subject: Top 5 Incredible Facts About Ostriches [print this page] One of the bird species, unable to fly, is ostriches. The only one kind left, African ostrich, alerts an attention of Zoo visitors, who are often eager to watch the sparrow-camel (Struthio camelus), as this bird usually is called. There are lots of interesting facts about its behavior, besides it has no ability to fly or dig its head into the ground. These are the most common and, probably, the most vivid. However, lets pay attention to some other features.
1.At night the flock of ostriches usually is occupied with guardianship of their sleeping tribesmen. At least one of the birds falls asleep with a long neck made. Up to 4 times per night the head can fall while dreaming on the period from 1 to 16 minutes. On the contrary, the rest of the flock stays cheerful.
2.The area f ostriches habitat is limited by Middle East, India and African regions, which similar in temperatures and dry weather. Therefore, ostriches are not accustomed to swimming or bathing. This leisure is replaced with rolling in sand. They really like it despite lots of dirt on their feathers. Dominants within a flock usually are the initiators of massive entertainment, which is above all is very useful: in this way giant birds protect themselves from external parasites.
3.As a camel, ostrich can live without water for several days (5-6 days). These birds can even drink salt water. They also take it while eating the roots of asphodel plant. Speaking of meal, it is appropriate to state that ostrich can add kilograms easily by eating locusts. In this context, adding some weight effects run speed were negatively.
4.Mating is a very special issue of ostrich living. Besides pairs, ostriches usually for the whole harems. It happens that the dominant male runs off with a minor female to arrange a slot. In this case, the abandoned female looks for a lone male, so he could help to sit through the eggs.
5.If a small ostriches are threatened by hyena or attack of other predator, an adult male can arrange a show, pretending to be wounded. He runs a zigzag, and then a wounded man falls to the ground. Interested hyena switches the focus on easy prey for as long as the ostrich does not rise from the ground and runs from the astonished predator. While the ostrich goes full tear, the offspring runs under the wing of another adult ostriches.
