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Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)

The emu is Australia’s largest native bird, found across most mainland states and territories in open country, from arid plains to tropical woodlands and high country. Emus can move across large areas, so clearing, fencing, roads, dogs and fire can affect both animals and breeding sites. The species is an EVNT species, with near threatened listings in the Northern Territory, endangered status in South Australia, and an endangered coastal population in north-eastern New South Wales.

Conservation status

Northern Territory, Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976: Near threatened.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Endangered. This listing covers only Dromaius novaehollandiae baudinianus.

Breeding season

Emus breed mainly from late autumn through winter. The clearest timing is May to June for laying, but breeding can vary between regions and years, particularly in the endangered coastal New South Wales population.

Breeding mode: The female lays the eggs and the male incubates them and raises the chicks.

Nest site: A ground nest or scraped area, usually lined with grass, leaves, twigs and bark, often at the base of vegetation.

Clutch size: Usually 5 to 20 eggs. Another source records 5 to 15 eggs.

Incubation: About 8 to 10 weeks, with the male rarely leaving the nest.

Young: Chicks are precocial and can walk within 5 to 24 hours of hatching. Young may remain with their father for up to 2 years.

Sexual maturity: About 18 months of age.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded. Females may leave after laying, join non-breeding birds and lay again with another mate.

Timing can shift with rainfall, food and local conditions, and breeding timing and productivity are poorly documented for some regions, including coastal New South Wales.

  • Courtship and mating: Pairs form in summer and autumn, with mating reported in winter and courtship calls most frequent during the breeding season.
  • Nest building and egg laying: Nests are built on the ground, and a clutch is usually laid in May or June.
  • Male incubation: The male incubates the eggs continuously for about 8 to 10 weeks and waits for the clutch to hatch.
  • Chicks and dependent young: Chicks hatch after incubation, remain with the male and may stay with him for up to 2 years.
  • Foraging and broad-scale movement: Emus are active throughout the year and may move widely in response to food, water and mate availability, rather than following a fixed migration schedule.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing, construction, fire and vehicle activity pose the greatest breeding risk from May to October, when nests, eggs and dependent young may be present.

Identification: Appearance and size

Emus are large, flightless running birds with long legs, a long neck and reduced wings. They may occur alone, in pairs, family groups or loose groups.

Adults have shaggy grey-brown to dark brown plumage, with black-tipped feathers. The head and upper neck have sparse feathering, with blue skin on the face and upper neck.

The legs are long and powerful. Each foot has three forward-facing toes with sharp claws. Females are usually larger than males.

  • Adults stand up to 2 m tall.
  • Adults can weigh up to 55 kg.
  • Chicks are cream coloured with dark brown stripes.
  • Young birds lose much of their striping by about 3 to 5 months of age.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Calls include bubbling, grunting and deep drumming or booming sounds. The drumming sound is produced with a tracheal pouch and is used most often during courtship. It can be heard from more than 100 m away.

Emus are distinctive in Australia. Cassowaries are the main similar large flightless bird group, but they have a more compact body, a casque and different habitat associations.

Identification: Field signs

Look for large three-toed tracks, feathers, droppings and broad paths through grass or low vegetation. Emu tracks and signs can occur well away from the animal because individuals move widely.

Ground nests are made from trampled grass, leaves, twigs and bark. A nest may be at the base of vegetation and often has good visibility around it.

  • Check open ground, track edges, cleared areas and soft substrates for tracks.
  • Search along roads, trails, farm edges and movement pathways.
  • Treat repeated tracks, feathers or droppings as evidence of regular use, even when no birds are seen.

Distribution: Range in Australia

Emus occur across most of mainland Australia and use a wide range of climatic regions. They avoid thickly forested areas and are generally absent from densely settled regions.

The species is mapped in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Wild emus are extinct in Tasmania according to the regional population information, although Tasmania is included in the broader state mapping context.

Emus occur from the dry plains of central Australia to tropical woodlands in the north and cold high country. They are generally absent from dense forest and heavily urbanised areas.

  • In Victoria, emus occur across most of the state but are generally absent from the central district and densely populated areas.
  • In north-eastern New South Wales, the endangered coastal population is restricted mainly to areas between Evans Head and Red Rock, with a small isolated population near Bungawalbin.
  • The coastal NSW population is genetically different from other Australian emu populations.
  • The north-eastern NSW population profile includes parts of the NSW North Coast, South Eastern Queensland and the Hunter area of the Sydney Basin.

