Look at this big gal! I wasn’t expecting to meet her! If you think she looks surprised, you should have seen Jim’s face. My first thought was that I was looking at Dr. Seus’s Grinch. You have to admit, she looks just like a friendlier version of the grinch…. except she isn’t green. And look at those eyelashes!
We have Holler Ostrich. Actually we don’t have any, but a fellow Hollerite has two. Personally, I don’t see the practicality of pet ostrich for us. I mean they can grow to nine feet, and weigh up to 320 pounds! And they can have attitudes. You can clearly see this guy’s attitude. Would you cross him? Apparently even lions don’t like to mess with ostrich and I can see why.
I think a 9 foot tall, 300 pound, attitudinal bird, that can run 43 mph, makes perfect sense in Africa, but less sense at The Holler. They aren’t your average canary after all. They can kill lions, and are the fastest two-legged creatures on earth!
Check out these female wild southern ostrich in Kruger. Aren’t they gorgeous? They are ballerina stepping, tutu wearing, high plains kickers! The Rockettes of South Africa! You go girls…..
And look how content they are. We saw two groups of ostriches. Females you are looking at here, and another group of males.
Contrary to common belief, ostrich do not hide their head in the sand when scared. Pliny the Elder just made that up around 73AD. But, as you can clearly see in this pic, they do hide their heads under their friend’s skirts. Some friends might consider this annoying, but this one seemed cool with it.
Anyhoo, seeing these incredible birds wild and free in Kruger was unexpected and a big thrill! The red necked northern ostrich at The Holler are endangered in the wild, so our neighbor gets my support for raising and caring for them, even though I would prefer to see them wild, free, and protected, in their native habitat.
Cheers to you from these spectacular, nine foot tall birds, with ‘tudes!
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Oh they are so cute! Love these huge eyes!
They really are adorable big birdies! <3
They do look quite assertive!
Yes, I would definitely aquiesce to their authority!
I wish they could have talked with you. I bet they have some real tales to tell you. I had no idea they were the fastest two legged animal on earth. There you go, educating us again.
These are factoids you need in life. Consider me the font of useless information! 😉
🐘🐘🐘
The ladies are lovely! We owned a couple of ostriches which were maintained on a friend’s farm. They were supposed to be a mating pair, but turned out to be two males. We were warned about their temperament – a good kick can kill you – so we never got close to them.
My gosh! Did you see why I love blogging! You were an ostrich owner. I suppose if you got a female for them it might improve their moods, although I hear mating competition is a time when they are particularly testy. The thing I love most are the chicks. The females seem to cooperate raising them in these groups and they are sooooooo cute!
What amazing feathers. I think my heart would stop if one of those came running up on me.
Yes, they would definitely get your full attention. My brother went to turn on his sprinklers once and a 12 foot anaconda rasied his head above the faucet head. It got everyone’s attention, the dogs, the fireman, fish and game, and it got him in the newspaper too! This was in La Jolla of all places~
I quit weeding in an area yesterday because one of the garden snakes which love my yard slithered by. I know they won’t hurt me but it is a primal fear. I think if I saw a 12 foot anaconda in my yard — I’d move to another city. 😀
Reblogged this on Art, animals, and the earth.
Gratitude for you tireless advocacy my friend and admiration too! <3
You’ve done it again Cindy a fabulous post with great photos and lots of information in easily digested blocks under each photo. Love the way you arrange your posts.
Awwww, I love you Pauline. Thank you~
Oh such beautiful majestic animals!
It takes beauty to see beauty~
🙂 That’s very sweet of you to say!
Yep, certain grumpiness “grinchiness” about the face – that’s for sure – but oh, the splendour of the feather coat steal the day for me 🙂
Yes, for me too! They are magnificent! So pleased you agree~
Very cool birds with attitude! !
They are Wolfie sized birdies! 😉
The heads are just amazing….. great shots!!…I’m really short of adjectives…. 🙂
They just are so different from what we normally see that your loss of words makes perfect sense!
With all the animal attacks in the wild parks we hear in the news, I am so happy that you came home in one piece and brought all these wonderful photos with you. 🙂
Well, we were prudent, listened to the animals, and respected their spaces. I feel more unsafe hiking the back trails of yellowstone and seeing grizzly, then I ever felt in Africa.
exquisite detail, extraordinary clarity…
Awwww, so kind my friend~
That was funny you talked about their habit of hiding their head. It makes me wonder why 🙂
I think it was just an angle illusion of the shot. The ostrich was lowering her head and it appeared to disappear under the feathers of the bird in front of her!
Ah 🙂
Siempre que veo avestruces sonrio. Y es que tienen una expresión muy simpática 🙂
Ahhhhhh, tu son muy amable mi amiga! Abrazos y gracias tan bien~
They are very pretty! They are for sure ballerina’s. I had no idea they could run so fast.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, CINDY!
Awwww, thanks dear Resa~ <3
Completely wonderful! RH
Awwwww, so nice……
Beautiful birds with tudes! I sure wouldn’t want to mess with one! Happy 4th of July Cindy! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Hope you guys had a wonderful holiday!
They do have some knockout lashes! :*
Puts us to shame doesn’t it, and natural too!
Even with mascara – mine don’t get that long.
Extraordinary: you, the birds and your photos.
Oh so nice & so appreciated! <3
So special!
Mil grazi!
wunderschöne Aufnahmen Cindy, wow, gefällt mir…
Guten Tag Ernst und vielen dank mein Freund~
They are such amazing birds! I didn’t know they could get that tall!!
