Ostrich

Discussions and information on all Southern African Birds
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by nan »

Image 30.1.2012

Image playing

Image

Image returning in the dunes


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
Amoli
Posts: 6032
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:30 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Kempton Park
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by Amoli »

Great pics everyone ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

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


so.....

what came first :O^

the egg

or the ostrich... =O:


Image

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.

Image

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... :-0

Image


Pretoriuskop
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
User avatar
Amoli
Posts: 6032
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:30 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Kempton Park
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by 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.

Image

Image

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 \O )

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.


Pretoriuskop
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
User avatar
Amoli
Posts: 6032
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:30 am
Country: South Africa
Location: Kempton Park
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by 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.

Image


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

Summer fashion

Image


Winter fashion

Image


Pretoriuskop
Satara
Shingwedzi
20-30 Dec 2014
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by nan »

Addo
Image 17.10.2012

West Coast
Image 7.3.2011

Augrabies
Image 7.10.2012 the leak :shock:


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by nan »

Image lot of chicks 12.11.2011

Image and only one :-( 27.4.2007


Image some youngster 21.1.2012


Image près de MM 28.3.2013

Image MEL in the back... in white


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by nan »

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

Image 17.9.2012


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by nan »

Image 12.2.2011

Image spot the animals 25.2.2011

Image :-? 25.2.2011

Image 15.1.2012


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
nan
Posts: 26304
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 9:41 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Central Europe
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by nan »

Image Kglagadi O/\ 16.9.2012


Kgalagadi lover… for ever
https://safrounet.piwigo.com/
User avatar
Lisbeth
Site Admin
Posts: 67237
Joined: Sat May 19, 2012 12:31 pm
Country: Switzerland
Location: Lugano
Contact:

Re: Ostrich - Bird of the month - May 2014

Post by Lisbeth »

West Coast

Image


"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
Post Reply

Return to “Birds”