Ostrich

Ostriches may not be able to fly, but they loom large in the bird kingdom. They are the world’s tallest and heaviest living birds, and they lay the largest eggs. With their long legs, ostriches are also fleet of foot, running up to 43 miles per hour, and formidable fighters—an ostrich kick can kill. But since the beginning of history, these extraordinary and outlandish birds have also been exploited by humans for their eggs, meat, skin, and feathers. In Ostrich, Edgar Williams provides a singular, comprehensive insight into the natural history, behavior, and habitat of this monumental bird. Williams describes how the demand for ostrich feathers was so great during the Victorian era that vast fortunes were made from ostrich farming, particularly in South Africa and the United States. After fashions changed following World War I, farmers lost their fortunes, but the now domesticated ostrich found a new purpose—today, ostrich farmers produce plumes and leather for luxury markets, as well as meat for grocery stores. In addition to telling its, Williams reveals how the ostrich has been featured in culture, from its representations in cave paintings, medieval manuscripts, and the Bayeux tapestry to its use in advertising and cartoons. Featuring many striking illustrations, Ostrich will interest nature lovers, artists, and fashionistas alike.

A comprehensive review of all aspects of ostrich production including a series of case histories from some countries that farm ostriches commercially: important countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe; newly re-emerging industries such as Australia; and countries where production is less developed, such as Kenya, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"Developed by literacy experts for students in kindergarten through grade three, this book introduces ostriches to young readers through leveled text and related photos"--

"The Ostrich Paradox boldly addresses a key question of our time: Why are we humans so poor at dealing with disastrous risks, and what can we humans do about it? It is a must-read for everyone who cares about risk." —Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow We fail to evacuate when advised. We rebuild in flood zones. We don't wear helmets. We fail to purchase insurance. We would rather avoid the risk of "crying wolf" than sound an alarm. Our ability to foresee and protect against natural catastrophes has never been greater; yet, we consistently fail to heed the warnings and protect ourselves and our communities, with devastating consequences. What explains this contradiction? In The Ostrich Paradox, Wharton professors Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther draw on years of teaching and research to explain why disaster preparedness efforts consistently fall short. Filled with heartbreaking stories of loss and resilience, the book addresses: •How people make decisions when confronted with high-consequence, low-probability events—and how these decisions can go awry •The 6 biases that lead individuals, communities, and institutions to make grave errors that cost lives •The Behavioral Risk Audit, a systematic approach for improving preparedness by recognizing these biases and designing strategies that anticipate them •Why, if we are to be better prepared for disasters, we need to learn to be more like ostriches, not less Fast-reading and critically important, The Ostrich Paradox is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why we consistently underprepare for disasters, as well as private and public leaders, planners, and policy-makers who want to build more prepared communities.

A huge bird with a long neck and big eyes looks up from eating. Then it runs away on its strong legs.Did you just see an ostrich? Or was it an emu? These animals look very similar, but they are different. Read this book to become an expert at telling these look-alikes apart. Learn the fascinating differences between similar animals in the Animal Look-Alikesseries-part of the Lightning Bolt Books collection. With high-energy designs, exciting photos, and fun text, Lightning Bolt Books bring nonfiction topics to life!

Describes ostriches, discussing where and how they live and their size, important body parts, defensive behavior, and babies.

After brain surgery to stop his seizures, a brilliant twelve-year-old boy, enlisting the help of a female classmate, investigates why everyone around him, including his parents and hamster, are acting oddly.

Have you ever wondered if ostriches really bury their heads under the sand when they are afraid? I am sure you have seen pictures or perhaps seen in some cartoons how this is so. Is this true or just a myth? Read this book to find out the answer and to learn more about the ostrich. In this book you will learn a lot of things about the ostrich. We all know what an ostrich looks like. They are huge birds with black feathers, a long neck and long legs. But did you know that ostriches are birds that can't fly? Find out the reasons why. Also learn how an ostrich can balance with thin legs. Learn about what they eat, how they live, and how they take care of their young. This book will answer many questions about the ways of an ostrich. Why do both parents take turns sitting on their eggs? What are their predators? How do they protect themselves against their predators? Why are they very useful to farmers? What kinds of birds are they related to? This book also contains more than 20 colorful pictures of the ostrich in its natural habitat. These pictures will help children learn about the ostrich better.