Animals, Bizarre, Environment, International, Politics

Birds of a Feather: Gay Activists Protest Decision to Force Two Male Vultures To Nest With Females

Two German vultures have found themselves on the front lines of gay rights after zookeepers discovered their same-sex relationship and proceeded to force them to go straight with female vultures. After the two male partners (Guido and Detlef) were forced to nest with females rather than each other, gay activists mounted a campaign alleging zoological homophobia.

Guido and Detlef are Griffon vultures and surprised zoo officials when they were discovered making a two-bird nest for themselves in Munster, northwest Germany. The tasteful arrangements and window treatments no doubt tipped off officials who proceeded to force the birds to nest “normally” with females.

The vultures reportedly spent their days grooming one another and attending to their own nest. Guido was actually moved 400 miles east to a zoo in the Czech Republic to mate with a female and a zoo official would only say that “Detlef is reorienting himself now.”

The zookeepers are showing Detlef the reorientation film below:

The “reorientation” ordered by the German zookeepers has led to protests by Gay rights activists outside the zoo. a small demonstration in front of the zoo, waving a rainbow flag and decrying the zookeepers for standing in the way of love.

“This is like in the dark middle ages, forcibly making a creature sexually re-orient itself by tearing its partner from its side,” The German Herald quoted one protester as saying. Others said they worried that what’s happened to the birds could one day happen to humans as well.

Gay activists are pointing to the treatment given two male penguins in San Francisco Zoo in 2003 where the couple was allowed to adopted and hatched an egg abandoned by a female penguin. Even though many states would not allow gay zookeepers to adopt, the penguins were allowed to keep the chick. However, recently Harry left Pepper and moved in with a female penguin named Linda.

Unfortunately, the film below of of Guido shows considerable uncertainty as to what is he supposed to do in the new relationship:

Source: AOL

20 thoughts on “Birds of a Feather: Gay Activists Protest Decision to Force Two Male Vultures To Nest With Females”

  4. the other vultures were jealous at how tastefully decorated Guido and Detlef’s nest was.

  5. Canadian Eh! LOL, I have two male cats that seem to have a ‘special’ relationship, it’s only embarrassing if there is company. I think it stems from a need to reinforce the dominance order in their relationship. They otherwise spend LARGE amounts of time with the dominant male grooming his friend and them falling asleep tangled up with each other.

    I suppose my reaction to them pretty well sums up how I feel about most human interactions and vices; it’s all cool, just don’t do it in a room full of guests trying to have a nice dinner.

  6. Uh oh….my female cats are always grooming eachother, I guess it’s time to pair each up with each of my male dogs. I certainly wouldn’t want lesbian cats in the house to influence the minds of my children!!!
    Ridiculous!!

  8. Bob,

    “Or” implies mutual exclusivity. Can I vote for “all of the above”?

  9. Is it a gay thing, a German thing or simply more proof that mankind has not evolved an inch from the slime that spawned him?

  10. Imposing human values – misguided or not – upon animals?

    That makes as much sense as believing in an invisible man living in the sky that will torment you for eternity for breaking cultural rules propagated by men all the while professing his eternal and unconditional love for you.

  11. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t…

    Was trying to post Manhattan Transfer’s Birdland…

  13. Swarthmore mom, Thanks for the update. How about START? Do you think there will be time to get it wrapped up before the end of the year?

  14. Isabel Darcy wrote:

    “It’s very traumatic to try to break up the “couple.” They should leave Guido and Detlef alone.”

    ==========

    Isabel:

    Breaks my heart… and I would agree — they should have just let them be, but now it’s done…

    “Guido was actually moved 400 miles east to a zoo in the Czech Republic to mate with a female and a zoo official would only say that “Detlef is reorienting himself now.””

    “Detlef is reorienting himself now.” Cold. And callous.

  15. McCain says he will filibuster but Lieberman has rounded up a couple of republicans so hopefully they will have 60.

  16. Thanks for the update, Swarthmore mom… (Any thoughts about how things will go?)

  17. Birds pair bond with one another. Usually but not always for life. If a female bird is not available to a male bird, the male bird will pair bond with a male. If a bird is not available, the bird will pair bond with a human.

    I work with Phoenix Landing a parrot rescue organization and was a foster parent to a 28 year old female macaw who “pair bonded” to me. She had been locked in a cage for 6 years before I fostered her. Unfortunately she pair bonded too well and laid 28 eggs in a year-a medical emergency.

    This is an instinct which has nothing to do with sexual preference. It’s very traumatic to try to break up the “couple.” They should leave Guido and Detlef alone.

  20. Man oh man….People Dickin where they shouldn’t be Dickin…Birds do what birds do…Dogs do what dogs do and….Just leave em alone….But we know better somehow…right..gotcha…

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