Kingston Stormwater Wetlands south of Hobart last Sunday, hoping to get back when the chicks hatch, as I can't get close enough to the ones which live on our property.
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They're darlings Dale. Often overlooked IMO but really beautiful birds I think. We call them scatter chooks in our house (scatterbrain
) - their road sense is non existent, especially if one decides to cross the road just as you're about to pass them, then the rest can often think that its a good idea too (which is why I always annoy drivers behind me by slowing down whenever I see a group of them really close to the roads' edge). I especially love their eyes. I've got an eye close up here somewhere, but I'll save that for another time, won't hijack your post 
Can't wait to see some chick pics Dale - lots please! Now I come to think of it, I've always seen lots of adults around, but never chicks? Perhaps I just don't pay enough attention at the right time/place though.
West Coast Tasmania
Thanks Ruby, hijack all you want, we call them "Turbo Chooks", cos it looks like they have a "Turbo" up their clacka, when the run. You know they make great eating, boil them up with a large rock, and when the rock is done, throw the bird away and eat the rock!! (that's an old joke round here as well).
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Peter
West Coast Tasmania
That's a beautiful pic Ruby. My research says they do have bright red eyes, at all stages of life (although I have seen pictures of downy chicks with black eyes), as you can see from my pics, sometimes the light makes them look a little orange. Hard to tell if your bird is juvenile, as they are very similar to adults, some of the colouring is just a little more "subdued" and they can have whitish flecks on the underside. I have often seen the chicks at home, but not close enough to photograph, maybe this year. Have also seen chicks on the roadside, that appear very brave, but have not had the camera with me. Will do my best to post chicks in a few months. By the way, we had four separate broods last year, but hard to tell who the parents are, as they were in a large family group of about twenty. Saw up to twelve chicks at one time, appeared to be slightly different ages.
For those non Taswegians, one of only three flightless birds in Australia, the other being the Emu and the Southern Cassowary, neither of which appear in the wild in Tasmania.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania