All language subtitles for (rapidmoviez.cr) Birds Of The Gods (2011)

David Attenborough:
IMAGINE CREATURES SO BEAUTIFUL

THAT PEOPLE THOUGHT
THEY HAD COME DOWN

DIRECTLY FROM HEAVEN...
SO STRIKING

THAT THE FIRST EUROPEANS
TO SEE THEM

THOUGHT THEY COULD ONLY HAVE
ESCAPED FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

IN FACT, THAT EDEN WAS
NEW GUINEA --

ONE OF THE LAST
INHABITED ISLANDS

TO BE EXPLORED BY EUROPEANS.

AND IT REMAINS
VIRTUALLY THE ONLY PLACE

WHERE YOU CAN SEE THESE
WONDERFUL CREATURES.

THEY WERE BIRDS,

BUT UNLIKE BIRDS THAT ANYONE
HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE.

THEY BROUGHT THE IMAGE OF BEAUTY
ALMOST TO THE EDGE OF ABSURDITY.

AND THEIR DISPLAYS WERE EVEN
MORE EXTRAORDINARY AND BIZARRE

THAN THEIR APPEARANCE,
SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX

TO BE FOUND
IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE COME
FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN,

BUT THEY CERTAINLY DESERVE
THE NAME

THAT THE FIRST EUROPEAN
SCIENTISTS GAVE THEM --

THE BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

YET MUCH OF WHAT THEY DO
IS STILL UNKNOWN.

MORE THAN 150 YEARS AFTER

THE FIRST SCIENTIFIC
OBSERVATIONS OF THESE CREATURES,

IN SPITE OF INNUMERABLE
EXPEDITIONS

AND COUNTLESS HOURS
OF SCIENTIFIC OBSERVATION,

WE ARE STILL ONLY
CATCHING GLIMPSES,

TANTALIZING GLIMPSES,

OF THESE HEAVENLY CREATURES.

A NEW GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS
AND FILM CREWS

ARE ATTEMPTING
TO PUT THAT RIGHT.

BUT THESE REMARKABLE BIRDS DON'T
GIVE UP THEIR SECRETS EASILY.

Attenborough:
ANOTHER EXPEDITION

IS SETTING OFF TO LOOK
FOR BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.
THIS ONE IS BEING MOUNTED

BY THE NEW GUINEA PEOPLE
THEMSELVES.

A NEW GENERATION OF LOCAL
CONSERVATIONISTS

ARE CONCERNED THAT PARADISE BIRD
NUMBERS MAY BE FALLING.

[ RECORDED BIRD CALLS PLAYING ]

[ CALLING ]

THIS TEAM IS LED
BY MIRIAM SUPUMA.

WITH HER IS BIRD EXPERT
PAUL IGAG.

Supuma: AH, I'VE GOT
MY KNICKERS WET!

[LAUGHS]

Attenborough: MIRIAM'S
LOVE OF NATURE BEGAN

IN A SMALL VILLAGE SCHOOL
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

TO FOLLOW THAT PASSION,

SHE LEARNED ENGLISH,
GOT HERSELF TO UNIVERSITY,

AND FINISHED HER ECOLOGY
FIELD WORK

IN AUSTRALIA.

OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS,
SHE AIMS

TO SEE AND DOCUMENT
10 BIRDS-OF-PARADISE SPECIES.

SHE HAS AGREED TO LET

OUR CAMERA CREW GO WITH HER.

THEY ARE STARTING WITH
THE SMALLEST OF THE FAMILY --

THE KING BIRD.

MIRIAM SEARCHES FOR SIGNS. YOU HAVE TO
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR -- AND SHE DOES.

Supuma: YOU CAN SEE PECK MARKS
ON THIS FRUIT HERE.

[ BIRD CALLING ]

Attenborough: THAT'S HIS CALL.

BUT SHE JUST CAN'T SEE HIM.

Supuma: IT TENDS
TO LIKE THIS AREA.

ONE OF THE REASONS IS BECAUSE OF
THE LIGHT COMING THROUGH.

THEY'RE SHOW-OFF BIRDS, SO THEY
LIKE TO SHOW THEIR PLUMAGE,

AND THE LIGHT COMPLEMENTS
THEIR BRIGHT PLUMAGE.

