Birds-of-Paradise Project Series

by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Published on November, 2012
Explore more at http://www.birdsofparadiseproject.org


Birds-of-Paradise Project Trailer



The Birds-of-Paradise Project reveals the astounding beauty of 39 of the most exquisitely specialized animals on earth. After 8 years and 18 expeditions to New Guinea and Australia, Cornell Lab scientist Ed Scholes and National Geographic photojournalist Tim Laman succeeded in capturing images of all 39 species in the bird-of-paradise family for the first time ever. This trailer gives a sense of their monumental undertaking and the spectacular footage that resulted. Filmed by Tim Laman, Ed Scholes, and Eric Liner.

Also be on the lookout for the Cornell Lab's and National Geographic's gorgeous coffee-table book (http://amzn.to/RYb7IL), a major exhibit at the National Geographic Museum (http://ngmuseum.org/bop), a TV documentary (http://amzn.to/12jtkBL), articles in Living Bird (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=2541) and National Geographic magazines, and a North American lecture tour (http://bit.ly/VRD6eJ).


Birds-of-Paradise Project: By the Numbers



What does it take to complete a quest like the Birds-of-Paradise Project? Inside the project's 18 expeditions and eight years lie plenty of other numbers that help add some perspective, awe, and even humor to Ed Scholes's and Tim Laman's undertaking.


Greater Bird-of-Paradise



Enter the rainforest canopy of the Aru Islands to watch the coordinated displays of two male Greater Birds-of-Paradise. Then see two females take particular interest in the males' bright colors, strange sounds, and contorted poses. Filmed by Tim Laman in September 2010.


Behind the Scenes of the Birds-of-Paradise Leafcam



See what it took for National Geographic photographer Tim Laman, to capture the shot of a lifetime.


King-of-Saxony Bird-of-Paradise



Birds-of-Paradise sport some of the strangest feathers in the bird world. The male King-of-Saxony takes the cake with stiff ornamental feathers (up to twice the male's body length) sprouting from the top of his head. He also has a piercing call that sounds anything but bird-like. Filmed by Tim Laman near Tari Gap in November of 2010.


King Bird-of-Paradise



Visit a King Bird-of-Paradise's perch in the lowland forests of the Bird's Head Peninsula in western New Guinea. Watch as a diminutive male practices his courtship display. He aims to impress females with a combination of velvety red plumage, two emerald-green feather disks that bobble on wiry shafts—plus fan-shaped side feathers and abrupt about-face dance moves. Filmed by Tim Laman in August 2009.


Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise



Discover how the male Twelve-wired Bird-of-Paradise uses his strange wire-tipped feathers and a bare, vertical branch to court a female. Filmed by Tim Laman near Jayapura in western New Guinea in June 2010.


Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise



Watch as a male Wilson's Bird-of-Paradise clears his display court of leaves and other forest debris so his amazing colors will be the center of attention if and when a female arrives. Filmed by Tim Laman on Waigeo island, in September of 2010.


Magnificent Riflebird



Watch as a male Magnificent Riflebird shape-shifts into a black ovoid and mesmerizes a female by whipping his iridescent blue neck back and forth. Filmed by Tim Laman in August of 2009 in the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea.


Lesser Bird-of-Paradise



Catch a glimpse of a male Lesser Bird-of-Paradise's galloping display and wonderful vocalizations from the forest canopy in the Bird's Head Peninsula of western New Guinea. Filmed by Tim Laman in August of 2009.


Western Parotia



Take a front row seat in the Arfak Mountains as the Western Parotia performs for a female perched above him. He begins his display with a bow, then transitions into a "ballerina dance," which is full of delicate steps and head waggles. Filmed by Tim Laman in August of 2009.

Source from YouTube, edited by SNUMA WM - December 22, 2012