Utica Zoo is excited to announce the arrival of two female ostrich. The ostrich, Bina and Bushara are joining Utica’s male ostrich, Boomer, who has been at the zoo since February of 2011.
“It’s a long time to wait for a date, but we’re hoping they’ll be worth the wait for Boomer,” said Alex Weaver, Area Lead Keeper for the ostrich.
“It’s our chance to play matchmaker – ostrich edition,” said Andria Heath, Executive Director of the zoo. Both females are 3 years old which is considered sexually mature for ostrich. Although they were born and raised on the same farm, they are not related. In the wild, ostrich live alone or in pairs but it is not unusual to see them gathered in herds of a dozen or more animals, referred to as a flock or herd. One male will usually lead a group of two to seven females.
Ostrich are certainly birds of distinction: they are the largest bird on earth and can weigh more than 300 pounds. They are also the fastest terrestrial bird on earth capable of sprinting 45 mph and have the largest eggs. One ostrich egg can weigh three pounds and is equivalent to 12 chicken eggs.
“We’re happy to have this chance to show off a remarkable and often overlooked species,” Heath said. “Every animal in the zoo represents a teaching opportunity for us with the public. I’ve always loved ostrich and it’s exciting to see other people enjoying them as much as I do.”
Most ostrich are not consider endangered although their numbers in the wild have been declining in the wild according to the Avian Scientific Advisory Group. Most ostrich in the US are considered hybrids, being considered Somali or Maasai subspecies or a blend. One subspecies, the North African ostrich is considered critically endangered. Currently, they are not held in U.S. zoos and conservation efforts are restricted to field research in the South Sahara.
The lovely, long-legged ladies were given Swahili names by the keepers at the zoo that they thought reflected their impressions and personalities. Bina means “dancer” and Bushara means “good news” in Swahili. See the new ostrich females and Boomer sharing the exhibit with the Hartsmann’s Mountain Zebra in the Utica Zoo’s African Alley.
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