Zoo celebrates Father's Day with emu

Sussex — Space Farms Zoo will celebrate Father’s Day and its Australian emu’s impending fatherhood with a special lecture on emus and a drawing for a free Family Season Pass. Emus breed at two years of age. The dad emu builds the nest, about three feet across with grass and weeds. The mom emu lays up to a dozen teal green oval eggs about the size of a grapefruit. Each egg weighs one and a half pounds. After the mom emu lays the eggs, the dad emu takes over and incubates the eggs for eight weeks. At hatching the chicks are pale gray and black striped. The dad emu takes total charge of his brood. He guards the offspring, guiding them to insects, until they are old enough to take in grains. The chicks stay with the dad emu until mature at eighteen months old. Space Farms Zoo and Museum is located on Route 519 in Sussex and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $13.50 per adult, $9 per child and $12.50 for seniors. For more information call 973-875-5800 or visit www.spacefarms.com.