Save Our Ostriches

Ostriches are fascinating creatures!

Here are some fun facts about them:

1. Fastest Running Bird 🏃‍♂️💨
Ostriches are the fastest running birds in the world. They can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph), which is faster than most humans can run!

2. Huge Eyes 👀
Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal. Each eye is about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, which helps them spot predators from far away.

3. Ostrich Eggs Are Massive 🥚
The largest egg of any living land animal belongs to the ostrich. One ostrich egg can be equivalent to about 24 chicken eggs and can weigh up to 1.4 kg (3 lbs).

4. Flightless But Powerful 🦵
While ostriches cannot fly, they have incredibly strong legs. Their legs are built for running at high speeds and can also kick with great force. An ostrich’s kick can kill a lion!

5. Feathers Are Soft and Durable 🦢
Despite being flightless, ostriches have feathers that are soft but strong. Their feathers are used in fashion, decorations, and even feather dusters.

6. Long Lifespan ⏳
In the wild, ostriches can live for around 30 to 40 years, and in captivity, they can live up to 50 years. That’s quite a long time for a bird!

7. They Have Three Stomachs 🍽️
Ostriches are omnivores and can eat a variety of plants, seeds, and small insects. They have three stomachs to help digest their food, similar to cows!

8. Blue Legs and Necks 🌈
Some subspecies of ostriches, such as the Somali ostrich, have a distinctive blue-gray neck and legs, a feature that helps with thermoregulation in their hot, desert environments.

9. Survival in Harsh Environments 🌵
Ostriches can survive in extreme conditions with minimal water. They are well adapted to living in arid regions, using the moisture in their food to stay hydrated.

10. Mating Dance 💃🕺
Male ostriches perform a unique mating dance to attract females. This involves flapping their wings, swaying their necks, and bowing to impress potential mates.

11. They Can’t Hide Their Heads in the Sand 🐦
The popular myth that ostriches bury their heads in the sand is false! However, when they feel threatened, they might lie down and flatten their bodies to the ground, blending into the environment for camouflage.

12. They’re Territorial 🏠
Male ostriches are territorial and often defend their space from other males, especially during the breeding season. They’ll sometimes engage in kick fights to establish dominance.

13. Ostrich Courtship 💘
During courtship, male ostriches will often build large nests and try to attract a female by showing off their vibrant plumage and impressive kicks. The female then selects the male based on his abilities.

14. Great Parents 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Both the male and female ostriches share the responsibility of caring for their eggs. The female lays the eggs, but the male often takes the night shift, guarding the nest while the female stays during the day.

15. Ostrich “Tears” Are Actually Not Tears 😢
While ostriches may seem like they’re crying, their “tears” are often a result of sand or dust in their eyes, not emotional distress. They have large, powerful eyes that can be affected by wind and dry environments.
These fascinating creatures have been around for millions of years and continue to capture our imaginations!

Over the last few years, the main focus of the Universal Ostrich farm has been specifically in antibody research and development with Kyoto Prefectural University in Japan.

“High-quality antibodies have been successfully extracted from ostrich eggs by Kyoto Prefectural University president Dr. Tsukamoto,” the government of Japan stated in a 2022 social media post. “Ostriches are hardy animals with strong immune systems, and at 1/4000 the price of antibodies from other animals, their high-quality antibodies are easier to mass-produce, meaning they may show the way forward for the modern world, where responses to viruses like COVID-19 and the economic problems they cause are global goals.” read more HERE

Jan 9, 2025 – The Free Press, Jennifer Smith: B.C. ostrich farm showing resistance to avian flu – read full article