Though the beak in this portrait is a touch over-exposed, the eyes hold the true essence of the bird—bright, alert, and commanding. This photograph was taken near Kyabram in Victoria, within the grounds of a wildlife reserve dedicated to the preservation of native fauna.
The emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), immortalised in both Aboriginal tradition and the national coat of arms, is the largest bird native to Australia and second only to the ostrich in stature worldwide. With its powerful legs, the emu is capable of remarkable speed, traversing the plains with strides that echo the ancient rhythms of the continent itself. Its feathers, soft and dusky, provide protection from the sun’s harsh radiance, while its sharp eyes and inquisitive nature mark it as both wary sentinel and curious wanderer of the open country. For countless generations, it has held a place in the mythology and sustenance of Australia’s First Peoples, its form appearing in story, dance, and art.
Kyabram and its surrounding district lie within the Goulburn Valley, a region shaped by the slow meander of rivers and the fertility of their floodplains. Once a mosaic of woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands, it offered rich habitats for kangaroos, wallabies, waterbirds, and of course the emu, whose foraging paths crossed the open country in search of seeds, fruits, and insects. In more recent centuries, settlement transformed much of the land into orchards and farms, yet sanctuaries such as the Kyabram Fauna Park safeguard the memory of what once was, allowing the visitor to encounter these creatures in surroundings that still whisper of the older Australia.
Thus, within this single image—an emu’s brilliant eyes meeting our own—one glimpses both the enduring spirit of a species and the layered history of the land upon which it strides.
Pentax K20D
A 300mm f2.8
Linking Saturday Critter