Attenborough:
THE SIGNS ARE GOOD.

THEY DECIDE TO BUILD A HIDE.

IT MUST BE BIG ENOUGH TO SEAT
HER AND THE CAMERA CREW.

BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

A DEAD BANANA TREE

BLOCKS THE CAM ERA'S VIEW.

MIRIAM HAS IT
GENTLY PRUNED BACK.

[ BIRDS CALLING ]

SHE'S CONFIDENT
THE BIRDS WILL RETURN.

THIS IS THE MATING SEASON,
WHEN THEY BECOME LESS SHY.

SHE DISCOVERED THIS
WHEN SHE WAS STILL A STUDENT.

WORKING IN THE FOREST,
EARLY ONE MORNING,

SHE SPOTTED A BIRD-OF-PARADISE
HIGH IN THE TREE TOPS

AND BELOW IT, ANOTHER, PREENING
ITS PLUMES IN THE MORNING SUN.

[ CALLING ]

AND THEN THEY DISPLAYED.

THE SIGHT CHANGED HER LIFE.

Supuma: ON THAT DAY, I NOTICED

THERE WERE ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN
BIRDS-OF-PARADISE,

SINGING AND DANCING,
AND IT JUST CONTINUED

FOR FIVE OR TEN MINUTES.

I STOPPED WHAT I WAS DOING --

I WAS MEASURING TREES
AT THE TIME --

AND I WAS LOOKING AT IT,
JUST STARING AT IT IN AWE.

[ CALLING CONTINUES]

Attenborough: NATURALISTS
FALL IN LOVE WITH NATURE,

AND THEN COME BACK FOR MORE.

SEVEN YEARS ON, AND EXPERIENCE
HAS TAUGHT MIRIAM

THAT THE BEST WAY TO OBSERVE
THE MALE KING BIRD

IS TO FIND HIS DISPLAY PERCH
AND THEN WAIT FOR HIM TO ARRIVE.

TEACHES YOU A LOT OF PATIENCE,
DOESN'T IT?

Attenborough:
AND PATIENCE CAN OFTEN PAY OFF.

OH, THERE IT IS...
WOW!

THE KING BIRD.

IT'S FACING THAT WAY,
WITH ITS BACK TOWARDS US.

YOU CAN SEE THE RED BACK.

IT'S GONE UP INTO THE CANOPY.

Attenborough: HE'S A DEEP
CHILI-PEPPER RED,

WITH A SNOW-WHITE BREAST.

TWO LONG QUILLS
SPROUT FROM HIS TAIL,

EACH TIPPED BY A GREEN DISK
LIKE A COIN.

THAT WAS A RARE MOMENT.

OH, THERE, THERE IT IS AGAIN.
WOW!

Attenborough: SHE'S THRILLED.

WITH OTHER MALES CALLING
IN THE FOREST NEARBY,

MIRIAM IS SURE THAT SHE'S FOUND
A GOOD POPULATION HERE.

[ CALLING ]

THE MALE KING BIRD WILL CALL
TO THE FEMALES IN THE AREA.

[ CALLING CONTINUES]

IF NONE COME, HE WILL PERFORM
WITHOUT THEM.

AFTER PUFFING HIMSELF UP,

HE FLICKS HIS QUILLS ABOVE
HIS HEAD AND WAGGLES THEM,

MAKING THE LITTLE DISKS
DANCE IN THE AIR ABOVE HIM.

HE'S STILL HOPING
FOR AN AUDIENCE.

UNDETERRED, HE ENDS
WITH A FLOURISH.

HE SWINGS UPSIDE DOWN
AND LOCKS HIS LEGS.

AND THEN HE TURNS HIMSELF
INTO A PENDULUM.

THE KING BIRD IS A SOLOIST.

THE MALES OF MANY OTHER SPECIES

DISPLAY IN GROUPS.

TH ESE ARE
THE GREATER BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

MALES ASSEMBLE EVERY DAY
IN ONE SPECIAL TREE,

WAITING FOR A FEMALE TO ARRIVE.

WHEN ONE DOES,

THEY ALL SNAP INTO ACTION.

AND SHE SELECTS
THE ONE SHE PREFERS.

SHE'S REWARDED
WITH A ONE-ON-ONE --

STARTING WITH PECKS ON THE HEAD.

