoch (25 million years ago (mya) to 2 mya), while Mammals dominated other continents.  Moreover, during the Great American Faunal Interchange, one “Terror Bird” went north to the Southeastern United States to compete with the Mammals there.

The Phorusrhacid Family was called “Terror Birds” because of their heavy sharp beaks.  These giant flightless Birds would wait in ambush, and either slash or stab their prey, and then wait for the unfortunate victims to die.  Instead of grasping and shaking their prey, “Terror Birds” used their fearsome beaks as hatchets for killing.  They slashed downwards with their sharp barbed beaks on the skulls of their prey.

When the fossils of the first Phorusrhacids were found, people did not consider them to be those of Birds.  In fact when the bones of Phorusracos were first discovered, scientists thought that they were from a large Mammal.  Only when a skull of this “Terror Bird” was found, did people realize that She was a giant Bird.  Meanwhile in Patagonia, a huge skull was determined to be a new species – Kelenken, who became named for a fearsome spirit of the Tehuelche people.  As the tallest “Terror Bird”, She ran faster than the others.  The newest member of the Phorusrhacid Family, Titanis made her way north to the United States, by swimming and island-hopping from South America.

During the Pliocene epoch (about two mya), “Terror Birds” went extinct.  Some people have suggested the Great American Faunal Interchange for the reason, since many predatory Mammals went south.  However, “Terror Birds” in regions where there were no predatory Mammals went extinct also.  Perhaps climate change was the culprit, when many parts of South America became drier.  Not much is really known about the demise of these Birds.

For a brief time, Birds ruled the earth.  However what most people remember is the Age of Dinosaurs and the coming of the Mammals.  Many forget about the Birds, and regard Them merely to be a place holder between Dinosaurs and Mammals.  “Terror Birds” are largely relegated to an interesting sideshow.

“Terror Birds” urge us to pay attention, to discover things that we may have overlooked.  For example, “Terror Birds” ruled a part of the earth that we may have not known much about.  They tell us to give up our sketchy ideas and become more attentive to the details.  “Terror Birds” give us a choice: Notice things closely or risk being stabbed.

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Science Notes:

1.       “Terror Birds” are not related to “Monster Birds” (Dromornithidae) of Australia or Gastronis of the Paleocene epoch.

GASTORNIS (DIATRYMA) (GIANT BIRD): Intellectual Curiosity

After the Dinosaurs died off, Birds became the dominant species, thereby ushering in the Age of Birds.  The first giant Bird to emerge in this new age was Gastornis (Diatryma).  During the Paleocene epoch and early Eocene epoch (65 million years ago to 40 million years ago), this giant flightless Bird ruled the forests of Europe and North America.

            Gastornis stood about seven feet (2.2. meters) tall, and had a huge skull as big as a modern Horse.  The most notable feature of this giant Bird was his sharp hooked beak.  After sharpening his beak on rocks, Gastornis used it as a hatchet, slashing small Mammals with it.  After watching his prey bleed to death, He would dine on the unfortunate Animal.

            However, there is much discussion over what Gastornis actually used his massive beak for.  Some scientists think that Gastornis used it to scavenge for meat and to crack bones.  Others suggest that perhaps He cracked nuts with it much like Modern Parrots do.  Some scientists countered that idea with the argument that his beak was too powerful a beak for Gastornis to subsist only on plants.

            Gastornis and his beak are at the nexus of the inner mysteries of nature and the limits of our knowledge.  We can only imagine how He lived, and ponder the mysteries that He presents.  Was Gastornis a carnivore or an omnivore, and why does it matter?  Whatever the case may be, his beak was something to be reckoned with by anyone’s standards.

            Gastornis urges us to expand our intellectual curiosity to know more.  With Him acting as our guide, we can determine which of our ideas are true and which are false.  Discarding the ones that turn out to be false, we can then develop new exciting ideas to test.  With his fearsome beak, Gastornis leads on to direct us beyond the limits of what we think we know.  Follow Him, armed with your intellectual curiosity.

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Science Notes:

1.  Diatryma was the North American name for Gastornis.
2. Although Gastornis resembled the Terror Birds (Phorusrhacids) of South America, the two bird species are not related.

RHEA: SINGLE FATHERHOOD

The largest Bird of the Americas, Greater Rhea is a familiar sight on the Pampas of South America. Meanwhile, the smaller Darwin’s (Lesser) Rhea roams in the mountains of Chile. As Ratites, Rheas have no keel bone, and are therefore flightless. However, They can sprint at great speeds with their powerful legs.

What Rheas are noted for are their mating and breeding habits. When establishing their Harems, Rhea Cocks bit and kick each other. Zookeepers say that during breeding season, Rhea Cocks will chase them out of their cages. Meanwhile, Argentine ranchers have Dogs to keep the aggressive Cocks at bay from their Herds.

The victorious Rhea makes a nest on the ground, and lines it with plant leaves. When He is ready, Rhea Cock races towards his Hens with outstretched wings. He calls to Them, “Nan-du.” (In fact, in many part of South America, Rhea is called “Nandu”.) After mating, Rhea Cock directs Rhea Hen to the nest. After She lays her Eggs, He shoos Her away and cares for the eggs Himself.

Rhea Cock will incubate up to sixty eggs. However to protect his brood from intruders, He may rolls a few out of the nest for predators to take. The remainder, He guards by stretching his long neck out and hissing a warning. Wielding his large beak, Rhea can effectively kill an intruder, while watching over his Chicks. Rhea Cock will rear his Chicks until They are independent in two to three years.

Rhea Cock shows us the highs and lows of single parenthood. He tends to his Chicks, but cannot incubate all the Eggs, which means that a high percentage does not hatch. However, the remainder, He will fiercely defend with beak and claw. Be a good father, but know your limits in having children counsels Rhea.

KIWI: Sacredness of Being Contrary

Unable to fly, Kiwi instead probes about the forest floor looking for tasty bugs. The sensitive hairs around her bill help Her to sense the underground movements of Worms. Also, at the end of her curved beak are nostrils for which She use to smell with (unusual for Birds).

This plump little Bird has many features similar to Mammals. Like Badger, She lives in a series of underground burrows that She has dug. In addition, Her bristly feathers resemble soft mammal fur. Furthermore unlike other Birds, Kiwi has two working ovaries.

The Maori of New Zealand called Kiwi “Te manu huna a Tane”, (the Hidden Bird of Tane Mahuta, the God of the Forest). Making high ceremonial robes (kahu kiwi) out of her feathers, the Maori hold Kiwi in high regard,. They tell of how She surrendered her fine feathers for the greater good. To save the trees, Kiwi chose to live on the forest floor hunting for harmful Insects. Today the Maori are guardians (kaitiaki) of the Kiwi, helping to save Her from extinction.

Many people think of Kiwi as a shy retiring Bird. However, people of New Zealand know different, and can attest to her bad temper. This feisty Bird uses her sharp claws and strong legs to draw blood. Sometimes, this can be deadly since Kiwi’s heavy legs are filled with marrow (much like Mammals).

In the 1880s, Kiwi became known outside New Zealand when She appeared on the regimental badges of New Zealand troops. During World War I, soldiers from New Zealand carved a giant Kiwi (the Bulford Kiwi) in the chalk hill above Sling Camp in England. Today, people from New Zealand are known as “Kiwis”.

Kiwi is an example of the “Contrary”, which some cultures consider to be sacred. Contraries challenge our notions of what is proper and true. The Maori understood Kiwi’s sacredness. A Bird who does not fly, Kiwi opens us to other ideas beyond our ordinary traditions. (But do not be so contrary that you hurt people as Kiwi can do with her sharp claws.)