Mammals: Interesting or Unusual Behaviour

[Mel]

And that crowned eagle is really sweet

[ExFmem]

[Pumbaa]

Richprins and Garth - Very interesting indeed

[Ratel]

Hi all

Regarding the Ostrich sitting down to drink, Emus will do the same thing. On hot days they may also sit in the water while doing so!

Many birds have to raise their head to swallow. I'm no expert on the anatomy, but the design and/or musculature is such that gravity is very important for swallowing. With the Ostrich's long neck I assume it is significantly easier to drink from a sitting position (provided the animal feels it is safe enough to do so - a risk one would think when you share your world with Lions and Leopards ).

If Giraffes also had to swallow this way I imagine their necks would not be able to be anywhere near as long.

[Lisbeth]

Obviously this particular ostrich has been on a holiday trip to Australia Nothing like new travel experiences

[Flutterby]

[nan]

thank you Ratel for these explanations

[Richprins]

Rattle!

[leachy]

saw this fellow eating what i can only guess to be some type of cuckoo next to engelhard dam in december

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IMG_4176.jpg (198.01 KiB) Viewed 459 times

[Richprins]

Very interesting, leachy!