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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, June 21, 2012
Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Index Chris Hillman............................................ 20 Summertime Blues Festival and BBQ ...... 21 Arts Alive .................................................. 22 Kris Kristofferson concert review .......... 23 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz ............ 24 Doctors Orders ........................................ 26 The Hub Fundraiser Food Festival .......... 27 Calendar .............................................. 30-31
Bird is the word at ranch Tehachapi ostrich farm celebrating 20 years BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor sdias@bakersfield.com
T
o learn more about the dinosaurs, you’d go to a natural history museum. For exotic animals, you’d hit the zoo. And spotting celebrities may warrant a trip to Hollywood. But if you and the family are all about one-stop fun, head to Tehachapi’s Indian Point Ostrich Ranch, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Saturday. The daylong event is the first of its kind for Indian Point, according to volunteer spokesman David Brust, whose uncle, Joel, started the 80-acre operation in 1992. “It’s an opportunity for us to thank all the people who have helped us over the last 20 years.” The ranch is home to hundreds of ostriches, the largest living species of bird, which paleontologists say have close ties to the dinosaurs. The free festivities will include a bounce house, refreshments and ostrich egg shell painting. “Ostrich eggs are the largest (animal) eggs. We’ll have pieces of eggs to paint with Crayola painting pens for no spills.” Activities are guaranteed for at least the first 100 children, though Brust said everyone is welcome. “I don’t want to disappoint anybody,” he said. That’s unlikely, with the unveiling of the ranch’s newest project titled “Beware of the Bird.” Brust was tight-lipped on details of the project, which is safe for all ages. He would only say that it was inspired by the numerous calls he receives from people wanting to ride an ostrich. One bird you don’t need to be wary of is Ralph, Indian Point’s animal celebrity. Although there are hundreds of birds at the ranch, Brust describes Ralph as “the most videotaped and photographed ostrich in the world.” A standout on any tour, the 17 1 ⁄2-year-old cross-bred bird (one of the first at the ranch) is ready for his closeup. When not canoodling with girlfriend, Connie, the bird greets visitors and TV and film crews, of which Brust said there have been many over the years.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID BRUST
Children are frequent visitors to Indian Point Ostrich Ranch, whether on school tours or with their families.
OSTRICH FACTS One hen can lay 50 eggs or more per year. Ostrich eggs incubate for 42 days and weigh 3 pounds. Ostrich can live to be 75 years old. Ostrich chicks grow 1 foot per month. Ostrich run 40 mph. Ostrich are curious and often quite friendly. FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN JOHN HARTE / THE CALIFORNIAN
An ostrich on Brust’s Indian Point Ranch in Tehachapi.
“We’ve been on ‘Iron Chef’ with those eggs. We were on ‘Fear Factor’ — the original, not the new one. Contestants had to swallow the contents of an entire ostrich egg. ... All over different shows on the Discovery Channel. We shoot pilots for different programs. There’s one for a competitor to ‘Dirty Jobs.’ They had to
Joel Brust plays with an ostrich at his Indian Point Ostrich Ranch.
catch a bird.” Catching an ostrich is no easy feat, Brust said. “To do it the right way, it’s hard.” The speedy birds, clocking in at a maximum 40 miles per hour, would leave even Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter Usain Bolt in the dust, Brust said. Most of the birds, which can reach up to 500 pounds, are Please see OSTRICH / 31
Indian Point Ostrich Ranch 20th Anniversary When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Where: Indian Point Ostrich Ranch, 28101 Giraudo Road, Tehachapi Admission: Free Information: 822-9131
Ostrich leather is used in boots, jackets and purses. Hides from Indian Point are sold to companies that manufacture for Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Ostrich feathers are harvested for fashion, dusters and commercial use. The ranch sells its own line of feather dusters. Source: Indian Point Ostrich Ranch