Early Bird Just Curious

Newcastle Herald

Thursday July 15, 1999

EMUS are naturally inquisitive birds but Henry was so curious about the outside world that he hatched nearly two weeks early.

Henry is the first emu to be hatched in an incubator at Blackbutt Reserve and ranger Paul Metcalfe said his arrival was a surprise.

`Emus incubate over about 60 days but Henry hatched after just 47 and we're not really sure why,' he said.

`One of the volunteers called him Henry and it seems to have stuck but we might call it Henrietta if it turns out to be a female.'

Two other eggs are being incubated.