Ostrich

[nan]

30.1.2012

playing



returning in the dunes

[Amoli]

Great pics everyone

Nan, I have never seen them in water before... wow.


so.....

what came first

the egg

or the ostrich...




The female ostrich lays her fertilised eggs in a single communal nest, a simple pit, 30–60 cm (12–24 in) deep and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide,[42] scraped in the ground by the male.

The dominant female lays her eggs first, and when it is time to cover them for incubation she discards extra eggs from the weaker females, leaving about 20 in most cases.

A female ostrich can distinguish her own eggs from the others in a communal nest.

Ostrich eggs are the largest of all eggs,[44] though they are actually the smallest eggs relative to the size of the adult bird

The eggs are incubated by the dominant female by day and by the male by night, using the colouration of the two sexes to escape detection of the nest, as the drab female blends in with the sand, while the black male is nearly undetectable in the dark.

When the eggs hatch after 35 to 45 days incubation, the male usually defends the hatchlings and teaches them to feed, although males and females cooperate in rearing chicks.



I got a fright while riding behind these ostriches when some babies would just fall over. It seem they took a quick rest and then follow their mamma again...

[Amoli]

New chicks are fawn in colour, with dark brown spots.

During the first year of life, chicks grow at about 25 cm (9.8 in) per month. You can see the difference between the 2 pics below.

At one year of age, ostriches weigh approximately 45 kilograms (99 lb).

Their lifespan is up to 40–45 years.





Ostriches can go without drinking for several days, using metabolic water and moisture in ingested roots, seeds and insects, but they enjoy liquid water and frequently take baths where it is available. (Like in Nan's pictures )

The ostrich has the largest eye of any land animal, measuring almost 5 cm across, allowing predators such as lions to be seen at long distances

The ostrich is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs, and can run at up to about 70 km/h (43 mph), the fastest land speed of any bird. With their acute eyesight and hearing, ostriches can sense predators such as lions from far away.

The wild ostrich population has declined drastically in the last 200 years, with most surviving birds in game parks or on farms.

[Amoli]

The ostrich is farmed around the world, particularly for its feathers, which are decorative and are also used as feather dusters. Its skin is used for leather products and its meat is marketed commercially

In some African countries, people race each other on the back of ostriches with special saddles, reins, and bits.




While visiting an Ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, my daughter (then aged 14) had the honour of riding an ostrich.

Summer fashion




Winter fashion

[nan]

Addo
17.10.2012

West Coast
7.3.2011

Augrabies
7.10.2012 the leak

[nan]

lot of chicks 12.11.2011

and only one 27.4.2007


some youngster 21.1.2012


près de MM 28.3.2013

MEL in the back... in white

[nan]

a dead one just before Nossob
but nobody around to eat it

17.9.2012

[nan]

12.2.2011

spot the animals 25.2.2011

25.2.2011

15.1.2012

[nan]

Kglagadi 16.9.2012

[Lisbeth]

West Coast