15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Be gone or die!

This is what ostriches look like when their heads aren’t in the ground. This one was giving me the death stare as I was trying to capture its portrait. The look was so intense that I was suddenly aware of my own presence. I slowly backed away, but I had to capture this threatening gaze against the evergreen trees. It has such beautiful eyes and a very dangerous beak! Yikes!

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Kenya
Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Copyright: © Manoj Shah