Birds of a feather

The Outback is more than just a steakhouse - it's a huge part of Australia. And down there, there are plenty of wild stories.

Like these two siblings, named Kevin and Carol. They have been banned from the only hotel in this one town down under.  Everyone on the first floor loved it when Kevin and Carol cavorted around in their amusing fashion.

But then Kevin and Carol started ascending the stairs. And now they go chasing each other around the pub of the Yaraka Hotel in Queensland. They steal toast and french fries from other people sitting there trying to have their dinner.

I guess this is a good time to mention that Kevin and Carol are emus.

SO the hotel put up a sign that also serves as a barrier to the staircase. It says, "Emus have been banned from this establishment for bad behavior," and it asks any humans to put the "emu barrier" sign back in place when they climb the stairs.

"We put the sign up, but we're not quite sure whether they're able to read or not," the hotel's co-owner, Gerry Gimblett, says. "So, we've had to put a bar across there, as well."

The emus are smart enough to figure that people will trade them a quick snack in return for having them pose for a selfie. But, "the interesting thing is when people are making toast in the annex, a head comes across, takes the toast and gobbles it up as it pops," Gimblett told the Brisbane Times.

And his wife, Chris, told NPR, "It is not safe to get between an emu and food; they have a sharp strong beak and their long neck can suck up food like a high powered vacuum cleaner."

Chris Gimblett says she is willing to overlook the birds' minor peccadilloes (such as running around stealing food and chasing patrons). She found them were they were just two eggs in an abandoned nest.  All their brothers and sisters have moved on.

Se's glad Kevin and Carol have stuck around — two survivors of a nest full of eggs that was found abandoned. All their brothers and sisters have since moved on.

Leanne Byrne is the local resident who actually raised them from yolk status and she points out that their behavior wouldn't be quite so irritating if they had better control of their bowels.  "They're a tad incontinent" is how she puts it.

Still, here I am, saying they aren't as irritating as the emu in that insurance commercial.