Maybe you've heard of the Great Emu War, popularly known as that time Australia declared war on a bird, and lost. But what is the real story? Was in a war, or was it a tokenistic pest control operation ... with machine guns? This week we dive into the misguided story. We learn some fun facts about Emus and meet the mysterious Major G. P. W. Meredith, the officer placed in command of the operation. *Correction, I say the men were armed with Maxim Machine guns, they were actually Lewis Machine guns, please pardon my slip.  To support Bird of the Week and gain access to our second podcast, What's up with that's Bird's Name? click on through to Patreon: www.patreon.com/birdoftheweek Want birds in your inbox? Drop me a line at [email protected] and I'll hook you up with a free weekly bird. Would you like some bird art in your life? Then visit Seni Illustration for some bespoke bird art: https://www.seniillustrations.com/ Notes The Emu: https://ebird.org/species/emu1?siteLanguage=en_AUFlightless Birds episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1733312/11317493-flightless-birdsAustralian Coat of Arms: https://www.pmc.gov.au/government/commonwealth-coat-armsEmus can walk backwards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65-XthWr9kY&ab_channel=CheepChickenpeepTinamous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinamou#Egg-layingSir George Pearce: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_PearceGwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/i-was-only-doing-my-job-by-ros-3994702/episodes/the-great-emu-war-hbrig-gen-gw-126143343John Cleese Emu War movie: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-cleese-jim-jefferies-great-emu-war-2021-afm-1235037607/