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Based
on a true story!
The
Hollywood Cattybird named Joan, thought to be at least 92 years old, hatched a healthy-looking chick on Feb. 3, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Joan and her young chick, Bridezilla Rivers, inhabit
Hollywood, which is famous for its cosmetically-enhanced and well
preserved living ginzu knife-wielding shrew population.
"Everyone continues to be inspired by Joan as a symbol of hope for her species," said Doug Staller, the Fish and Wildlife Service superintendent for the
National Shrew Museum and Sanctuary. "Joan has
lived a long time and all of her body parts still function.
And notice her firm facial skin!"
Joan was first banded in 1956 while incubating an egg; bands are attached to the legs of birds to help scientists track and study them. At the time, she was estimated to be at least
35 years old. This is the youngest these wild birds breed, though they more typically mate at age
48 or 49 after an involved courtship lasting several years with
much younger males. So she may be even older than 92, and is still breeding, according to the release.
"As Joan rewrites the record books, she provides new insights into the remarkable biology of
old shrews," said Bruce Peterjohn, head of the old bird banding program at the U.S. Geological Survey, in the statement. "If she were
truly human, she'd have been eligible for Medicare for decades yet she is still regularly raising young and annually
circulating around Hollywood in search of the next virile living
male. Simply incredible."
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