Thomas the blind, bisexual goose has died and will be laid to rest next to Henry the swan, his partner of nearly 30 years.

A love affair that spanned decades – and species – is at an end.

Thomas the blind, bisexual goose died last week, and will be buried next to his partner of nearly 30 years, a black swan named Henry, on the edge of the Kāpiti lagoon that the pair called home.

Having spent his final years at a Wellington bird sanctuary, Thomas will be laid to rest with a public ceremony held later this month, birdwatcher Mik Peryer said.

STUFF Thomas the gay goose at his new home in Ohariu Valley, having been relocated from the Waimanu Lagoon in Waikanae Beach.

"It was a 30 year love story that should be celebrated."

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Peryer​, guides tours around Waimanu Lagoon and spent 26 years watching the birds.

EILEEN THOMAS Thomas the goose, Henrietta and Henry look after their brood [File]

Initially, when the pair were first seen together, Henry was thought to be a female swan but the lack of babies soon proved otherwise, he said.

The happy partnership was briefly tested when Henry paired up with a female swan but Thomas stuck around, even helping to raise the inevitable babies.

"Prior to Henrietta turning up they had about 18 happy gay years together."

SUPPLIED Thomas helped raise over 60 cygnets.

The feathered threesome delighted visitors who watched the "the eternal triangle" raise 68 cygnet over the years with Thomas fulfilling the role of doting uncle.

He was left heartbroken after Henry's 2009 death and could be heard occasionally crying for him, Peryer said.

"Henrietta just flew off with another bird, being a young female, but poor old Tom was left on his own."

SUPPLIED Thomas the goose with orphaned goslings at Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust.

The arrival of a couple of female geese finally saw Thomas father his own babies only to have them stolen by another goose, named George, who raised them as his own.

"You would see George and the babies with Thomas just following them around."

Failing eyesight and attacks by swans saw Thomas rehomed to the Wellington Bird Rehabilitation Trust in 2013, where he spent his final years eating corn and raising orphaned cygnets.

Virginia Fallon Craig Shepherd , aka Duckman, with Thomas the goose from Waikanae estuary. Shepherd rescues and rehabilitates ducks at his Ohariu Valley home. August 2016 Porirua

Thomas, who Peryer estimated to be 38-years-old, will be buried under the commemorative stone – complete with plaque – that marks Henry's final resting place.

"We had about 100 people turn up for Henry and I wouldn't be surprised if the same happened for Thomas."​