Distribution: Movement across a site

Emus move around their home range in response to climate, food and water availability. They may remain in one area when resources are reliable, or travel long distances when conditions are poor.

On development sites, assess the wider landscape rather than treating an individual sighting as an isolated event. Birds may cross roads, paddocks, plantations, heathland and open woodland during the same movement period.

  • Map tracks, sightings, water points, food trees, open travel routes and fence lines.
  • Check connections between habitat patches and known crossing points.
  • Allow for movement outside the immediate clearing footprint.

Distribution: State and population listings

The emu is an EVNT species. It is listed as near threatened in the Northern Territory and endangered in South Australia.

The coastal emu population in north-eastern New South Wales is an endangered population. South Australian Rare and Tasmanian Rare listings, and Western Australian Priority 4, are treated as near threatened equivalents in the relevant state context. Queensland near threatened animals are protected wildlife, and interference with a breeding place requires a species management program.

  • Confirm the current state or territory listing before works begin.
  • Where a listing applies to a particular population, confirm whether the work area falls within that population’s mapped range.
  • Scale survey and mitigation to the local listing and the presence of breeding birds, eggs or chicks.

Habitat: Vegetation and landforms

Emus favour open or lightly covered country where they can walk, run, feed and see approaching threats. They use both natural and modified landscapes, provided food, water and movement routes remain available.

Suitable habitat includes open arid plains, grasslands, heathland, shrubland, open woodland, shrubby woodland, forest edges, swamps and sedgelands. Emus also use tropical woodlands, high country and coastal forests that are sufficiently open.

On the NSW north coast, they occur in open lowland habitats, ecotones and occasionally littoral rainforest. They may also use tea-tree plantations, open farmland and other lightly vegetated areas.

  • Open plains and paddocks.
  • Heath and shrubland.
  • Open woodland and forest edges.
  • Swamp, sedgeland and other wet lowland communities.
  • Ecotones between these vegetation types.

Habitat: Features to check before clearing

Inspect open ground and lightly vegetated areas for tracks, feathers, droppings, feeding signs and nests. Check habitat links beyond the clearing boundary because emus may need to move between food, water and shelter.

Give particular attention to lowland coastal habitat, farmland interfaces, plantations, road verges and open corridors through otherwise denser vegetation.

  • Map water sources and wet areas.
  • Identify open travel routes between habitat patches.
  • Record fences, gates and other barriers that could funnel birds towards roads.
  • Retain large food trees and connected native vegetation where practicable.

Habitat: Site assessment

A single site visit may miss emus because they can move widely and may avoid people. Use recent records, local knowledge and searches of adjacent habitat to build a site picture.

For extensive areas, plan searches across representative open habitat and likely movement routes. Use vehicle or aerial transects over open country where appropriate, with suitably experienced observers.

Foraging habitat: Food resources

Emus are omnivorous and take food from plants, the ground and shallow cover. Their diet changes with seasonal availability, so a site can remain useful even when a particular food source is absent during one visit.

Food includes leaves, grasses, fruits, seeds, foliage, other native plant material and invertebrates, mainly insects. In spring and summer, flowers and seeds can be important. Young grass after summer rain and herbs in winter can also provide food.

Emus disperse large native seeds over long distances. Retaining fruiting plants and connected feeding habitat can therefore support both emus and broader vegetation recovery.

  • Fruiting and seeding native plants.
  • Flowering plants and seasonal grass growth.
  • Open grassland and low herb cover.
  • Leafy shrubs, woodland edges and forest margins.
  • Areas with abundant insects after rain or seasonal outbreaks.

Foraging habitat: Foraging signs

Look for freshly disturbed vegetation, cropped grass, browsed leaves, scattered fruit and tracks between feeding areas. Emus pick up food from plants or the ground and toss it back into the throat before swallowing.

The species swallows large pebbles to help grind food, so grit and small stones may occur in frequently used feeding areas.

  • Search around fruiting trees and native seed sources.
  • Inspect open areas beside woodland and shrubland.
  • Record feeding signs together with tracks and droppings.
  • Avoid removing food trees or blocking access to them with fencing.

Foraging habitat: Management during works

Stage clearing so that emus can move away from machinery and retain links to nearby open habitat. Do not drive birds towards roads, dense fencing or enclosed areas.

Where practical, schedule vegetation removal outside the local breeding and nesting season, subject to the relevant approval and species management requirements.

