An interesting question, Rob.

I did some surfing (thanks to tswum for the Google search tip) and came up with the following fact:

Ostriches are mentioned in Shakespeare (Henry VI, Pt. II, IV, x) and The Bible (Job xxxix, 14-16).

Refer to http://members.xoom.com/teostrich/ostriches/ostrich.html

This site is run by someone who appears to be an ostrich enthusiast!