Raising Rheas | National Geographic

at first glance it appears a mother

at first glance it appears a mother ostrich is watching over her chicks in

ostrich is watching over her chicks in

ostrich is watching over her chicks in the savannahs of Africa but the location

the savannahs of Africa but the location

the savannahs of Africa but the location is actually the scrublands of the Andes

is actually the scrublands of the Andes

is actually the scrublands of the Andes Mountains at the southern tip of South

Mountains at the southern tip of South

Mountains at the southern tip of South America the birds are the ostriches

America the birds are the ostriches

America the birds are the ostriches distant cousins called Ria’s and the

distant cousins called Ria’s and the

distant cousins called Ria’s and the parent is not a diligent mother but a

parent is not a diligent mother but a

parent is not a diligent mother but a doting father

the Ria’s breeding cycle varies greatly

the Ria’s breeding cycle varies greatly from most other birds it’s the male’s

from most other birds it’s the male’s

from most other birds it’s the male’s that stake out their territories and

that stake out their territories and

that stake out their territories and scratch out a nest

then they encourage the females to lay

then they encourage the females to lay their eggs near the nest they’ve made

from that point on child-raising is the

from that point on child-raising is the domain of the expectant father who

domain of the expectant father who

domain of the expectant father who initially incubates the eggs then keeps

initially incubates the eggs then keeps

initially incubates the eggs then keeps a watchful eye on the chicks for about

a watchful eye on the chicks for about

a watchful eye on the chicks for about six months until they are old enough to

six months until they are old enough to

six months until they are old enough to forage on their own

so protective is the father that if one

so protective is the father that if one of the chicks mothers were to approach

of the chicks mothers were to approach

of the chicks mothers were to approach too closely he will drive her away from

too closely he will drive her away from

too closely he will drive her away from her own child but once the chicks are

her own child but once the chicks are

her own child but once the chicks are mature his protective instincts fade and

mature his protective instincts fade and

mature his protective instincts fade and they will join with other flocks these

they will join with other flocks these

they will join with other flocks these lesser Ria’s spend most of their day

lesser Ria’s spend most of their day

lesser Ria’s spend most of their day foraging looking for grasses seeds

foraging looking for grasses seeds

foraging looking for grasses seeds insects and even small rodents and

insects and even small rodents and

insects and even small rodents and reptiles for protection they often

reptiles for protection they often

reptiles for protection they often congregate with other herd animals like

congregate with other herd animals like

congregate with other herd animals like these guanaco just as their African

these guanaco just as their African

these guanaco just as their African cousins are sometimes found with

cousins are sometimes found with

cousins are sometimes found with antelope and zebras the principle is the

antelope and zebras the principle is the

antelope and zebras the principle is the same

same

same the more eyes ears and noses there are

the more eyes ears and noses there are

the more eyes ears and noses there are the easier it is to sense a predator and

the easier it is to sense a predator and

the easier it is to sense a predator and the Ria’s keen eyesight complements the

the Ria’s keen eyesight complements the

the Ria’s keen eyesight complements the one acos excellent sense of smell

one acos excellent sense of smell

one acos excellent sense of smell when predators approach lesser Ria’s are

when predators approach lesser Ria’s are

when predators approach lesser Ria’s are capable of quick bursts of speed and can

capable of quick bursts of speed and can

capable of quick bursts of speed and can run almost 40 miles an hour but adults

run almost 40 miles an hour but adults

run almost 40 miles an hour but adults are too large for most predators on

are too large for most predators on

are too large for most predators on average standing three feet tall and

average standing three feet tall and

average standing three feet tall and weighing 40 pounds it is the chicks who

weighing 40 pounds it is the chicks who

weighing 40 pounds it is the chicks who are most vulnerable they are at risk

are most vulnerable they are at risk

are most vulnerable they are at risk from small predators like foxes and

from small predators like foxes and

from small predators like foxes and Raptors all the more reason for this

Raptors all the more reason for this

Raptors all the more reason for this father to be so overprotective of is

father to be so overprotective of is

father to be so overprotective of is young