  • Use a fauna spotter catcher for active clearing fronts.
  • Stop work if an emu, nest, egg or dependent chick is found in the work area.
  • Keep dogs out of active work and habitat areas.
  • Protect fruiting trees, open feeding areas and movement corridors.

Breeding habitat: Nest sites

Emus nest on the ground in open or lightly covered country. The male incubates the eggs and remains with the chicks after hatching, so disturbance can affect both the nest and the attending bird.

A nest is a scraped ground site or platform made from grass, twigs, leaves and bark. Nests are often at the base of vegetation and may be placed where the attending male has good views around the nest.

Search open woodland, heathland, shrubland, grassland, farmland, plantation edges and other lightly covered areas. Ground nests can be difficult to see, particularly where grass, leaf litter or debris is present.

  • Inspect the base of shrubs and low vegetation.
  • Check open rises, clearings and sites with good visibility.
  • Search along the edges of tracks, paddocks and woodland.
  • Look for trampled vegetation, dark green eggs, feathers or a sitting male.

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing and behaviour

Most breeding in the north-eastern NSW population occurs in late autumn and winter. Other regional accounts describe pairing in summer and autumn and mating in winter, so local timing can vary.

The female leaves after laying. The male incubates the eggs for about 8 to 10 weeks and provides parental care. Chicks are precocial and can walk within 5 to 24 hours of hatching.

  • Clutch size is commonly 5 to 20 eggs, with some regional accounts recording 5 to 15 eggs.
  • Young may remain with their father for up to 2 years.
  • Emus may nest singly rather than in colonies.

Breeding habitat: Protection during clearing

Before ground disturbance, complete a targeted search for nests and attending males across the proposed clearing area and nearby open habitat. Increase vigilance during late autumn and winter, and follow any local permit, approval or species management conditions.

If a nest, egg, male on a nest or dependent chick is found, stop work in the immediate area and obtain advice from the project ecologist or relevant wildlife authority. Do not move eggs, chicks or the attending male without approval.

  • Mark the location and record photographs, coordinates and habitat details.
  • Keep machinery, vehicles, people and dogs away from the breeding site.
  • Review nearby fencing, roads and fire activities that could affect the male or chicks.
  • Use a staged clearing approach where breeding activity is suspected.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter and cover

Specific roosting and shelter structures are not well documented for emus. Their main shelter needs on works sites are open movement space, low cover and safe access to food and water.

Emus use a range of open and lightly wooded environments rather than a specialised roost structure. Low shrubs, heath, woodland edges, grassland and lightly covered forest can provide cover while retaining visibility.

Avoid assuming that dense vegetation is unused habitat. Emus may use edges and small openings within broader vegetation communities.

  • Retain connected low cover and open clearings.
  • Maintain access between feeding areas and water.
  • Avoid creating narrow fenced passages or dead ends.
  • Keep temporary materials, spoil and waste out of likely travel routes.

Sheltering habitat: Movement routes

Adult emus may wander widely in search of food, water and mates. Fencing can restrict movement and increase the chance of road collisions, particularly in coastal NSW.

Assess the combined effect of permanent fences, temporary construction fencing, stockyards, drains, gates and traffic routes.

  • Provide usable gaps or gates where approved and safe.
  • Remove temporary fencing when no longer needed.
  • Keep escape routes open during clearing.
  • Check that barriers do not funnel birds towards active roads or machinery.

Sheltering habitat: Field approach

Emus are conspicuous but can be missed if they are moving away from observers or using cover. Search from a distance where possible and avoid pursuing birds into fences, roads or dense vegetation.

Use sightings, tracks and repeated movement observations to identify areas requiring additional controls.

  • Brief all workers before starting clearing.
  • Slow vehicles where emus or signs are present, especially around dawn and dusk.
  • Maintain plenty of space for birds to leave the work area.
  • Report injured or trapped birds through the project fauna response procedure.

Threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation

Development can add to existing pressures by removing habitat, restricting movement and increasing collision or disturbance risk. The coastal NSW population is especially sensitive because fewer than 50 individuals remain in the known population, and long-term chick survival is very low.

Agricultural, rural and urban development has reduced and fragmented emu habitat. Clearing can remove feeding areas, nesting sites and links between subpopulations.

Weed or native shrub encroachment can also reduce the open structure emus need for movement and visibility.