AND EVENTUALLY SHE ACCEPTS HIM.

WHILE ALL THE MALES MAY APPEAR
EQUALLY GORGEOUS TO OUR EYES,

FEMALES APPARENTLY DETECT
DIFFERENCES.

WHAT'S MORE, THEY NEARLY ALL
MATE WITH THE SAME MALE.

BY SELECTING THE FINEST PLUMES
IN THIS WAY,

THE FEMALES HAVE INCREASED
THE MALES' BEAUTY

GENERATION AFTER GENERATION,

AND SO BROUGHT THESE MAGNIFICENT
DANCES INTO EXISTENCE.

THE SPECTACULAR BEAUTY
OF THEIR BIRDS

FASCINATES THE PEOPLE
OF NEW GUINEA,

AS I DISCOVERED BACK IN 1957.

I KNEW THAT THE BIRD-OF-PARADISE
PLUMES WERE IMPORTANT,

AND I QUICKLY DISCOVERED
JUST HOW IMPORTANT.

THE PLUMES ARE
THE EQUIVALENT OF MONEY

AND AN ESSENTIAL PAYMENT
IN THE BARGAINING

THAT GOES ON BETWEEN FAMILIES

WHEN FIXING A WEDDING
SETTLEMENT...

[ MEN SINGING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Attenborough:
AND WHEN MEN WANT TO DANCE.

AND WHAT I SAW 50 YEARS AGO

IS STILL GOING ON TODAY.

[ MEN SINGING]

Attenborough: GOROKA TOWN,
IN THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S FESTIVAL TIME, AND FEATHERS
ARE STILL ESSENTIAL HEADWEAR.

GO WITH THE PHOTOGRAPH,
IF YOU CAN. OR THE --

Attenborough:
IT'S A KEY MOMENT IN THE YEAR

FOR MIRIAM'S RESEARCH.

LOOK AT THESE
AND THEN LOOK

AT WHAT'S
ON THE HEADDRESSES.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING
LIKE THIS...

Attenborough: THE FEATHERS OF
MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BIRD

ARE USED IN THE HEADDRESSES,
AND THE TEAM WANT TO FIND OUT

HOW MANY COME FROM
BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

THESE SCENES ARE NOT
VERY DIFFERENT

FROM THOSE I FILMED MYSELF

HALF A CENTURY EARLIER.

Attenborough on film:
THERE WERE 500 OF THESE MEN,

STAMPING UP AND DOWN
MONOTONOUSLY AND UNCEASINGLY.

AND AS I WATCHED THEM,
I REALIZED THAT

HERE WAS THE REASON
WHY NO ONE

HAD BROUGHT US
BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

MIRIAM WANTS TO SEE
MY FOOTAGE FROM 1957

SO THAT SHE CAN COMPARE
THE NUMBERS

AND SPECIES USED BY THE DANCERS
THEN AND NOW.

EACH MAN WAS WEARING
THE FEATHERS OF 30 OR 40 BIRDS.

AT THIS ONE DANCE,
WE WERE SEEING

THE PLUMES OF OVER 20,000
SLAUGHTERED BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

THE DESIRE TO POSSESS
THE BEAUTY OF THE BIRDS

IS AN ANCIENT OBSESSION,

STILL ALIVE
IN THESE TRIBAL LANDS.

THE ISLAND OF NEW GUINEA
IS HUGE.

A THOUSAND MILES LONG,

LYING BETWEEN AUSTRALIA
AND THE EQUATOR,

IT WAS PUSHED UP
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA

WAY BACK IN GEOLOGICAL TIME.

A FEW LAND MAMMALS

FROM AUSTRALIA
MANAGED TO GET HERE --

INCLUDING SOME MARSUPIALS,

SUCH AS THE STRANGE
TREE KANGAROO.

BUT THERE ARE NO INDIGENOUS
CARNIVOROUS MAMMALS HERE.

WITH FRUIT GROWING
ALL THE YEAR ROUND,

THIS IS INDEED
A PARADISE FOR BIRDS.

THEN, SOME 30,000 YEARS AGO,

THE GREATEST THREAT TO THEIR
EXISTENCE WALKED IN ON TWO LEGS.

