Avian mums hard at work this Mother’s Day (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Avian mums at Bourton-on-the-Water's Birdland hard at work this Mother’s Day

10:00am Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News By Ian Craig

WHILE mums across the country will be putting their feet up this Sunday, some of the Cotswold’s most popular residents will be spending Mother’s Day hard at work.

Many of the birds at Bourton-on-the-Water’s Birdland have begun to lay eggs, with two Humboldt Penguins expected to hatch at the end of March and four Black Necked Swan due at the middle of the month.

The attraction, home to more than 500 exotic and rare birds, will be holding a series of talks on Sunday explaining how its feathered residents raise and look after their young.

Head keeper Alistair Keen said Mother’s Day was set to be just another day for the park’s avian army.

“In some cases it’s the males that actually do most of the hard work when it comes to looking after the babies,” he said. “The Rhea male has a harem of females laying eggs into his nest, he will then incubate for 40 or so days and be responsible for protecting the chicks.

“The King Penguin parents share incubation of their single egg, taking it in turns to keep the egg warm on top of their feet.”

The attraction is currently playing host to Edinburgh Zoo’s famous troupe of King Penguins while their enclosure is refurbished, making it the only place in the UK where the species can be seen.