The Cornish National bird is actually the Cornish Chough, as featured on the Cornish coat of arms. Although sadly the Cornish chough is now extinct and the last known native bird passed away in 1973. This extinction was due to a combination of them being shot for sport and the destruction of their natural habitat to make way for farmland.
So there are now actually more Emus in Cornwall than Cornish Choughs. However, the good news is that in recent years, several mating pairs of Chough have moved to Cornwall from Ireland and their numbers are starting to grow, with 118 recorded birds nesting in Cornwall at the last count.
However Edmund here claims that these birds are not Cornish choughs at all..... he says that they are Irish choughs with no sense of direction. He also believes that he is in with a shout at being the new national bird of Cornwall.
I will therefor be sending his photo to the people at the National heraldic society and to Burke's Peerage advising them of his claim and requesting that they replace the chough on the Cornish coat of arms with the Cornish Emu. I will keep you informed as to his progress in this matter.
I know emus are bossy, but Edmund certainly takes the cake - or should I say coat of arms?? Now if he pushes the chough (which I've never seen a photo of - your next task!) off your coat of arms, this will mean he has to be removed from ours :)
will have to look up a Cornish/Irish chough but I love love love EMUS