22 November 2025
“Birds are classically among the most monogamous of all organisms,” wrote Frank B. Gill in his textbook Ornithology. 90% of bird species form a pair bond in which they commit to work together to raise their young. Swans are well known for it.
Monogamy is rare in mammals. Humans are among the mere 3-5% of mammalian species that form pair bonds, but we didn’t always behave this way. Very, very long ago humans had a non-monogamous breeding system but started forming monogamous relationships to stop incoming men from killing rivals’ babies.
Fortunately that type of rivalry is lost in the mists of time.
Humans still value monogamy, which for our species is a spectrum from lifelong to short commitments. People pair up, form partnerships, marry, perhaps divorce, perhaps remarry.
Maintaining a long marriage is hard work. People change over time, sometimes incompatibly. So my husband and I are lucky. We’ve weathered the ups and downs and are even closer now than we were 20 years ago.
A good man is hard to find. I’m very lucky. Today we’ve been married 50 years.
congratulations and many more.
Congratulations on 50 years of marriage, Kate and Rick!
Happy Golden Anniversary!!!
Thank you for sharing your sweet story and pictures! Congratulations!
Happy Anniversary! Your words made me tear up. So sweet.
So happy for you! Happy 50th Anniversary!
Kate, I wish you could see how big my smile is right now! Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary. It is a marvelous achievement. I wish you both oh so many more years of love, life and celebration of “Birds and Words”! (you told me about that some years back!) Much love.
Congratulations on your 50th anniversary! Dorothy and I also celebrated our 50th anniversary this month.
Congratulations. Nothing like finding a good life partner…..
So thankful that two of the St.John siblings (so far) have made it to 50th anniversaries.
Thanks for the beautiful swan photo, the info on bird couples, and the oh so long ago family photo was.
Congratulations on your 50th anniversary! What a lovely couple you were and are!
lol – your comment section doesn’t accept emoji, those question marks were all hearts and swans. love to both of you! here’s to many more!! 🙂 <3
Hope I’m not too late to add my congratulations, Kate and Rick! What a wonderful partnership you have.
Fifty!
Just inspirational!
We are only at 42.
We have celebrated our Molybdenum anniversary.
You are at…. Tin!
Much maligned element, but the key to the Bronze Age.
Roger, LOL! The table of elements. I much prefer the traditional gift list, which makes 50th the Golden Anniversary.
Happy Anniversary!
How lovely, congratulations!!!! Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations, Kate!–I just saw this post today as my husband and I celebrate our 31st anniversary. I’m pleased that I got a good one too!