moonglowSmithsonian National Museum Celebrates Birth of Four American Rhea
June 15th 2008 04:41
In addition to human dads all over the country, the Smithsonian National Zoo's only male rhea will celebrate the joys of fatherhood tomorrow. The proud papa had four chicks hatch last month, bringing the zoo's total rhea population to seven including the father and the zoo's two female birds.
The rhea, which is in its own order within the class Aves, is a large, flightless bird that shares similar physical attributes with the ostrich, cassowary, and emu.The greater or American rhea (Rhea americana) can reach heights of around 5 feet, while the lesser or Darwin's rhea (Rhea pennata) is smaller, reaching a height of 3.5 to 4 feet on average. A native of South America, it is an omnivorous bird which prefers broad-leafed plants but will also eat seeds, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates.
What makes this bird special in terms of parenting behavior is the fact that it is the father who incubates, hatches, and rears the young. A clutch may contain anywhere from a few eggs up to sixty, and the incubation period lasts just over a month. While protecting the nest or the young birds, a father rhea will charge at anything--including a female rhea-- which he feels may threaten the safety of the chicks. He is truly a devoted father!
Sara Hallager, a biologist at the National Zoo, says the birth is very exciting for the zoo.
"The birth of these chicks comes at a time when the number of rheas in zoos is declining," she said. "By developing a rhea studbook--an official record relating to the animal's history--we are hoping to ensure that knowledge relating to their husbandry is retained and to stimulate further interest in the birds both inside and outside of zoos."
She also reported that the new father was "doing a great job" raising the chicks, who, along with the three adult birds, will all be finding permanent homes this fall.
Congratulations to the new father, and happy Father's Day to all my readers!
The rhea, which is in its own order within the class Aves, is a large, flightless bird that shares similar physical attributes with the ostrich, cassowary, and emu.The greater or American rhea (Rhea americana) can reach heights of around 5 feet, while the lesser or Darwin's rhea (Rhea pennata) is smaller, reaching a height of 3.5 to 4 feet on average. A native of South America, it is an omnivorous bird which prefers broad-leafed plants but will also eat seeds, fruit, insects, and small vertebrates.
What makes this bird special in terms of parenting behavior is the fact that it is the father who incubates, hatches, and rears the young. A clutch may contain anywhere from a few eggs up to sixty, and the incubation period lasts just over a month. While protecting the nest or the young birds, a father rhea will charge at anything--including a female rhea-- which he feels may threaten the safety of the chicks. He is truly a devoted father!
Sara Hallager, a biologist at the National Zoo, says the birth is very exciting for the zoo.
"The birth of these chicks comes at a time when the number of rheas in zoos is declining," she said. "By developing a rhea studbook--an official record relating to the animal's history--we are hoping to ensure that knowledge relating to their husbandry is retained and to stimulate further interest in the birds both inside and outside of zoos."
She also reported that the new father was "doing a great job" raising the chicks, who, along with the three adult birds, will all be finding permanent homes this fall.
Congratulations to the new father, and happy Father's Day to all my readers!
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