5: Gay Birds Who Strut Their Feathers for Pride Month

Giant corporations are coming out of the woodwork for Pride Month and Bird Shit Podcast is jumping on the bandwagon. (The "bandwagon" is like a party bus, right?) We aren't sporting a rainbow logo this month, but we are celebrating with some fabulous tales of homosexual and transgender behavior exhibited by birds.

Scientists have observed same-sex relationships in quite a few bird species. According to National Geographic, there are male ostriches that only court their own gender, and pairs of male flamingos that mate, build nests, and even raise foster chicks. Join us to hear about four bird species that love who they love and stay true to themselves.

Also, in Birds in the News, we uncover (more) new insights into the world's end—and the birds going down with it. YAY, OPTIMISM.

BIRD SHIT WE DISCUSSED
USEFUL RESOURCES
Researcher Bruce Bagemihl’s book, Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

BIRDS WE MENTIONED (in order)

• Chinstrap Penguins
• Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (smaller than we thought…)
• Laysan Albatross
• Superb Birds of Paradise
• Long-wattled Umbrella Bird
• Black Swan
• Mute Swan
• Saltmarsh Sparrow
• American Crow

BIRDS IN THE NEWS

• Recap: "I evolved twice thousands of years apart" bird
• Recap: "I murdered the fool who tried to keep me captive" bird
• “Rapidly Declining Songbird Won’t See Federal Protections Anytime Soon”
• “Portland bans use of bird poison on city property after crow deaths”

OTHER COOL SH*T

• Birdcage = most famous gay “birds”
• Roy and Silo: adorable gay penguin couple at New York’s Zoo
• Fake chicken eggs encourage hens to lay!
• Awesome Birds of Paradise footage from Planet Earth!
• RuPaul owns the runway (and so many other things!)
• Not the Black Swan we discussed, but still noteworthy
• “Earth” by Lil’ Dicky: save the world!!
• ICYMI,