  • Avoid clearing open native habitat and habitat connections where practicable.
  • Retain food trees, heath, grassland, woodland edges and wetland vegetation.
  • Consider the wider movement route, not only the vegetation within the construction footprint.
  • Rehabilitate disturbed areas with locally appropriate native vegetation.

Threats: Road strike and barriers

Vehicle collisions are a major threat, particularly where emus regularly cross roads. Fences can restrict movement and make it harder for birds to move away from traffic.

High-tension fencing, barb wire, wire mesh and some multi-strand fences can impede movement. New roads, temporary traffic routes and construction compounds can create additional hazards.

  • Map known crossing points before works begin.
  • Use low speeds and active vehicle awareness in emu habitat.
  • Keep stockpiles, compounds and fencing away from movement corridors where possible.
  • Inspect fences regularly for trapped or entangled wildlife.

Threats: Predation, dogs and human disturbance

Red foxes, feral pigs, wild dogs, feral dogs and domestic dogs can prey on eggs and young. Dogs can also harass and injure adult emus.

Construction activity, people, vehicles and machinery near nests can cause the attending male to leave or expose chicks to danger.

  • Keep domestic dogs away from work areas and emu habitat.
  • Manage food waste and other attractants around compounds.
  • Control pest predators in accordance with the approved site program.
  • Use spotter catchers and stop-work procedures around nests and chicks.

Threats: Fire and direct harm

Inappropriate fire regimes can make habitat unsuitable. Fires or control burns in nesting areas, and back-burning that traps birds fleeing fire, can kill adults, chicks and eggs.

Deliberate poisoning or shooting is also recorded as a threat. Fire planning and site security should account for emu movement and breeding areas.

  • Check for nests before planned burns or high-risk clearing.
  • Do not burn known nesting habitat without the required approvals and controls.
  • Maintain escape routes during fire and emergency works.
  • Report suspected deliberate harm, injured birds and nest destruction through the relevant authority or project response process.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Emus are large, conspicuous terrestrial birds, but they can move widely and may be missed in dense vegetation or during movement between feeding areas. Survey effort should focus on open and lightly covered habitat, movement routes, water and likely nesting areas.

Review recent records, aerial imagery, roads, fences, water points, open habitat and likely movement routes before visiting the site.

Map grassland, heathland, shrubland, open woodland, farmland, swamp, sedgeland and ecotones. Include nearby habitat that may be used outside the work area.

Check for known breeding or nesting records, road strike locations and records of the endangered coastal emu population in north eastern New South Wales.

Treat sites in the coastal emu range, especially between Evans Head and Red Rock and around Bungawalbin, as high sensitivity sites. Confirm current state listing and approval requirements before work starts.

  • Record the proposed disturbance footprint, access tracks, laydown areas, fence lines, lighting and areas where animals may be driven towards roads.

Survey methodology: 2. Ground and vehicle searches

Search suitable habitat on foot for emus, chicks, eggs, nests, tracks, feathers and dung. Search around the work area as well as within it.

Use vehicle transects over extensive open country where this is safe and suitable. Use aerial searches only where authorised, safe and likely to improve coverage.

Look for ground nests made from grass, twigs, leaves or bark, often at the base of vegetation and with a clear view from the nest.

Search during daylight in conditions that allow tracks and signs to be seen. Avoid relying on a single visit when habitat is dense, visibility is poor or recent weather may have reduced sign persistence.

  • Walk slowly through open habitat and inspect vegetation bases, ground depressions, tracks, fence lines, dams and road verges.
  • Use binoculars to inspect open country before entering it.
  • Do not approach a sitting male or nest closely unless this is necessary for an authorised assessment.

Survey methodology: 3. Timing and repeat coverage

Plan surveys across the period when emus are likely to be using the site. Breeding in eastern New South Wales is mainly in late autumn and winter, and clutches are commonly laid in May or June.

Repeat searches when the first visit is inconclusive, particularly where habitat is fragmented or emus can move between farmland, heath and woodland. Emus may travel 15 to 25 km per day and may remain in an area when food and water are available.

There is no predictable migration schedule to use as a substitute for site surveys. Survey timing should reflect local food, water, weather and movement conditions.

  • Give extra attention to early morning and late afternoon when planning road and access inspections, as emus are active at these times.
  • Use motion cameras or targeted community reporting for coastal emu projects where approved by the recovery program.
  • For extensive areas, combine area searches with vehicle transects and local landholder information.

