The Walking Bongo Circle

Day 1: Thunder Ridge Emu Farm
Back in the van, back on the road, back to business. Our next stop was Thunder Ridge Emu Farm, a truly unique operation nestled in the gorgeous rolling hills of Virginia. After meeting the proprietor at the farm’s business office in downtown Manassas, we followed his pickup to the farm itself. Which turned out to be far more exciting than the storefront.. After driving down narrow country roads through fields and forest, past stone walls, fences, and small farms, we arrived at Thunder Ridge…

Emus are curious creatures; they look sorta like mini ostriches or enormous chickens on stilts; big, two-legged, top-heavy birds with lean, muscular legs and menacing talons. When chased by the farm’s spunky little resident dog, the emus moved swiftly in a strange, fluid group; it’s a bit like watching a flock of birds fly through the air. Except on the ground.. running with big, unbalanced torsos atop two skinny legs. It’s quite the spectacle. But the emu’s most peculiar characteristic is the sound it makes; “sounds like a drum, the farmer explained, “which led me to anticipate the sharp, rattley-crack-crack of snare drum ” so I was surprised, after approaching the fence, to hear a chorus of high-pitched, hollow thumps like a circle of bongo drums, each tuned to different pitches; dumdumdum-dum-dum – dum – dum – dum dum-dum-dum – dum – dum – dum – dum dum dum dum We all agreed that the sound of these birds, were one to come across a flock while traveling in the wilderness, would be quite unnerving.