Eric the emu gets a police escort
BRIBIE'S most popular resident Eric the emu has placed himself back in the spotlight recently after taking a break from the public eye however some say he is not the only emu ruffling feathers on the island.
For long-term residents, it's hard to ignore Eric's presence especially around Avon Ave and adjacent streets in Banksia Beach where he often takes a break from his National Park home.
Last week readers sent us some hilarious pics after Eric stopped traffic and required a police escort as he decided to leave the quiet streets of Banksia and headed towards the beach.
Bribie resident Peta said police and bystanders had to help to ensure the emu wasn't harmed on the busier road and guided him back to the bush.
"It was too cold for a dip anyway," she said.
Bribie police officer in charge senior sergeant David Crawford-Raby said he was pretty surprised to see Eric had made it to the centre of town.
"I basically looked out the window and could see the emu looking back at me," he said.
"We contacted parks and wildlife who helped to guide him back into the bush."
However as police discovered, guiding a six-feet tall bird to safety wasn't easy.
"He moved on his own time and it was pretty slow," Snr Sgt Crawford-Raby said.
"He was pretty placid and relaxed about it, plenty of people were stopping to take pictures,
"I've never seen him come down this far before."
After the chaos Bribie Weekly was contacted by a number of residents with more traffic stopping news.
In a plot that could rival the Bold and Beautiful, Eric, has an Eddie.
Graeme Douglas first broke the news to us after he spotted a much younger looking Eddie on his travels.
"Like most we were under the impression Eric was the last emu on the island, we were wrong,"
"Eddie is much smaller than Eric but just as friendly. He walked within two feet of me and was very comfortable...possibly more so than I was."
Bribie Island Tourist Information volunteer Doug Yelland confirmed Mr Douglas' claims of Eric's offspring.
"Eddie would be about two to three years old, which is amazing because for a long time we all thought Eric was on his own," Mr Yelland said.
"Eric would have to be at least 20 years old, I think they live up to between 30-40 years."
While Mr Yelland said both emus were quite friendly, he warned not to upset them as they have strong beaks and are fast.
So Bribie Island's resident emu Eric has a son. If that's the case, question is, where is Erica?