BUT TODAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE
WHOSE ONLY AIM

IS TO PROTECT THE BIRDS.

PAUL IGAG WAS BROUGHT UP
ON THE COAST, A FISHERMAN'S SON.

PAUL GAVE UP THE FISHING LIFE
TO STUDY BIOLOGY.

HE MARRIED A HIGHLAND GIRL
AND STAYED UP HERE

TO PURSUE HIS LOVE
OF FOREST BIRDS.

[ BIRDS CALLING ]

THE CALL OF THE RAGGIANA
BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

You can see a male up there
with full adult plumage.

Attenborough-.
HE'S TRYING TO ATTRACT FEMALES.

PAUL HAS SEEN MANY OF THE
FOREST'S RAREST BIRD SPECIES.

HE BUILDS PLATFORMS
IN THE CANOPY,

WHERE HE CAN SIT QUIETLY

AN D WAIT.

[ CALLING CONTINUES]

SOME BIRDS ARE QUITE BOLD

AND SEEM UNDISTURBED
BY HIS PRESENCE.

OTHERS ARE MUCH MORE WARY,

LIKE THE MAGNIFICENT
RIFLE-BIRD OF PARADISE.

PAUL HAS BEEN WATCHING THE BIRDS
INTENSIVELY FOR OVER 15 YEARS.

[ CALLING ]

HIS TRACKING SKILLS ARE CRUCIAL
TO THE PROJECT.

TOGETHER, PAUL AND MIRIAM
START TO IDENTIFY

THE BIRD POPULATIONS
THAT MAY NEED PROTECTION.

PAUL IS TAKING MIRIAM
TO A REMOTE VILLAGE

SOUTHEAST OF GOROKA.

AS I DID ON MY OWN JOURNEY
TO THE INTERIOR,

THEY HAVE TO CROSS
HIGH MOUNTAIN RANGES,

BLANKETED BY FOREST.

BETWEEN THESE WALLS OF ROCK

LIE IMMENSE VALLEYS,
LIKE THE WAHGI.

HUNDREDS OF TRIBES

HAVE LIVED ON THE ISLAND
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

SEPARATED BY THESE BARRIERS
OF WATER AND ROCK.

800 LANGUAGES HAVE EVOLVED,

SOME AS DIFFERENT
FROM ONE ANOTHER

AS ENGLISH IS TO CHINESE.

THE LANGUAGE OF HAIA VILLAGE
IS SPOKEN ONLY HERE.

EVEN TODAY, THE ONLY CONTACT

BETWEEN THESE PEOPLE
AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD

IS THE PLANE THAT TAKES AWAY
THEIR COFFEE BEANS.

IT'S A WARM WELCOME BACK
FOR PAUL.

HE'S BEEN COMING HERE
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS

TO HELP MAP TRIBAL BOUNDARIES.

[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Attenborough: THIS FOREST
BELONGS TO THE HAIA PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HUNTERS --

BUT NOW THEY ARE HELPING
TO RECORD THE RICH WILDLIFE.

ONE DAY, ALL THIS MAY BECOME
A PROTECTED RESERVE.

FOR NOW, IT'S HUNDREDS
OF SQUARE MILES

OF UNTOUCHED MOUNTAIN FOREST.

FOR THE VILLAGERS,
A WILDLIFE RESERVE

COULD BRING WORK AND EDUCATION.

THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE.

THE LOCALS' HUNTING KNOWLEDGE IS
INVALUABLE FOR THE PROJECT.

PAUL AND MIRIAM NEED TO FIND

NATURAL PATHS
AND TREES IN FRUIT

IF THEY ARE TO LOCATE
ALL THE THREATENED SPECIES.

THE THREE-FOOT -LONG
TAIL FEATHERS

OF THE MALE BLACK SICKLEBILL

ARE THE REASON WHY HIS KIND IS
ALMOST EXTINCT LOCALLY.

HIS PLUMES
FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICES.

BUT HUNTING HERE
HAS NOW BEEN BANNED.

THIS TRIP IS TO FIND TWO SPECIAL
BIRDS-OF-PARADISE

THAT ARE STILL
UNPROTECTED BY LAW.

ONE OF THEM
CAN SOMETIMES BE SEEN

IN THE VERY EARLY MORNINGS,
BUSY ON THE FLOOR

OF THE DARKEST PARTS
OF THE FOREST.

