I recall reading somewhere in Konrad Lorenz's works that male homosexual
pairings are
quite common in geese (forget species but I think observed in Iceland and
northern
tundra conditions). However these often end up as trios when a female falls
for one of
the pair and somehow insinuates herself into the situation. The interesting
thing is
that trios (male + male+female)are much more successful than male-female pairs
when it
comes to rearing young. Three to share brooding and care of young in a world
full of
predators.
Domestic geese are usually set up with one gander and two or three geese, but
they are
not really polygamous, and one surplus goose can end up much pecked and bullied.
Anthea Fleming
> I forgot to mention in my earlier email that the following book examines the
> evolution of homosexual behaviour in birds and mammals:
>
> Sommer, V. & Vasey, P.L. (eds) (2006). Homosexual Behaviour in Animals: An
> Evolutionary Perspective (Cambridge UP, Cambridge).
>
> The problem is that the book's purchase price in Australia is $275. So those
> interested in reading the collection of papers would best be advised to find
> a library copy.
>
> Stephen Ambrose
> Ryde, NSW
>
> ===============================
> www.birding-aus.org
> birding-aus.blogspot.com
>
> To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
> send the message:
> unsubscribe
> (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
> to:
> ===============================
>
>
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
