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nandupress
Seasons in the Kingdom
Tim Norris
nandupress
Portland (ME), 2007
ISBN# 1-929565-24-0
Cover Photograph
Neil Mishalov
www.mishalov.comwww.mishalov.comww
What's a nandu?
A nandu is a flightless bird like the ostrich, and it is commonly called rhea americana. It is about five foot tall. Having only three toes, it is a fast runner. The first time I had the opportunity to see one was when I was camping in the northern Atacama, 2002, east of Pica.
During May of 2011, the last day of my recent trip to northern Chile, I saw a flock of nandu. The picture here is one of a group of images I took of a nandu as it walked near me. The animals in the background are Vicuna.
When I founded my website and publishing endeavor, I looked for a symbol that would be a good logo. The Penquin was already taken, and I remembered my experience in Chile, and thought the unusual bird, the nandu, would be a good choice.
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Seasons in the Kingdom
Tumilaca Phase ceramic motif, region of the Aymara Indian, northern Chile and western region of Boliva. Nandu's?
Click on the photos to the right for larger images.
I followed the nandu for a while and observed some basic behavoir. Mostly they walk but when startled they run in a zig-zag fluttering their feathers as a distraction. The primary threat/predator is the Puma (mountain lion). And, at the watering hole where I found these nandu and vicuna, I also found paw prints for the mountain lion (see below). The paw print measured about 4-5 inches across the pads. There is no other animal with a similar print in the Altiplano. The prints were fresh and were probably made that morning.
