KEEPERS at Bourton-on-the-Water’s Birdland will be highlighting the hard-working mums of the avian world during Mother's Day weekend of events.

Over the weekend, March 25-26, a talks programme will highlight some of Rissington Road attractions' hard working mums providing an insight into how different bird species look after their young.

In some cases, like the king penguins, the parents share incubation of their single egg – taking it in turns to keep the egg warm on top of their feet while in others it’s actually the males that end up doing most of the hard work when it comes to looking after the babies.

This is the time of year the hens are starting to lay and sit on eggs and their progress is closely monitored by the bird-keeping team.

Among those already laying are the roul roul partridge, masked plover and grey peacock pheasant, with a record year so far for the park's colony of Humboldt penguins with five pairs laying no fewer than 10 eggs between them.

Head keeper, Alistair Keen, said: “This is actually a double first since my time here as it’s both the most pairs and the largest number of eggs laid we have had.

“We are also keeping a close eye on our colony of king penguins who are now moulting and getting ready to begin their courtship rituals,” he added.

For more on Birdland Park and Gardens visit birdland.co.uk.