I can't believe I've never heard about the Great Emu War before today. It's guaranteed to be one of the most batsh*t events you've ever come across. Here's the short version:
After WW!, Australian veterans were given a bunch a land to farm. Unfortunately for them, about 20,000 emus then migrated to area and started desecrating the crops. So the farmers went to the Australian government and asked them to do something about the emu problem. Naturally, they sent the military. And they LOST.
One time, the soldiers saw a bunch of the birds, but they were out of range of their guns. So they went to herd them. The emus were TOO SMART FOR THAT AMATEUR BULLSH*T and scattered. One scientist who watched it all go down described the events:
The machine-gunners' dreams of point blank fire into serried masses of Emus were soon dissipated. The Emu command had evidently ordered guerrilla tactics, and its unwieldy army soon split up into innumerable small units that made use of the military equipment uneconomic. A crestfallen field force therefore withdrew from the combat area after about a month.
EMU GUERILLA TACTICS I can't believe this is real life good god I love it.
The emus even changed their system of organization to counter the attacks from the military. I'm serious. They went from traveling in large flocks, to small groups with a leader that would keep watch and warn the other emus when the soldiers were approaching.
Reminder that these are just giant f*cking birds we're talking about.
My favorite point: the military gave up. Just straight up were like "we've been bested." The farmers asked for their intervention 3 more times in later years and were denied. They knew they couldn't win. Absolutely amazing.
Here's the link if you'd like to join me down this emu rabbit hole.
This bird is coming for you. You can't stop him. All you can do is run.