Survey methodology: 4. Records and evidence

Record every observation and sign, including animals outside the construction footprint that could be affected by roads, fencing, noise or changed access to habitat.

Record the date, time, observer, method, location, habitat, number of birds, age class, direction of travel and behaviour.

Photograph tracks, feathers, dung, nests and eggs where this can be done without approaching or disturbing the animal.

Map all nests, likely movement routes, road crossing points, barriers, water sources and areas of repeated use.

  • Record whether an adult is sitting on eggs, whether chicks are present, and whether a male appears to be guarding or attending a nest.
  • Submit records to the relevant state database or threatened species program where required.
  • Escalate suspected records of the coastal emu population promptly to the relevant New South Wales threatened species officer.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Confirm approvals and permits

Avoidance is the preferred control for emus, nests, chicks and movement routes. The level of assessment and supervision should increase for endangered populations and for sites with repeated use, breeding evidence or road and fencing hazards.

Confirm the legal status that applies at the site before clearing or construction. The coastal emu population in north eastern New South Wales is endangered and requires a high level of project control.

Check whether the action requires an EPBC Act referral or approval. Do not assume that a state listing removes Commonwealth obligations where another protected matter may be affected.

Obtain state or territory wildlife permits for handling, relocation, nest disturbance or other regulated actions. Use the relevant New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australian, Tasmanian, Victorian, Queensland or Western Australian requirements for the work location.

In Queensland, check the near threatened protected wildlife requirements. Tampering with a breeding place may require a species management program. In South Australia, consider the endangered or Rare listing that applies. In Western Australia, check the Priority 4 management context.

  • Keep permits, approvals, conditions and contact details for the fauna supervisor on site.
  • Use an approved species management program or recovery action where one is required.
  • Stop work and obtain advice if the approved method no longer matches the animal, nest or habitat found.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Design around habitat and movement

Avoid clearing open habitat, food trees, nesting areas, water access and movement routes wherever practicable.

Retain connected habitat and provide safe passage around work areas. Review fence design because high tension, barbed, mesh and closely spaced strand fences can restrict movement and increase road strike risk.

Keep construction traffic away from known crossing points where practicable. Plan access so animals are not funnelled towards roads, drains, steep edges or active machinery.

Do not set a generic buffer without considering the nest, visibility, terrain, traffic and the animal's escape route. Have the ecologist or relevant authority set the site specific exclusion area.

  • Mark exclusion areas clearly before plant arrives.
  • Remove or modify unnecessary temporary fencing.
  • Use fauna friendly fencing where fencing cannot be avoided, subject to project approval and engineering requirements.
  • Retain clear escape routes from the work area to suitable open habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Complete the pre-clearance check

Complete a final pre-clearance inspection shortly before each work stage. Recheck areas that were previously clear because emus move across large areas and nests are on the ground.

Inspect for adults, chicks, eggs, nests, fresh tracks, dung, feathers and animals sheltering near vegetation, stock yards, dams and access tracks.

Treat a nest with eggs or a male showing incubation behaviour as an active breeding place. Do not enter or disturb it until the fauna ecologist and relevant authority have confirmed the response.

Increase checks during late autumn and winter, including May and June, when breeding activity is more likely in eastern New South Wales.

  • Walk the full disturbance footprint, including temporary works and vehicle routes.
  • Check both sides of proposed fence lines and all areas where vegetation will be pushed, mulched or stockpiled.
  • Document the inspection and release each work zone in writing.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induct the crew

Tell all workers how to identify an emu, chick, nest, eggs, tracks and fresh dung. Show photographs and the site exclusion markings.

Explain that emus can run quickly, may move suddenly onto roads and can defend themselves with powerful kicks.

Give the fauna spotter catcher authority to stop work and to change the clearing sequence when an animal, nest or unexpected hazard is found.

Set low speed limits for site vehicles and require extra care at dawn and dusk.

  • Keep dogs out of the work area and control domestic animals near the site.
  • Do not chase, feed, corner or handle an emu.
  • Provide the fauna supervisor, wildlife carer, veterinarian and regulator contact details at the site office and in vehicle packs.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Clear in stages

Use a slow, staged clearing process that allows emus to leave safely. A fauna spotter catcher must control the immediate work area and stop the activity whenever an animal, nest or unsafe escape route is identified.

Start at the edge of the approved footprint and work towards retained habitat, while keeping a clear route for animals to move away from plant.

Clear small sections progressively. Inspect the next section before machinery enters it.

