Have you been eating CP today? Six years later, this "model couple" finally has a child again

The daily companionship of the model couple Red Eye and Flower Tail is simple and full of warmth. This year, their nest box has ushered in new vitality, and everything has quietly changed...

Whose arrival has added new colors to the lives of this pair of hornbill lovers? Follow our footsteps to explore the new chapter of this small family and feel the miracle of life.

In the season of spring and summer, the Tropical Bird House staged a warm and wonderful prelude to life - the little double-horned hornbill "Benben" quietly arrived ! As the baby of the loving couple Red Eye and Flower Tail, Benben has attracted much attention since his birth. His name is taken from the "Analects of Confucius" "The foundation is established and the way is born ", which means that a solid foundation is the way to growth. Everyone hopes that Benben can have a solid foundation and thrive.

On April 26 , Benben officially broke out of his shell, adding a new green touch to the world. In July , when the enthusiasm of summer gradually spread, Benben flew out of the nest box for the first time. When Benben was young, his horns had not yet fully grown, his eyes were gray, and the fur on his back was a little spotty. However, it was such a little guy who was more lively and bold than you can imagine. After quickly adapting to the environment after leaving the nest box, he couldn't wait to explore the surrounding environment, full of curiosity and enthusiasm for everything, as if every corner was hiding a secret waiting for him to discover.

Benben is still young. Generally speaking, the sex characteristics of a double-horned hornbill will gradually show up after reaching adulthood, so even its sex remains a little suspenseful. The exact time when a double-horned hornbill reaches adulthood may vary depending on individual differences and growth environment, but it can generally be roughly determined by changes in its body shape, feathers, behavior, etc.

In the world of adult double-horned hornbills, there are some little secrets to distinguish gender, just like the unique marks given to them by nature. For example, male double-horned hornbills have fiery red eyes, while female double-horned hornbills have soft white eyes. What's more interesting is that the male double-horned hornbills have a touch of black at the junction of their horns and beaks, like a small badge of their identity.

The love story of Red Eyes and Flower Tail

Before talking about Benben, we have to mention his loving parents, Red Eyes and Hanabi.

Red Eyes , a handsome, affectionate, and responsible male double-horned hornbill. When he first started courting Huawei, he would often touch Huawei with his mouth to express his love, and would immediately bring food to Huawei. After Benben was born, he would give the delicious food to his wife and children first.

Huawei , a reserved and somewhat shy female double-horned hornbill, responded to Redeye's affection with her endless tenderness and consideration. Even when they lived in a group in the early days, the two of them often stayed together, full of romance and sweetness.

On August 25, 2018, Red Eyes and Flower Tail's first baby, Huahua, officially left the nest box. Huahua now lives happily with her friend Youyou. In 2021, they welcomed their second baby, but on the 110th day, this little life left them. Red Eyes and Flower Tail then experienced two more breeding failures, but this did not affect their relationship at all. Finally, this summer, the little double-horned hornbill flew out of the nest box of Red Eyes and Flower Tail again.

The hardships and persistence of breeding

The breeding path of the double-horned hornbill is full of mystery and wonder. Benben's healthy growth is inseparable from the persistence and efforts of the model couple Red Eye and Flower Tail. The double-horned hornbill has a unique breeding method - raising young in a closed cage . In order to simulate the natural environment in the wild, the keepers set up a cylindrical nest box at the highest point of the cage, and also prepared the nesting materials that the hornbills may use when they separate their nests later, including wood blocks, clay, straw, etc.

When the breeding season comes, Huawei will enter the nest box and work with the male hornbill Red Eye outside the hole to seal the hole with materials such as mud and saliva, leaving only a thin gap through which the mouth can be stretched out. The female hornbill will not open the hole from the inside until the baby grows up. In the almost closed nest box, Huawei has been conscientiously keeping the nest box clean. When she defecates, she will excrete the feces through the only gap. The newly born little double-horned hornbill cannot reach the hole, so Huawei will help the baby hornbill throw the feces out. If some of the bedding in the nest box is dirty, the female double-horned hornbill will quickly find it and throw it out through the hole.

During the entire breeding period, Red Eye will pass food into the nest box through this small gap to ensure the nutritional needs of Flowertail and the babies. In addition to being responsible for delivering food, he will also become more vigilant than usual, observing the surrounding environment at all times, and sometimes he will look through the gap in the nest box to see the situation of Flowertail and the babies inside.

After the little hornbill leaves the nest box, the hornbill couple will jointly take on the responsibility of raising the young, which usually includes feeding it, teaching it some corresponding life skills, helping it explore the surrounding environment, etc.

The warm daily life of the double-horned hornbill family

After Benben was born, the relationship between Hongyan and Huawei became even sweeter. They would stand together and gently touch each other with their mouths, and Benben would play happily around his parents. Sometimes when Dad Hongyan found food, he would not only feed Benben, but also his mother Huawei. He would never feed only the child just because he had a child.

Today, the little double-horned hornbill Benben is growing up healthily under the careful care of Red Eyes and Flower Tail. His liveliness and curiosity have added a touch of vitality and joy to the warm life of Red Eyes and Flower Tail. Red Eyes and Flower Tail are diligent and responsible to accompany the child every day, taking care of Benben tenderly and shouldering the responsibility of raising the child together.

When Benben just got out of the nest and tried to spread his wings and fly, wobbling and drawing tender arcs in the air, Red Eye and Flower Tail always silently watched his every move. Whenever Benben stumbled, they would quickly fly forward to help. In such companionship and growth, Benben explored this beautiful world step by step.

Lesser double-horned hornbill

It is the fruit of the love between Red Eye and Flower Tail.

It is also the tenacity and warmth of life

We look forward to the healthy growth of Benben

Bring us more about love

A beautiful story about growing up