New Guinea’s Birds of Paradise: Survival of the sexiest

Air Date: May 2, 2014

Guests: Tim Laman, Edwin Scholes

Bold plumage, bizarre courtship dances, wild mating calls — New Guinea’s birds-of-paradise are truly remarkable creatures who have evolved in mind-boggling ways. Cornell ornithologist EDWIN SCHOLES and photographer TIM LAMAN made 18 expeditions in 8 years to the remote rainforests in New Guinea, spending countless hours perched in treetops observing the birds’ stunning displays. This weekend a new exhibit based on their research opens at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. It’s called Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution. Today, Marty talks with Scholes and Laman about these amazing birds and their adventures in the rainforests.

Red Bird of Paradise, (Paradisaea rubra) Credit: ©Tim Laman

Wilson’s Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus respublica)
Adult male on the main display pole in the center of his court. Credit: ©Tim Laman

Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus). Young male performing practice display. Credit: ©Tim Laman

Victoria’s Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) Bird of Paradise. Male on display perch trying to lure a female to come down with his spread wings display. Credit: ©Tim Laman

National Geographic photojournalist Tim Laman ready to rappel after shooting from his canopy platform. Credit: ©Tim Laman

Evolutionary Biologist Edwin Scholes of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology records bird calls as part of documentation of the biodiversity of the Foja Mountains. Credit: ©Tim Laman

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