Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 61

To look at the feet of an ostrich or emu is to recognize the link between birds and dinosaurs. These massive, flightless birds have a small but devoted core of fanciers. Should you be among them? That depends.

The larger of the species, the ostriches, are popular as breeders and suppliers of meat, hide, and feathers, but now and then you can find people who keep them as pets. Female ostriches are often manageable, but males can be extremely difficult to control and flat-out intimidating. They’re really not for most people.

Ostriches are larger than any other modern bird, and they’re the only bird with two toes on each foot. They can run up to 40 miles per hour for sustained periods, so don’t be gulled into taking one on in a race. Ostriches can live 50 to 75 years, so have a long-term plan in place for care and maintenance should you decide to acquire one. They’re neat to have around if you have the land and space, for sure, but they’re not really “pets.” Still, ostriches certainly offer you the ability to hang with a “dinosaur.”

Photograph courtesy of Jerry M. Thornton

Emus, on the other hand, are potentially interesting pets. Baby emus are really cute (not that baby ostriches aren’t), marked with their own little “racing stripes” that fade as the bird matures. If you’re able to locate an emu raised to see humans as “family,” you’re likely to have one who thinks she’s a person. These friendly birds love to be hugged and are wonderful at pest-control in your yard. Still, they’re not for the timid — full-grown birds are 5 feet tall and 80 to 100 pounds.

If you ever run into an ostrich or emu (or, even rarer, a cassowary), don’t be as concerned about their heads as their feet. These forward-kicking birds can really pack a wallop, enough to knock the breath from you — or worse. Their beaks can hurt, too.

Brian has raised ostriches and emus, and there will always be a special place in his heart for these big, not-so-bright birds. Brian’s two emus, Big Bird and Ernie, are both 45 years old and still going strong. He’s experienced in handling them, and he’s always careful to keep an eye on their movements. Kim and Gina, however, are content to watch these interesting birds from the inside of a safari vehicle or the other side of a very solid fence.