Gorgeous pictures, as usual!!
So happy you appreciate these remarkable big birdies my friend & cheers to you~
Liebe Cindy, super, einen schönen Sonntag, Klaus
Danke, dass du mein Freund und gluckliche Woche, um Sie!
danke dir
Great!
Merci beaucoup~
The talons on these birds are massive and deadly!
The best visual representation of a carnivorous dinosaur ever, even though modern birds are still believed to descend from sauropods instead of the other suborders that resemble modern birds.
Yes, I agree with you. Ostrich are omnivores eating some lizards, turtles, bugs etc, but they are mostly herbivores, perfering fruit and plants over meat. They, and all sub-types of herons make me instantaneously think “dinosaur” evertime I look at one closely!
Wow! I love the close-up…terrific. What expressions…love the one with the open mouth.
It is a graphic pic, rather than a pretty one, so I am especially pleased you appreciate it. Thank you~
Is that Big Eggo of the BEANO 😉 ?
I just bet it is , but don’t tell anyone……..
it is a great pity.
Hah! That opening photo made me laugh. Thanks.
Laughs are always good and you are most welcom! 🙂
This was a fascinating post, Cindy! I am shocked at the abilities of these strange but beautiful birds. Your amazing photos and clever comments made this my favorite “read” of my day.
Awww, such a joy always to get a comment from you sweet Robin!
This was a fun and funny post with those amusing ostriches. I am still close to speechless of their possible 9 foot height, Cindy. Jaw dropping!
They definitely got my full attenion when I saw them in the wild….. laughing!
Great shots, Cindy! And I agree with you…they are a perfect fit for the savannah 🙂
Yep, I can see why they survived there for millions of years, let’s hope they continue too.
Cindy, love the pictures and of course your commentary which always brings a smile to my face. Is Africa the photographer’s paradise? The closest I’ve ever gotten to live African animals is at the St. Louis zoo 🙂
Yes, Antarctica and Africa, followed by Canada offer completely unfair advantages to photographers and I am serious!
eine schöne ruhige Woche wünsche ich dir, Klaus
Sie sind sehr freundlich, mein Freund . Danke und haben eine wundervolle Woche ~
danke sehr
Great photos and story telling Cindy. I like the way you teach us in a fun way. Thanks! 🙂
Oh, so kind and I hope not too teachy!
no, pure fun!
🙂
Fantastic, thanks for sharing:)
Thanks more for appreciating!
well done – guess I should be good and not say they reminded me of some people I’ve seen… hmm, oops
Go ahead and say it with pride, I already did! 😉
that first picture looks like my grandmother when she was yelling at me
Oh, my sounds truly frightening and not so nice of her!
I sure enjoyed this Rockettes post Cindy! Excellent photos and fun info of yet another spectacular bird on earth. 😀
We have some truly remarkable feathered friends don’t we my friend!
Great pictures! That first one is priceless! Ha, ha! 😀
She looks so curious and friendly!
Cindy, I just learned so much through you about the ostrich. I did not know, they grow this tall and weigh so much. The pictures are awesome. Thank you for sharing! Hugs! Veraiconica
Everything we always wanted to know about ostrich but were afraid to ask! It was news to me too Veraiconica, but now we both know!
Absolutely incredible shots, Cindy! 🙂 🙂 Those openers are amazing! I’m smiling from ear to ear. And fancy me not being ostrich-like at all. I always thought we had so much in common! I’m exceptionally good at burying my head in the sand. 🙂
I so wish I was better at it! I need a little sand in my head! 😉
Hahaha! Great pics! These birds always make me laugh. 😀
cate b
I was just over reading your ‘darkest day” and I wanted to send you love, had no words though, and couldn’t find where to leave a comment, and then you left this message. I’m going back to your blog. You are a remarkable person.
Aw. You are so kind. 🙂
<3 <3
I like the words and love the birds.
Don’t give me any funny replies to this comment Cindy.
No pun intended , on words & birds. 😉
Oooooooo, but it’s so hard to stop myself re: you and the birds Jack, but I will, just for you!
Pauline says “Have you been chatting up the birds again, if I am late back from the beach or the gym.” But we have no worries if we leave the cage door open the bird will only fly if it is not happy.
I should have paid you more of a complement for those great bird photos.
Great is right when talking about them. They make the Aussie Emus look like chickens even the Cassowary is a wimp compared with them. The fastest two legged animal, with out a car. 😉
Now I know what Pauline means when she says Jack loves birds……..laughing! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I’m sure you do like them, but you also know you picked the best one, lucky man. She’s lucky in visa versa too though. You don’t ever need to compliment me. Your and Pauline’s friendship is the biggest compliment for me. <3
They’re amazing creatures!
They are perfect Clowie sized birds!
Sparkling and splendid face!
Pretty compelling, I must admit! Looks like a happy birdie~
If any birds were New Yorkers, these ones would be! 🙂
Cracking up……..;)
Well capture pictures of wildlife.
Thank you my friend & cheers to you~
Magnificently caught! But I agree – I would never mess with one of these.
Thank you and yes, they are definitely dino birds and I wouldn’t mess with a dino either! 😉
Down in Oudtshoorn (not too sure if you can do it anywhere else in the country), you can actually hop onto an ostrich for a ride
Yes, in the not too distant past I know they had ostrich races. I think it’s a bit unkind though. Hope you are doing well my friend. I thought of you often this week. Remember this too shall pass, and at some point, it will barely be a memory! <3 <3
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Thank you my friend and cheers to you!