Ostriches are the biggest birds on Earth! They can’t fly, but they sure are impressive. They can grow as tall as 9 feet (2.7 meters) and weigh up to $320$ pounds (145 kilograms). Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal, about 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide. Unlike most birds that have three or four toes, ostriches have only two toes on each foot. They are super fast runners and can zoom up to 65 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour). Ostriches can live for a long time, usually between 50 to 75 years.
Ostriches have long legs, long necks, and small heads. Male ostriches have shiny black feathers, while females have gray and brown feathers. Both males and females have white feathers on their tails and wings, making them look unique.
Ostriches eat both plants and animals, so they are called omnivores. They mostly eat plants like roots, seeds, and leaves, but they also munch on insects, lizards, snakes, and small rodents. To help them digest food, ostriches swallow sand and pebbles. They don’t need to drink water often because they get moisture from the plants they eat, but they will drink when water is around.
In ostrich groups, males are called roosters and females are called hens. A group of ostriches is called a flock, which can have up to 100 birds, but usually has about 10. Each flock has one main male and one main female, along with a few other females. During mating season, males show off their feathers and do special dances to attract females. The male’s beak and legs might turn red, and the female’s feathers can turn silver when she’s ready to mate.
Ostrich eggs are huge, about 6 inches (15 centimeters) wide and can weigh up to $3$ pounds (1.3 kilograms). Both parents take turns keeping the eggs warm, and it takes about 42 to 46 days for the eggs to hatch. Baby ostriches, called chicks, are bigger than any other bird chicks when they hatch, about the size of chickens. Both parents help take care of the chicks, and in just six months, the chicks are almost fully grown. They can start having their own chicks when they are about 3 to 4 years old.
Ostriches mostly live in East and Southwest Africa, where it’s hot and dry. They like savannahs and woodlands. A long time ago, ostriches also lived in parts of the Middle East and Asia, but they don’t live there anymore because of hunting and losing their homes.
Most types of ostriches are not endangered, but their numbers are going down. The Somali ostrich is considered vulnerable, meaning it’s at risk of becoming endangered. We need to help protect these amazing birds so they can continue to live and thrive.
In conclusion, ostriches are incredible animals with special features that help them survive in their habitats. Their size, speed, and interesting behaviors make them a fun topic to learn about in the bird world!
Ostrich Observation Journal: Start an ostrich observation journal. Imagine you are a scientist studying ostriches in the wild. Draw a picture of an ostrich and label its different parts, like its long neck, big eyes, and two toes on each foot. Write down what you think an ostrich might do in a day. How does it find food? How does it stay safe from predators? Share your journal with your class and discuss what makes ostriches unique.
Speedy Ostrich Race: Ostriches are super fast runners! To understand how fast they are, organize a race with your friends. Measure a distance of 65 meters (the distance an ostrich can run in one second at 65 kilometers per hour). Time how long it takes each of you to run that distance. Compare your times to the speed of an ostrich. How much faster is the ostrich? Discuss why speed might be important for ostriches in the wild.
Ostrich Egg Experiment: Ostrich eggs are huge! Use a regular chicken egg to explore the concept of egg strength. Carefully place a chicken egg in a bowl and cover it with a layer of sand or small pebbles, just like an ostrich might do to help digest food. Gently press on the egg with your hand. Notice how the sand or pebbles help distribute the pressure. Discuss how this might help ostrich eggs stay safe in the wild.
