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In this episode best-selling author Katherine Rundell tells us about the ostrich, the world’s largest living bird. Contrary to the myth - first recorded by Pliny the Elder - ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand. Instead, they lie low with their heads flat to the ground, camouflaging themselves as rocks. Pliny also claimed they could digest iron; while not true, ostriches do swallow stones to help break down food, and in captivity, have been found with nails and metal in their stomachs. Ostriches are built for speed and power. Chicks can run at 35 miles per hour within a month of hatching, and adults can take strides up to sixteen feet. Their powerful legs can deliver a fatal kick to predators, including lions. But there has been a decline in ostrich species. The Arabian ostrich is now extinct, and the Somali ostrich is under threat from hunting and habitat loss. Despite their size and strength, ostriches remain vulnerable to human activity. Written and presented by Katherine Rundell Produced for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan