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Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise

Published
  • Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda). Adult male in static display.
  • Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda).
  • Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora). Two males displaying at lek on Fergusson Island.
  • Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora). Two males displaying at lek on Fergusson Island.
  • A Wahnes' Parotia (Parotia wahnesi) adult male on perch above display court.
  • A Wahnes' Parotia (Parotia wahnesi) adult male performing ballerina dance display.
  • Wilson's Bird of Paradise male at the display perch in the center of his carefully cleared court, presenting his colors to a female watching from above.
  • Producer Molly Hermann takes copious notes on the day's production.
  • After days of delay, the crew finally lands near the mating grounds of the Parotia and begins to unload their equipment.
  • Tim Laman takes photos from the passenger seat of a helicopter on the way to the Parotia camp
  • Ed Scholes has devoted his life to the study of Papua New Guinea's Birds of Paradise .
  • Tim Laman prepares to photograph the Parotia - one of the rarest Birds of Paradise.
  • Ed Scholes is one of the world's foremost experts on Birds of Paradise.
  • Producer Molly Hermann shares some videos with villagers on Fergusson Island.
  • A view from the crew camp on Fergusson Island.
  • Machetes are necessary tools when traveling through the thick jungles of Papua New Guinea.
  • The crew makes a ladder out of local trees to help observe Goldies Bird of Paradise.
  • Approaching Fergusson Island, the home of Goldie's Bird of Paradise.
  • The Birds of Paradise crew wades through waste high water on Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea.
  • Tim Laman and Ed Scholes look through the lens of the camera, getting a close look at the Parotia. This is a type of bird of paradise.
  • Ed Scholes, porters in tow, poses for a photo while hiking through the rain-soaked jungle.
  • Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca) male at display perch in the swamp rain forest at Nimbokrang, Papau, Indonesia, Island of New Guinea.
  • A male Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) Bird of Paradise on a display perch trying to lure a female down with a spread wings display.
  • The landscape of Papua New Guinea, home to Birds of Paradise.
  • The landscape of Papua New Guinea, home to Birds of Paradise.
  • The landscape of Papua New Guinea, home to Birds of Paradise.
  • A Blue Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi) male foraging.
  • Adult male King of Saxony Bird of Paradise (Pteridophora alberti) performing a bouncing practice display that waves his head plumes.
  • Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) male performing practice display at tree-top lek.

  • Attracting the Ladies

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda). Adult male in static display.

  • Extreme Beauty

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda). 

  • Fancy Feathers

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora).  Two males displaying at lek on Fergusson Island.

  • Ruffling Some Feathers

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Goldie's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea decora).  Two males displaying at lek on Fergusson Island.

  • Perching Point

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    A Wahnes' Parotia (Parotia wahnesi) adult male on perch above display court. 

  • Dancing Display

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    A Wahnes' Parotia (Parotia wahnesi) adult male performing ballerina dance display.

  • Pretty Bird

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Wilson's Bird of Paradise male at the display perch in the center of his carefully cleared court, presenting his colors to a female watching from above.

  • Production Notes

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Producer Molly Hermann takes copious notes on the day's production.

  • The Landing

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    After days of delay, the crew finally lands near the mating grounds of the Parotia and begins to unload their equipment. 

  • Aerial Photos

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Tim Laman takes photos from the passenger seat of a helicopter on the way to the Parotia camp.

  • His Life's Study

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Ed Scholes has devoted his life to the study of Papua New Guinea's Birds of Paradise.

  • Parotia Photographer

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Tim Laman prepares to photograph the Parotia - one of the rarest Birds of Paradise. 

  • For the Birds

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Ed Scholes is one of the world's foremost experts on Birds of Paradise.

  • Interactive Experience

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Producer Molly Hermann shares some videos with villagers on Fergusson Island.

  • Camping in Paradise

    Photograph by NGT/ Molly Hermann

    A view from the crew camp on Fergusson Island.

  • Cutting Through the Jungle

    Photograph by NGT/ Molly Hermann

    Machetes are necessary tools when traveling through the thick jungles of Papua New Guinea.

  • Handmade Ladder

    Photograph by NGT/ Molly Hermann

    The crew makes a ladder out of local trees to help observe Goldies Bird of Paradise.

  • Mirror Image

    Photograph by NGT/ Molly Hermann

    Approaching Fergusson Island, the home of Goldie's Bird of Paradise. 

  • Water Wading

    Photograph by NGT/ Molly Hermann

    The Birds of Paradise crew wades through waste high water on Fergusson Island in Papua New Guinea.

  • On the Lookout

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Tim Laman and Ed Scholes look through the lens of the camera, getting a close look at the Parotia.  This is a type of bird of paradise.

  • Jungle Trek

    Photograph by NGT/ Rob Lyall

    Ed Scholes, porters in tow,  poses for a photo while hiking through the rain-soaked jungle. 

  • Paradise Bird

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise (Seleucidis melanoleuca) male at display perch in the swamp rain forest at Nimbokrang, Papau, Indonesia, Island of New Guinea.

  • Wing Fans

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    A male Victoria's Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae) Bird of Paradise on a display perch trying to lure a female down with a spread wings display.

  • Ethereal Landscape

    Photograph by NGT

    The landscape of Papua New Guinea, home to Birds of Paradise. 

  • Beach in Paradise

    Photograph by NGT

    The landscape of Papua New Guinea, home to Birds of Paradise.

  • The Beauty of Nature

    Photograph by Cornell Lab of Ornithology

    The landscape of Papua New Guinea, home to Birds of Paradise.

  • The Bird Blues

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    A Blue Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi) male foraging.

  • Bouncing Bird

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Adult male King of Saxony Bird of Paradise (Pteridophora alberti) performing a bouncing practice display that waves his head plumes. 

  • Intricate Display

    Photograph by Tim Laman

    Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra) male performing practice display at tree-top lek. 

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