Keep machinery, workers and vehicles out of exclusion areas. Do not use fire, back burning or smoke to move emus from a work area.

Pause when visibility is poor, an animal is moving through the site, or work would push an emu towards a road, fence or steep hazard.

  • Use a spotter catcher at the active clearing edge and at likely escape points.
  • Check retained vegetation and adjoining habitat after each clearing stage.
  • Close gates and manage temporary fencing so animals are not trapped.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Respond to animals and breeding places

If an emu is found, stop nearby work and allow it time and space to leave. Keep people and plant back and keep the escape route open.

Do not pursue or catch a healthy adult unless an authorised wildlife professional directs the action and the required permit is in place.

If eggs, chicks or an incubating male are found, stop work and establish a site specific exclusion area. Seek advice from the project ecologist and relevant regulator before resuming.

Emus do not form breeding colonies or use tree hollows, nest boxes or bat boxes. Treat any confirmed ground nest as an active breeding place and protect it from disturbance.

  • Keep observers quiet and reduce vehicle movement around an active nest.
  • Do not move eggs, chicks or a sitting male without written authority and an approved handling plan.
  • Record the location, condition and behaviour of the animal or breeding place before leaving the area.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handle only when authorised

Only trained and authorised wildlife personnel may capture, restrain, transport or relocate an emu. Use the least handling needed to protect the animal.

Do not attempt capture with untrained staff, vehicles or improvised barriers. Emus can injure people with their legs and can suffer stress and injury during restraint.

Use a veterinarian or licensed wildlife carer for an injured, exhausted or compromised animal. Keep the animal quiet, shaded and away from public access while advice is obtained, unless the attending professional directs otherwise.

  • Never transport an animal without the required permit and an agreed release or care location.
  • Keep a clear record of who handled the animal, why it was handled, where it was taken and who accepted care.
  • Do not release a relocated animal into an area where roads, fences, dogs or unsuitable habitat create an immediate risk.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Manage an injury or incident

Stop work after a collision, entrapment, fence strike, dog attack or other injury. Protect the animal from traffic and further disturbance without placing workers at risk.

Contact the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian and regulator. Follow their direction on containment, treatment, transport and release.

Report any death, injury, nest disturbance, egg damage, chick loss or unauthorised handling under the project approval and state requirements.

  • Photograph the scene only when this can be done safely and without delaying care.
  • Record the time, location, activity, equipment, witnesses, animal condition and immediate controls.
  • Review nearby fencing, traffic routes and lighting before work recommences.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Complete post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that animals have not been trapped and that the approved footprint was not exceeded. Monitoring should be scaled to the listing, the amount of habitat removed and the presence of breeding or movement records.

Inspect the cleared area, retained vegetation, fence lines, drains, pits, stockpiles and access routes after each clearing stage.

Look for trapped or injured emus, chicks, eggs, fresh tracks, feathers and signs of animals attempting to cross the site.

Check that temporary fencing, gates and other structures have not blocked movement or forced animals towards roads.

Keep the spotter catcher on site for the period specified in the approval and until the area is confirmed safe.

  • Search around plant, materials, trenches, water points and shaded edges before demobilising.
  • Close or cover pits and trenches, or provide safe escape features approved by the fauna ecologist.
  • Remove unused temporary barriers and waste that could trap wildlife.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Report and close out

Complete a fauna clearance report for each work stage. Include survey dates, personnel, weather, methods, areas checked, findings, exclusions, incidents and actions taken.

Submit records and reports to the approval holder, project manager and relevant regulator within the required timeframe.

Update the site map with animal records, nests, movement routes, collision points, modified fences and rehabilitation areas.

For coastal emu projects, share relevant records with the New South Wales threatened species program where requested.

  • Retain photographs, GPS records, permits, release details, veterinary advice and spotter catcher logs.
  • Record nil findings as well as animal observations.
  • Document any departure from the approved method and the corrective action.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitor animals and movement

Monitor retained habitat, movement routes and road crossings where the project has changed access, fencing, traffic or food and water availability.

Use repeat area searches, vehicle observations, motion cameras or community reporting where these methods are suitable and approved.

Give higher monitoring effort to endangered coastal emu sites, isolated populations, sites with nests or chicks, and areas with previous road strike or fence incidents.

Review monitoring during the first wet and dry conditions after construction where this will show whether animals continue to use the site.

