Lesbian albatrosses raise chick together
A pair of lesbian albatrosses have amazed birdwatchers in New Zealand by successfully incubating, hatching and raising a chick together.
One of the pair, who nest on the Otago Peninsula, was apparently impregnated by a male who has since disappeared from the scene. The pair took turns to sit on the egg which hatched last week and is doing well, according to Robin Thomas of New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.
According to the Royal Albatross Centre blog, the pair is only the third lesbian couple in the colony’s 70-year history. The centre is also celebrating its most successful breeding season in 16 years with 17 chicks hatched from 17 eggs.
Heather Mollins from Tourism Dunedin said that the gay media had “absolutely loved” the story and that it had even appeared on Lady Gaga’s website with one fan suggesting the new chick be called Lady Gagabratross.
“Several people have mentioned the novelty factor and hey we’re enjoying making the most of it,” says Sam Inder, the Royal Albatross Centre Manager.
To have an albatross born to a seagull couple of any sort female-female or otherwise would be a remarkable and unnatural event. An albatross is no relation to seagulls guys!