MIRIAM IS LOOKING FOR

THE PAROTIA BIRD-OF-PARADISE --

A BIRD WITH
A VERY SPECIAL DANCE.

THE MALE PAROTIA
IS MOST PARTICULAR

ABOUT WHERE HE DANCES.

AND THIS COULD BE THE PLACE.

PAUL IS LOOKING FOR THE
MAGNIFICENT BIRD-OF-PARADISE,

A BIRD WHICH ALSO DISPLAYS
CLOSE TO THE GROUND,

AND IS THEREFORE
VERY VULNERABLE TO HUNTERS.

Igag:
"WELL, THAT'S IT," I SAID.

THAT'S THE DISPLAY COURT,
AND THAT'S IT.

WE WILL NOT GET HIM THERE. WE DIDN'T
WANT TO SPEND A LONG TIME IN THAT AREA,

BECAUSE WE WANT TO COME BACK
AND SEE THE BIRD,

SO OUR PRESENCE THERE

MIGHT, YOU KNOW,
SPOIL EVERYTHING.

[THUNDER, POURING RAIN 1

Attenborough:
SIX INCHES OF RAIN CAN FALL

IN A SINGLE DAY
ON CRATER MOUNTAIN.

AND DURING THE DOWNPOURS,
THE BIRDS-OF-PARADISE

SHELTER BENEATH THE LEAVES.

[THUNDER]

Supuma: I W AS SITTING
IN THE HIDE, THINKING

WE MIGHT NOT GET TO SEE ANYTHING
BECAUSE IT DID RAIN.

Bloody mosquitoes.

AND THEN I HEARD
A MALE PAROTIA.

THERE WERE OTHER MALES CALLING,
AS WELL.

Attenborough:
BLACK AS THE BLACKEST NIGHT,

HE SEEMS TO ABSORB
ALL THE LIGHT AROUND HIM.

HE IS LAWES'S PAROTIA.

ON HIS HEAD, SIX STRANGE
WIRE-LIKE PLUMES --

EACH TIPPED WITH A BLACK
PENNANT.

ON HIS CHEST, A SHIELD OF
IRIDESCENT GREEN AND GOLD.

THIS IS HIS COURT,

A STAGE HE HAS CAREFULLY CLEARED

SO THAT HE CAN DANCE UNIMPEDED.

CLEANING AWAY LAST NIGHT'S LEAF
FALL IS ESSENTIAL HOUSEKEEPING.

A FEMALE ARRIVES.

SHE IS COMPARATIVELY DRAB,
WITH NONE OF HIS FLASHY GLAMOUR.

SHE'S TOURING ALL THE COURTS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

TO CHOOSE A MATE.

HE SETS ABOUT IMPRESSING HER.

BUT ONE OF HIS RIVALS
HAS CALLED BY, UNINVITED.

AND HE IS FOLLOWED BY OTHERS.

MORE FEMALES ARRIVE

AND TAKE UP SEATS
FOR THE PERFORMANCE.

[ SQUAWKING 1

TENSIONS RISE,
BUT NOBODY DANCES.

[ SQUAWKING 1

SUDDENLY, ONE OF THE INTRUDERS
MATES WITH A FEMALE.

ANOTHER MALE DOES THE SAME.

THE COURT HAS BECOME
A FREE-FOR-ALL.

IT'S NOT WHAT MIRIAM EXPECTED.

They just went
straight into mating

without even any dance at all.

It's almost like skipping dinner

and getting straight
into dessert.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THEM
ACTUALLY DANCING.

SITTING IN THE HIDE

FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS
ISN'T FUN

WITH ALL THE MOSQUITOES,

AND YOU'D LIKE TO GO AWAY
FEELING THAT YOU'VE SEEN

THE WHOLE PERFORMANCE.

Attenborough: IT IS POSSIBLE
THAT THE BIRDS

HAVE BEEN DISTURBED
BY THE PRESENCE OF HUMANS

IN THE FOREST AROUND.

IT WILL BE SEVERAL DAYS
BEFORE THEY VENTURE BACK

TO TRY ANOTHER FILMING SESSION.

