OSTRICH

Photographed on the Deniliquin-Barham Road February 2015.

509       OSTRICH            Struthio camelus

Australia          (351)

This looks like one from my South African list, but its not. Ostriches are now listed on the Australian list; it was introduced from Africa after 1896 and there are a few small feral populations which have become estblished. One of these in South Australian Younghusband Pen. and these near Deniliquin/Barham in NSW. 1.75-2.75 cm, largest of all living birds. Found on pastoral lands, open mulga, saltbush, bluebush, grassed sand plains and dunes.

Birdlife Australia ....... "For several decades, several generations of Ostriches has been free to roam on farmland alongside the Barham-Caldwell Road. They can be regarded as wild."