It’s been a sad couple of weeks in Bird World, a.k.a. New Zealand.
First, we were shaken by the sudden passing of Nigel “No Mates” the gannet, who fell in love with a concrete replica on a lonely island off the coast of Wellington.
Now, we must contend with the tragic death of Thomas, a bisexual polyamorous goose who spent 24 years in love with a black swan called Henry, and helped raise no fewer than 68 cygnets with Henry and Henry’s other life partner, Henrietta.
Thomas’s many years in the swan love triangle have captured the hearts of the internet, because apparently in 2018 there’s nothing we love more than bird-related tearjerkers.
welcome to new zealand where a blind polyamorous bisexual goose named thomas has died aged 40 pic.twitter.com/v2wQB4qzYA
— David Farrier (@davidfarrier) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/CaitJGibson/status/961357744757460992
https://twitter.com/hannahsarney/status/961471324093865984
First Nigel the gannet & now this. 2018 is pulling no punches when it comes to
unusual bird romance https://t.co/Ir98sVRzL6— TheGrandBiWitch (@TheGrandBiWitch) February 7, 2018
Hi 👋 this is why I’m crying today. https://t.co/yn6y0EnMkI
— Jennifer Green (@JelitaJane) February 7, 2018
Thomas the Bisexual Goose: basically the antithesis of Nigel the Lonely Gannet. (But I want picture books on both, please.) https://t.co/4HzNu6GpW0
— Katharine Duckett (@kekduckett) February 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/modernistwitch/status/961814248367075328
i thought the story about Nigel the gannet was heartbreaking, but then this story about Henry the goose is absolutely tear jerking as well. what up with the tragic endings, NZ bird life? 😭😭😭 https://t.co/uJBr4vAWJA
— 🪄Magical Fox 🦊 (@bellofthebird) February 8, 2018
an icon passed away today pic.twitter.com/PKsm0gbBLO
— killian (@ficklefamiliar) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/MrAlfredGarnett/status/961692813929975809
https://twitter.com/lilbaked/status/961901202983276544
Thomas moved to a sanctuary after Henry died in 2009, and Henrietta flew off with another swan. He lived at the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust from 2013, where despite going blind, he fostered several broods of cygnets and lived to the ripe age of 40.
You were a true inspiration for the work we do and the things we are able to achieve for the animals in our care. He was such a special boy and a wonderful character. Thomas, our good friend, we miss you wholeheartedly but may you rest in peace.
He’ll be buried alongside Henry, the love of his life, in a public ceremony later this month. RIP Thomas, you beautiful horny bird. May your memory live on as a beacon for the rest of us.