PAUL HAS BEEN SEARCHING FOR
THE MAGNIFICENT BIRD-OF-PARADISE

FOR A FEW DAYS NOW,
LISTENING FOR THEIR CALLS

AND QUIETLY
ASSESSING THEIR NUMBERS.

HE RECENTLY SAW ONE
FAR FROM HERE

IN THE TOWN MARKET.

ALL BIRDS-OF-PARADISE
HAVE A STREET VALUE.

IT'S NOT ILLEGAL
FOR LOCAL PEOPLE

TO HUNT THEM OR SELL THEM.

THEY'RE A WAY OF MAKING
SOME CASH.

Igag: THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT
BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

Attenborough: THE HUNTERS HAVE
MOUNTED THE BIRD'S SKIN,

COMPLETE WITH FEATHERS,
ON A STICK,

READY TO BE STUCK
INTO A HEADDRESS.

ANOTHER BIRD WANDERS BY,
A PHEASANT PIGEON,

FEEDING ON THE FOREST FLOOR.

BUT THIS IS
A FEMALE MAGNIFICENT,

AND HERE'S ANOTHER.

There's the female.

THINGS LOOK PROMISING.

THEY CAN ONLY HAVE COME
FOR ONE REASON.

A FLICKER OF GOLD,
AND THERE HE IS --

THE MAGNIFICENT
BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

THE MALE MAGNIFICENT
IS CLEARING AWAY LEAVES

THAT HAVE FALLEN ON HIS COURT.

DOVES AND PIGEONS ARE HELPING
BY PICKING UP A FEW SEEDS.

HE'S STRIPPING AWAY MOSS
AND LEAVES,

LETTING SHAFTS OF SUNLIGHT
INTO HIS DISPLAY COURT.

HE WANTS TO LOOK HIS BEST.

Igag: IT'S REALLY INTERESTING
TO SEE

THE MAGNIFICENT
BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

THE FEATHER ITSELF IS
QUITE BRIGHT,

AND YOU CAN SEE IT OUT THERE.

IT'S LIKE A FLAME.

Attenborough: THE STAGE SEEMS
SET, BUT THERE'S A DISTRACTION.

ANOTHER MALE.

THERE'S A STANDOFF
BETWEEN THE TWO MALES.

THEN THE FEMALES TAKE ACTION.

[ SQUAWKING 1

SURPRISINGLY, THEY CHARGE
THE INTRUDER...

[ SQUAWKING 1

AND DRIVE HIM OUT.

WITH HIS STAGE NOW TO HIMSELF,

THE COURT MAKER CAN GIVE
THE MOST INTERESTED FEMALE

ALL HIS ATTENTION.

HE BEGINS TO TRANSFORM HIMSELF
FOR HER.

PUFFING AND PULSING
HIS BREAST FEATHERS

CREATES A SPECIAL EFFECT --

AN EMERALD-GREEN,
HEART-SHAPED BREAST SHIELD

TO DAZZLE HER WITH.

NEXT TO HIS EYES,

TWO TINY IRIDESCENT SPOTS
FLASH AT HER.

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT
THIS LITTLE JEWEL OF A BIRD

WAS ONE OF A KIND.

BUT HE HAS A COUSIN
ON AN OFFSHORE ISLAND

THAT IN ISOLATION HAS CHANGED
INTO A DIFFERENT SPECIES --

WILSON'S BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

BOTH HAVE THOSE SICKLE-SHAPED
TAIL QUILLS.

BUT HIS COUSIN HAS A BALD HEAD,
AND HIS SCALP IS BLUE.

AND WHEREAS THE MAGNIFICENT'S
BACK IS A GOLDEN YELLOW,

HIS COUSIN'S BACK
HAS TURNED RED.

DIFFERENT POPULATIONS,
ISOLATED IN DIFFERENT AREAS,

ARE STILL EVOLVING
DIFFERENT PLUMES

TO MATCH THE TASTES
OF THE LOCAL FEMALES.

Igag: WE WERE THINKING,
WHEN IS MATING TAKING PLACE,

WHEN IS MATING
TAKING PLACE?

IT'S SORT OF AN ACTMTY
THAT PROBABLY

GOES ON FOR A WHILE,
UNTIL ONLY THE BIRDS KNOW

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME.

