Ostrich
The ostrich is the largest bird in world but cannot fly. It’s big body makes It difficult to get off the ground quickly but it can travel faster by running. They use their wings for getting up speed when they start to run and as brakes in turning and stopping. They can run faster than horse and even taster then a motor car at a speed of 96 kilometers for an hour
They are as tall as a horse and weigh more than 130 kilograms. Ostrich eggs are delicious and used for food by the people of Africa.
The eggs hatch in six or seven weeks. The ostrich family live together and the father bird can kick powerfully like a horse. They run a few steps, raise their wings and waltz whirling round and round waving their beautiful plumes.
The plumes are sold for a good price and some of the birds live for 80 years. Many of the birds have been killed for their plumes. So there are not many ostriches in the world
Some people have made a business of raising ostriches. Their ostrich farms have big pens or fields with high fences around them in which to keep The birds. A father and several mother birds are kept in each pen. They are fed chopped beets, cabbages, oranges and corn. The baby ostriches are fed foods, alfalfa and other green plants.
Sometimes ostriches are called camel birds because they are in many ways like camels. Their long necks and legs do make one think of a camel. Except for the plumes of the birds, some people think they are rather like camels. They too can go a long time without water.
Ostriches are also somewhat stupid often eating such harmful things as nails, buttons and pieces of wire. Even when tame, they never become friendly with people.
The ostrich has many relatives. Among them are the Rhea of South America often called the American Ostrich, the Emu and Cassowary of Australia and the Kiwi of Newzealand. All are smaller than the ostrich, especially the Kiwi which is no large than a good sized hen. The Kiwi is an odd bird, having no tail at all with very tiny wings. And like the ostrich, these birds have also forgotten to fly.
The ostriches scoop out a shallow place in the warm sand and use it as its nest. From fifteen to fifty eggs are laid in the nest. Sometimes five or six mother birds lay their eggs in the same nest.
The sun and warm sand usually keep the eggs warm during the day time. One of the mother ostriches may sit on the eggs and watch over them for the day. At night the father ostrich sits on the nest.
