Alpha's Featured Character Oct 17th 2011

http://alphalearningworld.com/characters.htm

Alpha's "Ozzy Ostrich"

Alpha's Featured Character Oct 17th 2011 

             "Ozzy Ostrich" 

A few interesting Ostrich facts: 

A zoo favorite of adults and children alike, the ostrich is truly an interesting animal. From its large size to its odd feathers, this flightless giant is unlike any other. An African native, the ostrich is the sole surviving member of its biological family.

The ostrich is the world's largest living bird. The average adult male is between 8 and 10 feet tall and weighs in at over 250 pounds. The vast majority of the bird's body weight is encapsulated in its long and powerful legs. A single ostrich stride will carry the bird 12 to 15 feet. Ostriches are able to achieve speeds greater than 40 miles per hour when running and they are able to maintain that speed for more than 30 minutes at a time. Unlike other birds, the ostrich has only two toes. This adaptation reduces the drag coefficient of the limb, enabling the bird to attain greater speeds than many of its predators. Also, each toe ends in a sharp, formidable claw and each leg is capable of kicking with enough force to crush a skull.

The ostrich is a member of an ancient bird family called the ratite. One of the distinguishing characteristics of this group of birds is although they have wings, they cannot fly. The wings of the ostrich are used for balance instead. It extends its wings when running and then, if the bird suddenly needs to change directions, the wings act as a rudder, helping to smoothly steer the bird along a different route and possibly evade predators. The wings are also used in mating rituals and courtship displays. A domineering bird will raise its wings while a subservient one will allow its wings to sag.

Ostrich feathers are not like ordinary bird feathers. The individual fibers hang loose, rather than sticking together. The feathers of the male ostrich are generally black with white showing on the tips of the wings. The male uses this vivid color scheme to attract the attention of passing females. Holding the wings as wide as possible, a male will approach a female, stamping his large feet as he goes in hopes of impressing the light-brown lady. If he manages to gain her approval, the two birds will mate.

The ostrich has a well-developed sense of sight and eyes that are almost as big as baseballs. The eye orbs are large and so important to the bird's survival, that the majority of the skull is used to house and protect them. Accordingly, the brain is a good deal smaller than either one of the eyeballs. This may explain why the ostrich is so easily trapped by predators; it can run fast, but it can't think on its feet.

Okay everyone, you can see Ozzy Ostrich & his friends here in our Children's Alphabet Video

                      http://www.youtube.com/user/AlphasABCs?feature=mhee