Attenborough: IT'S PAUL'S
FIRST SIGHTING

OF A MAGNIFICENT
BIRD-OF-PARADISE --

AFTER 15 YEARS
WORKING IN THE FOREST.

SEVERAL DAYS LATER,

MIRIAM RETURNS TO THE COURT
OF THE PAROTIA.

THE MALE IS BACK
ON HIS DANCING GROUND.

BUT THE CAMERA
CAN'T GET A PROPER VIEW.

A LOG HAS DROPPED.

IT'S TOO LATE
TO BUILD ANOTHER HIDE.

INSTEAD, THE CREW
HAS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

THE LOG IS PROPPED UP.

THERE IS A RISK, OF COURSE,
THAT THE COURT OWNER

WILL NOTICE THE CHANGE
AND NEVER COME BACK.

BUT H E DOES.

IT'S A VERY PROMISING START.

HE REMOVES LITTLE BITS OF LITTER

AND PREPARES TO PERFORM ONE OF
THE MOST COMPLEX DANCE ROUTINES

IN THE WHOLE BIRD WORLD.

BUT NOW THERE'S TROUBLE --
AN INTRUDER, ANOTHER MALE.

[ SQUAWKING 1

BUT THE OWNER OF THE COURT
IS NOT PUT OFF.

AND THAT IS HOW IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE.

SEEING THE PAROTIA DANCE
GIVES MIRIAM AN INSIGHT

INTO THE INTIMATE RITUALS
OF HER PEOPLE.

Supuma: WHEN I W AS
SITTING IN THE HIDE,

I WAS THINKING BACK TO PEOPLE
HERE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.

THEY HAVE THESE GATHERINGS WHERE
THEY GO INTO A HUT AND SIT IN A ROW,

ALTERNATING
MALE-FEMALE-MALE-FEMALE.

THEY START SINGING AND ROCKING
THEIR HEADS BACK AND FORTH...

IT'S LIKE PICKING OUT
SOMEONE THEY FANCY.

AND I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY,
WHEN THEY DO

THEIR TRADITIONAL DANCE,
THEY PUT THE FEATHERS ON.

PROBABLY TO THEM,

REPRESENTS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S KIND OF SACRED

THEY FIND IN THE FOREST,

AND BECAUSE
OF THE BIRD'S BEHAVIOR --

IT'S A VERY UNIQUE
AND SPECIAL BIRD.

Attenborough: PAPUANS
ARE STEEPED

IN THE MYSTERIES
OF THEIR TRIBAL PAST.

NOBODY KNOWS IT ALL,

ONLY THAT BIRDS AND HUMANS

HAVE BEEN TOGETHER
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THE DESIRE TO POSSESS THE BEAUTY
OF THE BIRDS

IS AN ANCIENT OBSESSION.

EVERYWHERE, THE PARADISE BIRDS
ARE HUNTED

AND THEIR PLUMES TREASURED

AND STORED ON THE RAFTERS
IN HOUSES THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

THESE PRECIOUS FEATHERS ARE KEPT
IN BAMBOO TUBES,

READY TO ADORN THE BODIES
OF A NEW GENERATION,

TO HELP THEM BEGIN A NEW CYCLE
OF HUMAN LIFE.

[ DRUMS PLAYING ]

[ PEOPLE SINGING ]

MIRIAM AND HER TEAM
ARE COUNTING FEATHERS.

SHE WANTS CLUES
AS TO WHICH BIRDS

ARE SUFFERING MOST FROM HUNTING.

[ SUPUMA SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Attenborough: THEY QUESTION
THE DANCERS

ABOUT WHERE AND HOW
THEY GOT THEIR FEATHERS.

[ MAN REPLYING
IN NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Attenborough: SHE'S KEEN TO KNOW
ABOUT ONE SPECIES IN PARTICULAR.

Supuma: WHAT I HAVE HERE
IS THE BLUE BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

I'VE SEEN IT WORN

BY SOME OF THE HIGHLANDERS
ON THEIR HEADDRESS.

Attenborough:
IT'S A VERY VULNERABLE BIRD,

AND ITS FEATHERS
FETCH HIGH PRICES.

Supuma: IT'S BEEN HUNTED HEAVILY
IN THE PAST.

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT DISPLAY
IN THE WILD,

AND IF I WERE,
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING.

