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The world’s biggest bird in Sweden

Is it true that the ostrich puts his head in the sand when he’s afraid?
What could an ostrich possibly do in such a cold country as Sweden? Look at the fabulous Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)? Watch the midnight sun? Perhaps, but they also have become popular for their lean meat.

A few miles outside Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, there is a small village called Gerdal. Since 1995 there is an ostrich farm with 51 animals. But in the very beginning there were only three of them. Now, how did it all begin? Well, the couple who runs the farm, Niklas and Mona Persson, saw an article in a paper which was about an ostrich farm. After an educational visit they found it very interesting and decided to buy three ostriches from a purchaser. You can only find wild ostrich in Africa, so, the 2.5 metres tall birds attracted attention as soon as they arrived at Gerdal. The first thought was to have them for meat production only. But in pace with a growing interest for the animals, the owners of the farm built a souvenir shop, a cafe’ and a meat shop with a slaughter room. In these days, meat from birds, especially chicken, has become more and more popular. Not just because of fear for the mad cow disease, but also for the lean meat they produce. Maybe you could say that the ostrich meat has turned into a craze.

Very small brains

The ostrich can become as old as eighty years and weigh over 150 kilos. The biggest male ostrich on the farm in Gerdal had a weight of 140 kilos! You can tell the gender by looking at the colour. The female is mostly black and grey while the male is black and with red legs when he is on heat. Many people think that the ostriches must be stupid just because they have such small brains. The fact is that they are very credulous, naive. They don’t run away, because they are herd animals, which means they want to be with the rest of the group.

The myth

As you all might have heard, it is said that when the ostrich is afraid it puts his head in the sand. That’s not the whole truth, in fact it isn’t true at all. The female places her eggs in a hole made by the male. Now and then she bows down to turn round the eggs. And that’s why you believe she’s hiding from something.

Winter cold

The Swedish winter is sometimes very cold, but not too cold for these amazing birds. In Africa, their origin country, the nights can be bitterly cold in the desert, so they are used to it. A cold weather is better for them than a warm and windy weather. In the winter season the females don’t lay any eggs but during the rest of the year they lay 30-70 eggs. These eggs are the biggest eggs in the world!

Eat the meat

If you haven’t tasted ostrich meat or eggs, now is the time to do it! The taste of the meat reminds of beef. A growing market hasn’t led to falling prices. It’s quite expensive to buy the ostrich meat. Maybe that’s why people haven’t placed it on their dinner table, yet.

The Farms in Sweden

These fabulous birds can be seen in about 200 farms around the country of Sweden and they are well worth a visit. If you are lucky, you could have the opportunity to feed them. You might be shocked when you hear their special kind of sound, no cackle here no!

Did you know that the ostrich….
· eggs weigh around 1,5 kilos
· top speed is 70 km/h
· kick like a horse

Niklas Persson, with his ostriches in Gerdal.

Stina Nordin
Dordi Nilsson