(no subject)
Now why did I find this story so amusing? : )
Meet the Gay Flamingos at WWT Slimbridge
13/02/2006
Two male flamingos at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge have surprised both staff and visitors by demonstrating a long-lasting loyalty to each other and excellent parental skills.
Greater Flamingos Carlos and Fernando have been together for more than five years and have reared three generations of adopted chicks. Twice a year Carlos and Fernando perform an elaborate courtship dance together before stealing eggs from their heterosexual neighbours to bring up as their own.
Nigel Jarrett, WWT Aviculture Manager explains: "Carlos and Fernando have been together now for five years and seem perfectly happy together. Both of them take on the male roles during the courtship ritual which involves preening, strutting and waving their heads vigorously from side to side with their necks at full stretch.
"Their parental instincts are also very strong prompting them to raid the nests of other couples in the flock. They have been known to fight the heterosexual birds and there is usually a ‘handbags at dawn’ moment where they will fight with another couple before stealing their egg. They are both large adult males so as a partnership they are quite formidable and are afforded more respect from the other birds. They are also very good parents and behave just as the heterosexual birds do when rearing their young."
For the first 3 or 4 weeks young flamingos are fed on crop milk a pink nutritious liquid produced by both parents so Carlos and Fernando have no problem feeding their adopted young and have so far raised three chicks.
Meet the Gay Flamingos at WWT Slimbridge
13/02/2006
Two male flamingos at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge have surprised both staff and visitors by demonstrating a long-lasting loyalty to each other and excellent parental skills.
Greater Flamingos Carlos and Fernando have been together for more than five years and have reared three generations of adopted chicks. Twice a year Carlos and Fernando perform an elaborate courtship dance together before stealing eggs from their heterosexual neighbours to bring up as their own.
Nigel Jarrett, WWT Aviculture Manager explains: "Carlos and Fernando have been together now for five years and seem perfectly happy together. Both of them take on the male roles during the courtship ritual which involves preening, strutting and waving their heads vigorously from side to side with their necks at full stretch.
"Their parental instincts are also very strong prompting them to raid the nests of other couples in the flock. They have been known to fight the heterosexual birds and there is usually a ‘handbags at dawn’ moment where they will fight with another couple before stealing their egg. They are both large adult males so as a partnership they are quite formidable and are afforded more respect from the other birds. They are also very good parents and behave just as the heterosexual birds do when rearing their young."
For the first 3 or 4 weeks young flamingos are fed on crop milk a pink nutritious liquid produced by both parents so Carlos and Fernando have no problem feeding their adopted young and have so far raised three chicks.