About 10 years ago there was some interesting research looking into population density and homosexuality. The theory was that if a population grow to large more homosexual/lesbian births seem to occur. I could see where this would be the case with Barry the sheep. Just because we humans like to keep sheep in large herds does not mean that the herd size is seen as normal or beneficial in sheep culture or biology. There might be something there.

As for the albatrosses it does not surprise me that the males do the bird equivalent of the gay bar darkroom. The sexual act might or might not have a social component next the dominance trigger in this case but the parallels to most male spices including humans really is not all that surprising lest we forget that males are sort of biologically programmed to "spread it around". That kind of hardwired coding probably bleeds in to pure sexual interactions as well. Hence why gay culture can be at times very sexually aggressive.

Bonobos are a matriarchal society and sex seems to be very much a part of normal sexual interaction with them. I mean it’s as common place with them s us shaking hands LOL. That being said I am not sure if you noticed the parallels between human matriarchal societies and that of the bonobos. Most societies based on matriarchy seem to have been very sexually open and liberal opposed to patriarchal societies who always seem to want to reign it in. It is also interesting to observe a primate patriarchal society like that of chimpanzees next to that of a matriarchal one like that of bonobos. While there are the occasional “social “ sexual encounters between same sex partners in chimpanzee culture most same sex sexual encounters are dominance driven and are often there to display rank and remind the lower ranked member where their place is. Bonobo culture is completely opposite while there are rank fights like in most cultures sex is just a way of life. Its like hey bob I feel sad lets have sex , oh Margery this food was good lets have sex , Mary I am bored lets have sex :P There is a reason Bonobos are considered to be the happiest apes LOL :)