VA Birders,
Bob Riggs of the Russell County Bird Club is always telling me that any
species of bird might show up where I am, that I'm a lucky birder. In the
past those unusual birds have been Kirtland's Warbler, Swainson's Warbler,
Short-eared Owl, Peregrine Falcon, etc. Well, yesterday the most unusual
bird of all showed up near our house. Lynda and I were heading out to
photograph the Red-necked Grebes in Russell County. I had my digital camera,
scope and video camera in the Blazer. We had gone only a short distance
around the mountain when our mouths dropped open at the sight of an Ostrich
walking down this country road. Of course I had to jump out and get video
and still photos. It's one thing to see an Ostrich in a zoo or even on a
farm, but it's a bit disconcerting when you are expecting to see Eastern
Bluebirds or Northern Cardinals and suddenly you are confronted with this
giant bird. This particular one just meandered along and passed by us, as if
it were out for a spring day stroll. If you would like to see this very
"rare" bird for Buchanan County click here
http://www.bcplnet.org/birdclub/gallery/Ostrich.htm
I wonder if I should submit the video to the VSO for confirmation. :) I'm
trying to convince Ed Talbott, Vice President of the Buchanan County Bird
Club, that I should be able to add it to my lifelist since it was not in a
pen and therefore must be a wild bird. Although I haven't heard of an
irruption of Ostriches from Africa to the U. S. this year. Maybe I'll check
the records just to be sure.
Enjoy the birds, no matter what size they are,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
Buchanan County
mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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