Still in love after all these years
A pair of Andean geese at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire show their love for each other this week, proving that romance never dies - even if you've been together for years and had a brood of children.
This nine year old pair, affectionately called 'George and Mildred' by Slimbridge staff, have been together for eight years and reared over 40 goslings!
Slimbridge warden Phil Tovey said: "Andean geese traditionally have big broods and this pair are no exception, they are very family orientated. Despite this they haven't let the romance die and each year they engage in elaborate mating rituals where the female apparently displays like a carnival queen and the male struts about. Adult pairs have life-long bonds and maintain it through mutual preening. This is what they are doing in the picture; nibbling each other's cheek feathers while cooing.
"Despite being together for a long time and years of parenthood, this pair have managed to keep the spark alive. This week we have seen the male displaying his feathers and preening his partner every day, he must know that it is a romantic time of year!"
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