  • Record animals, chicks, tracks, dung, feathers, road crossings, fence interactions and changes in habitat use.
  • Compare observations with the pre-clearance baseline.
  • Keep monitoring long enough to identify recurring hazards, rather than treating one clear inspection as proof that the site is safe.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Review incidents and controls

Hold a site review after any injury, death, nest disturbance, escape from an exclusion area or repeated animal entry into the work zone.

Identify whether the cause was traffic, fencing, lighting, food and water changes, poor visibility, inadequate induction or a failure in the clearing sequence.

Update the fauna management plan, exclusion markings, fence design, traffic controls and induction before the next work stage.

  • Consult the fauna ecologist and regulator when controls have failed or a listed population may be affected.
  • Close out each corrective action with a named person and date.
  • Use incident findings to improve controls on other nearby projects.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat and movement

Rehabilitation should restore connected open and lightly wooded habitat, food resources and safe movement. Emu nests are ground nests, so standard nest boxes, bat boxes and elevated roost structures are not suitable substitutes.

Reinstate native grassland, heathland, shrubland, open woodland, swamp, sedgeland and suitable ecotones that were disturbed by the project.

Use locally appropriate native plants that provide foliage, fruits, seeds and cover. Retain mature food trees and natural ground structure where possible.

Reconnect retained habitat and remove unnecessary barriers. Design permanent fences so emus can move between feeding, nesting and water areas without being funnelled towards roads.

Protect restored areas from vehicles, stock, dogs and repeated disturbance while vegetation establishes.

  • Shape rehabilitation areas to keep clear sight lines and safe escape routes.
  • Remove spoil, wire, plastic and other hazards from likely movement areas.
  • Use staged planting and natural regeneration where this is more suitable than dense planting.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Protect and restore breeding places

Protect known ground nests and surrounding habitat under the project approval and advice of the relevant authority.

Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial hollows or elevated roost structures for emus. These structures do not match emu breeding biology.

Only create an artificial nest site if it forms part of an approved, species specific recovery action. Obtain advice before placing materials or changing ground cover near a known breeding area.

Retain low vegetation, leaf litter and natural ground features that can support a nest without creating dense cover that limits visibility or increases predator risk.

  • Keep people, dogs, vehicles and machinery away from known nest areas.
  • Do not remove nest material, eggs or chicks during rehabilitation works.
  • Schedule ground works outside the locally relevant breeding period where the authority or recovery plan requires it.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Control weeds and manage fire

Control weeds that reduce access to food plants, movement routes or nesting habitat. Use methods that avoid disturbing active nests and chicks.

Plan fire management with the land manager and threatened species ecologist. Avoid burning or back burning through known nesting areas or in ways that can trap fleeing emus.

Retain a mosaic of suitable open and lightly covered habitat, while preventing dense weed or shrub encroachment from closing movement routes.

Inspect rehabilitation after fire, flood, drought and major weed treatment.

  • Mark known nests and movement routes on fire plans.
  • Use hand control or targeted treatment around sensitive habitat where broad disturbance would be harmful.
  • Replace damaged native ground cover and repair erosion after management works.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Manage water, roads and lighting

Maintain safe access to existing water and feeding areas where these resources are part of the local movement pattern. Prevent steep-sided pits, open tanks and drains from becoming traps.

Keep traffic slow in areas with emu records, especially at dawn and dusk. Use signs and other approved controls where road crossings are known.

Avoid lighting that spills into retained habitat or movement routes. Use the lowest practical intensity, direct lights away from habitat and switch off unnecessary lighting.

Inspect road edges, culverts, fences and water infrastructure during post-construction monitoring.

  • Fit safe escape measures to water infrastructure where approved by the fauna ecologist.
  • Remove temporary lighting and construction barriers when no longer needed.
  • Investigate every road strike or fence interaction and modify the hazard promptly.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Continue long term monitoring

Set monitoring objectives that match the listing and project risk. Use more intensive and longer term monitoring for the endangered coastal emu population and for sites with breeding or repeated road use.

Track habitat condition, emu presence, chicks, nesting, movement routes, fencing, road crossings and predator activity.

Use monitoring results to adjust weed control, fencing, traffic management, fire planning and habitat restoration.

Keep landholders and local conservation programs involved where the site forms part of a wider movement route or isolated population.

  • Inspect rehabilitation at agreed intervals and after major weather or fire events.
  • Compare results with the pre-construction records and report population or habitat changes.
  • Continue controls until the site supports stable habitat and no recurring project related hazard is identified.

Sources