The East African or Maasai Ostrich

[jwg]

We saw quite a few ostriches at various places. Sometimes there was a solitary one and sometimes there were small flocks. They are capable of traveling very fast (30-40 mph) but we never saw any that weren't grazing or ambling along. If it were true that the ostrich hangs its head in the sand, some of this terrain would be quite good although some of the north african subspecies would do even better; and it is apparently those who get ridden.

The Ostrich (Struthio camelus - which derived from the Greek words for camel sparrow) has always fascinated me; my first encounter was in the Museum of Natural History in NYC when I was a little kid.







As seen in the Museum of Natural History on a safari to New York earlier this year.