Badly behaved birds celebrated in Bourton-on-the-Water's Birdland

From blood-sucking songbirds and puking penguins to stinking storks and spitting swallows, keepers will reveal revolting facts about some of the world’s baddest birds.

There will be toxic talks and terrible trails highlighting the horrible aspects of natural history for visitors to get involved with and also the chance to meet some of the birds during special meat the creatures sessions.

“Despite their often angelic reputations, birds are definitely among the worst behaved animals on the planet with some truly disgusting table manner,” said head bird keeper Alistair Keen.

“They also have devilish defences and amazing attacking abilities.”

“The Marabou Stork defecates on itself in order to cool its legs, fulmar chicks aim projectile vomit at the face of any potential threats and oxpecker birds will open old wounds on cattle in Africa in order to drink their blood,” he continued.

“Swallows, swifts and kingfishers use their own spit to build nests and the so-called ‘stink bird’ from New Guinea eats toxic beetle.

These bad birds will be celebrated over the February half term holidays starting on Saturday 15 until Sunday 23 February.

Birdland features more than 500 birds, ranging from the UK’s only colony of king penguins and parrots to cassowaries and cranes.

Details at birdland.co.uk