EXPLORING NATURE: BIRDS OF PARADISE

If you could see one bird that you have never seen before, what would it be?

Oh my. That is a tough question, but after long reflection, I do believe I would most like to see any of the 42 species of birds of paradise.

These colorful birds are only found in New Guinea, eastern Australia and the Moluccas. I consider them to be the most beautiful birds in the world. Especially the splendid avian beauties found in New Guinea. The males on that island perform spectacular displays in their attempts to impress the females.

Their colors are unearthly and their courtship rituals are weird.

The small blue bird of paradise, for example, hangs upside down from a branch, his bright blue flank feathers spilling out to create a triangular fan that quivers as the bird makes a humming, throbbing sound — all to win favor with a nearby female.

Birds of paradise have dazzling feathers in a wide variety of colors and when the males display them to best effect, they are truly one of nature’s most beautiful spectacles.

Confined mostly to dense rain forest habitat, these birds eat fruit and also some insects. At one time, their feathers were prized for decorating fancy women’s hats, and at one time the king of Nepal used a bird of paradise plume for his crown.

West Papua is the most popular island for foreign birdwatchers and the specialties they seek include Wilson’s, Red, Magnificent, Great, King, Twelve-wired, Superb and Six-shafted. My personal favorite is the Magnificent, which lives up to its name.

Today, the national flag of Papua features a male bird of paradise. Also today, the tropical forests are being cut down for palm oil plantations and farming. As of 2019, there were only half as many bird species on the island as there were in 2001.

If you want to see the most beautiful birds in the world, don’t wait too long. Time is not on the side of the lovely birds of paradise.