Posted on 03/10/2009 11:58:30 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Attempts to breed a rare species of duck to avoid extinction in the UK have backfired after the only two remaining males fell for each other.
Keepers at a bird sanctuary in West Sussex hoped that the last remaining female Blue Duck in the country - called Cherry - might mate with either of the drakes, Ben or Jerry.
But neither male duck appeared interested and are now inseparable at the Arundel Wetland Centre, leaving Cherry to her own devices.
Related Articles Endangered bittern returns to Somerset Thai zoo hopes cold spell will put pandas in heat Gay penguins steal eggs from straight couples 111-year-old lizard to become a father Quiet Gareth Barry's waiting gameCentre warden Paul Stevens said he was disappointed that efforts to produce new Blue Duck offspring had failed but said the two male birds made "a lovely couple".
"They stay together all the time, parading up and down their enclosure and whistling to each other as a male might do with a female he wants to mate with," he said.
"People who visit the centre think they're a fantastic couple, without really coming around to the idea that they are two males.
"They both have very big personalities and people come from all over the country to come and see them.
Cherry doesn't seem bothered by it, she's just happy to keep herself to herself."
Blue ducks originate from New Zealand but there were thought to be just three birds in the UK.
Keepers initially introduced Ben to Cherry, but neither seemed keen. They then brought Jerry down from a sanctuary in London.
Mr Stevens said: "Cherry showed some interest in him. She displayed typical mating behaviour - she approached him and called to him, she even looked like she was nesting.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Super!
Sure can tell those ducks aren’t mallards. Mallard drakes tend to pair off together as buddies, and then go after the girls...one watching on the sidelines until it’s his turn with the hen.
What?
Doesn't sound like they've been observed mating.
Since these don't appear to be the last birds in the world, just in England, which don't they procure another female? Jerry wasn't "local" either.
Yep. There are plenty of instances of animals engaging in incest, cannibalism, interspecies sex, war (the water buffalo vs. the lions tape comes to mind, but also territorial disputes among ants, bees, etc.).
The Lavender Mafia doesn't believe that man is or should be civilized.
Not to worry, blue ducks are from New Zealand and I suspect they are fairly common. So the keepers can have their faux gay display without regard to the consequences.
How fitting that they would be named after to two queers that opened the ice-cream store!
Brutal.
I love that series. :-)
< AOL> Me too. < /AOL>
My surviving male khaki campbell duck is living at the neighbor’s creek with a blue heron. The heron stands upright and keeps look out while duckie swims, sleeps and eats.
After what my poor duckie witnessed last Halloween though, he’s lucky to be alive. The rest of the flock was mutilated by some sicko who cut their bills off. Duckie flew our fence and ended up at our neighbor’s creek. The rest of the flock is dead. The survivor won’t come to us nor will he come home.
I’m sorry thought I was answering number 8. You were number 9. My bad.
they should adopt a baby blue duck from china or africa. like brangelina
The media seems to love pushing their homo garbage into any subject they can. Why are they so obsessed with it?
Attempts to breed a rare species of duck to avoid extinction in the UK have backfired after the only two remaining males fell for each other.What sick bastard blue ducks in the first place?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.