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Consider the Ostrich
Do they really stick their heads in the sand?
© Peter Price
The flightless Ostrich is a bird of superlatives. It's the largest and tallest bird on the planet, growing to maybe eight feet tall, and weighing 250 pounds! It's also the fastest creature on two legs, capable of running at 40 miles an hour. Ostriches have never been observed to stick their heads in the sand. When threatened, they're more likely to run away. But if an Ostrich senses danger and can't run away, it lies down and remains still. Send this show to a friend! Click on the email icon to share it. Thanks!
BirdNote®
Consider the Ostrich
By John Kessler
This is BirdNote!
The Ostrich is a bird of superlatives...the largest and tallest bird on the planet...some growing to fully eight feet tall, and weighing 250 pounds! It’s also the fastest creature on two legs, capable of running at 40 miles an hour.
[Whooping sound of an Ostrich]
Being the tallest and fastest is the secret of the Ostrich’s ability to survive in the dry savannahs of Africa, where this flightless bird still lives in the wild.
[Whooping sound of an Ostrich]
The long, flexible neck allows the Ostrich to feed on the ground, and raise its head high where its keen eyes scan for lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Birds with similar features are the Emu in Australia and the Rhea in South America. These birds can be flightless in an environment full of predators, because they all have long necks, sharp eyes, and legs that can outrun their predators.
Contrary to popular belief, Ostriches have never been observed to stick their heads in the sand. They’re more likely to run away when threatened, but—if an Ostrich senses danger and can’t run away—it lies down and remains still, with head and neck outstretched.
We end with a short poem for a big bird, The Ostrich, by Ogden Nash
The Ostrich roams the great Sahara.
Its mouth is wide, its neck is narra.
It has such long and lofty legs,
I'm glad it sits to lay its eggs.
[Whooping sound of an Ostrich]
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Call of the Ostrich provided by Martyn Stewart, Naturesound Productions
Ambient sound of African savannah from Kenyan rift valley, background to elephant eating, G. F. Budney.
Producer: John Kessler
Executive Producer: Chris Peterson
© 2014 Tune In to Nature.org February 2014 / 2021 Narrator: Michael Stein
ID#021006OSTRKPLU ostrich-01b-2010-02-05-MS
Sights & Sounds
