After spending most of her life history shy by from love , a 70 - year - former flamingo forebode Gertrude has in conclusion laid her first - ever egg .
She ’s part of a 62 - unassailable flamboyance ruffle around Pensthorpe Nature Reserve in Norfolk , England and unlike most of her companion flamingo , has n’t had much success when it comes to finding a pardner – until late .
" All throughout her life , she ’s been fairly inhibit and been at the back of the group . But suddenly , this class she found a newfound confidence and was flirting with all the guys ! ” Ben Marshall , managing director of the reservation , toldITV news program .
But after play the field , Gertrude eventually settled down with Gil , who is 33 years her junior . Apparently years really is just a number when you ’re a flamingo .
That also did n’t seem to get in the path of their kinship , as after a period of “ toy ” , Gertrude laid her very firstegg .
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It ’s something of a twofold accomplishment for the flamingo . In the wild , they broadly only live for around 30 to 40 year and rarer still is laying an egg at such an advanced old age .
" The ordinary long time of a flamingo is around 35 years , so it ’s unbelievable that she ’s still with us , ” said Marshall . " It ’s testament to the gruelling work of the squad that not only is Gertrude healthy and happy but is able to find love at her age . "
However , whilst the rest of the flock are soon to see tinyflaminglets(yes , that ’s what sister flamingo are shout out ) hatch , Gertrude ’s eggwas not find to be fertile , meaning she wo n’t become a mother this twelvemonth .
Having laid an egg is still “ a noteworthy accomplishment , ” said Marshall . “ Being capable to expose maternal inherent aptitude at her age is just amazing . I ’m certain Gertrude will carry on to be the fun auntie of the grouping ! "
Gertrude is n’t the only bird who ’s still keen on staying in the game well into honest-to-god years .
wiseness the Laysan albatross , believed to be the world ’s Old dotty bird at 73 old age old , welcomed a chick back in 2021 at theage of 70 . Unfortunately , she was also hit by a risky separatrix of fortune when it came to love , after her farsighted - term mate disappeared and was presumed all in .
Apparently not content with settling for loneliness in old age , Wisdom wasrecently discern flirtingwith possible new mates at her home in Midway Atoll , though unlike Gertrude , she ’s not expected to lay any eggs this year .
