It WAS an Ostrich

**B.S.F.** · 31st December 2017, 10:45 AM

On August 30 2014 traveling up the Birdsville Track in a Series Land rover we met an Ostrich at Dulkaninna. I stopped the car and the bird just stood there, about 3m away looking at us. Whenever we told people about the encounter they were sceptical and and said it was probably en Emu. Imagine our surprise when we read the following, (see attachment) written by Rick Morton in the Weekend Australian December 30-31 2017.page 2 of the Review.
Just wondering how rare or common the sighting is.or if any of you or your friends have met the bird. In our excitement and to our lasting regret we failed to take a picture.
.W.

**Tins** · 31st December 2017, 11:55 AM

No way you could mistake an emu for an ostrich. They are very different. Not really surprising that you saw one when you think about it. There were many "get rich quick" schemes involving farming ostriches a few decades ago. The same schemes involving venison now see fallow deer all over Victoria, among other places. People let 'em go.

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**sam_d** · 31st December 2017, 04:13 PM

There is an ostrich on the Birdsville Track. A couple of years back I stayed at Mungerannie and the bar lass there said that if I was lucky I'd see the ostrich at the Dulkaninna.

The next day I was driving along and sure enough I did see the ostrich. I was pretty excited by this but couldn't stop to take a photo as I'd been following some agricultural vehicles for a few kilometres and they'd only recently pulled over to let me pass so I was no more than a couple of meters ahead of them and didn't want to be following them again especially as it had been a while before they'd been able to, and generous enough, to pull over for me.

**bee utey** · 31st December 2017, 04:55 PM

There was of course an ostrich farm at Port Augusta in the late 19th century, no doubt a few escaped into the bush.

13 Feb 1888 - THE PORT AUGUSTA OSTRICH FARM. - Trove

**V8Ian** · 31st December 2017, 05:24 PM

That's a long walk for a flightless bird!

**Gordie** · 31st December 2017, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

That's a long walk for a flightless bird!

He did have since the 19th century to get there....

**Tins** · 31st December 2017, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

That's a long walk for a flightless bird!

Probably hitched a ride on one of the camels.

**Tins** · 31st December 2017, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by sam_d

There is an ostrich on the Birdsville Track. A couple of years back I stayed at Mungerannie and the bar lass there said that if I was lucky I'd see the ostrich at the Dulkaninna.

The next day I was driving along and sure enough I did see the ostrich. I was pretty excited by this but couldn't stop to take a photo as I'd been following some agricultural vehicles for a few kilometres and they'd only recently pulled over to let me pass so I was no more than a couple of meters ahead of them and didn't want to be following them again especially as it had been a while before they'd been able to, and generous enough, to pull over for me.

So, there's only one then?

**Kidbeen** · 31st December 2017, 07:13 PM

Could it be a case of mistaken identity and was actually a large bustard?

**Tins** · 31st December 2017, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Kidbeen

Could it be a case of mistaken identity and was actually a large bustard?

An ostrich is between 1.7 and 2.1 metres tall. It would need to be a VERY large bustard.

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