A pet male emu in WA's south has continued to brood on an empty nest each year, despite his mate dying two years ago.
The tale of 26-year-old Ed has struck a chord with ABC Great Southern's audiences, with thousands sharing an image of Ed brooding on the empty nest.
Ed belongs to Kojonup farmer Rino Guidi, who bought him and his mate together.
"We just let them go into the paddock … that's where they lived," Mr Guidi said.
Ed's mate died two years ago, but each nesting season he continues to brood on the pair's old nesting site.
"He's been sitting down — he thinks he's got eggs underneath him, but he ain't," Mr Guidi said.
"I put chicken eggs under him once, for a trial. It didn't work."
Male emus perform the incubation of eggs, often without drinking, feeding, defecating or leaving the nest for weeks, according to the Australian Museum.
The male emu then raises the chicks for four to six months.
Ed has become something of a tourist attraction on Albany Highway, with tourists stopping for a photo.
"A lot of people ring me up or stop. A lot of people ask to go and have a look," Mr Guidi said.
"I'm the only one who can handle him, only me. He chases others away."
