Light as an ostrich feather
Nobody would describe an ostrich as a light bird which may be the reason why it doesn’t fly despite its copious covering of long feathers. Of course, unlike many other birds, the great ostrich is pretty fast on its feet and can travel at up to sixty miles per hour. Long legs and a very long neck complemented by three hundred and sixty-degree vision, thanks to two beady eyes, ensure that the ostrich sees a predator a long way off and if it has to run it can run very fast.
The fact that the ostrich is the biggest bird in the world but cannot fly has almost been the sole reason for its survival. Farming ostriches is very easy as they simply require an open space and a fence rather than an enclosed aviary. Another sound reason why the ostrich is farmed is the fact that the whole bird can be utilised i.e. the meat for eating; the skin for leather and the plumes for fashion and decoration.
There is no doubt that it is the drama of the giant ostrich plumes that makes the feathered bipod so attractive to florists who often use the magnificent feathery items within floral displays. The ostrich fringe, which is often partially burnt, creates wonderfully soft ostrich plumage that offers fascinating and unique designs and patterns. Usually, the fringes are available in a wide choice of dyed colours or in natural the natural shades of the male or female ostrich plumage. The effect of the fringe when singed is tremendous and adds a fantastic element to a beautiful, feathered item.
Arts and Crafts
Ostriches, from their giant eggs to their crazily large bodies, have been a focus of fascination since the dawn of time. How close are they to prehistoric birds? Did the ostrich ancestor once blot out the sun as it descended from a great height on an unsuspecting prey? The plumage of today’s ostrich feels to the touch even better than it often looks, although the sheer scale of the quills, especially when taken from the male birds, is truly impressive. Thankfully, farmed ostriches are in plentiful supply, so utilising ostrich plumage does not reduce the number of birds in the wild; which cannot be said about the African lion, gorilla or rhinoceros.
Ostrich feathers offer a superb material for the creation of arts and crafts but it is the fringing of ostrich plumes that helps to bring the feathery feel of the ostrich quill to life. Fashion can be a cruel master and yet feathery accessories can turn a simple effect into a stunning outfit. The ostrich and its plumage combine to deliver much beauty to our world and many fashion designers and florists would sorely miss it if the ostrich were ever to learn how to fly and headed home to Africa.