Attenborough:
IN THE MEANTIME,

BELIEFS DIE HARD.

BUT AMONG THEM,
THERE ARE SOME THAT CAN

ACTUALLY PROTECT THE BIRDS.

[ GHOSTLY VOICES 1

THERE'S A FEAR OF ANGERING
THE SPIRIT WORLD.

AND WHERE SPIRITS LIVE,
HUNTERS WILL NOT GO.

Igag: IMAGINE A MOUNTAIN
THAT IS COVERED WITH FOREST.

NO ONE GOES UP THERE.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS A SPIRIT UP THERE.

PEOPLE DON'T TOUCH
THAT MOUNTAIN,

SO THAT FOREST REMAINS INTACT.

FOR US WORKING IN CONSERVATION,
IT WORKS PERFECTLY.

IT LEAVES THAT PLACE UNSPOILED.

Attenborough:
EARLY ONE MORNING,

PAUL AND MIRIAM BEGIN CLIMBING
UP TO PART OF THE FOREST

WHERE HUNTERS FEAR TO TREAD,

TO LOOK FOR TWO SPECIAL
BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

DIFFERENT SPECIES LIVE
AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDES,

DEPENDING ON THE RAINFALL

AND THE TYPE OF FRUIT TREES
GROWING AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

EVEN TODAY, NOT A GREAT DEAL
IS KNOWN ABOUT THESE BIRDS --

WHERE THEY NEST;
HOW THEY RAISE THEIR YOUNG;

WHETHER SPECIES OVERLAP,
EVEN INTERBREED.

BIOLOGISTS ARE STILL TRYING
TO FIND THE ANSWERS.

FIELD WORK LIKE THIS
BRINGS ITS OWN DELIGHTS.

Supuma: I GOT MY KNICKERS WET!

[LAUGHS]

Supuma: IT'S A CHALLENGE
IN ITSELF TO WORKING --

BEING A RESEARCHER AND WORKING
IN A REMOTE AREA.

SOMETIMES YOU GET TO SPEND

MONTHS AND MONTHS
OUT IN THE FIELD,

AND YOU MISS
YOUR COMFORTS IN LIFE.

THE TRADEOFF IS THAT YOU

GET TO LISTEN TO BIRDS SINGING

IN THE MORNING...
YOU WAKE UP TO THAT EVERY DAY.

Attenborough: MIRIAM IS LOOKING
FOR THE BLUE BIRD-OF-PARADISE.

IN UNDISTURBED FOREST, SHE HOPES
TO FIND POPULATIONS OF BIRDS

THAT WILL BE
LESS WARY OF HUMANS.

PAUL IS LOOKING
FOR THE SUPERB BIRD-OF-PARADISE,

WHOSE BREAST FEATHERS
ARE SO SOUGHT AFTER.

IT CALLS IN THE DENSE
MID-CANOPY,

BUT IT DISPLAYS ON

OR NEAR THE GROUND,
AND IN OPEN SPACES.

A LARGE FALLEN TREE --

AND THERE'S
A HOPEFUL SIGN HERE.

ON ONE SIDE,
SOME OF THE MOSS IS MISSING.

SMALL DANCING FEET COULD HAVE
RUBBED IT AWAY.

THIS COULD BE A GOOD PLACE
TO WATCH FOR THE SUPERB.

BUT THE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD.

[ RAINING ]

[ SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE]

Attenborough: IN WIND AND RAIN,
BIRDS, LIKE PEOPLE,

TAKE SHELTER.

THERE IS NOTHING TO BE DONE

EXCEPT WAIT FOR A BREAK
IN THE WEATHER.

IT'S NOW GETTING LATE
IN THE BIRDS' BREEDING CYCLE.

THEIR DISPLAYS ARE BECOMING
LESS FREQUENT AND INTENSE.

IT'S BEEN SIX DAYS
SINCE THE TEAM

BUILT THE HIDE
BESIDE THE FALLEN TREE.

PAUL ARRIVES IN THE RAIN
AT 5:00 EACH MORNING

AND LEAVES IN THE RAIN AT NOON.

AND THE FALLEN TREE IS JUST
REMAINING A FALLEN TREE.

IN A DAMP THICKET, MIRIAM IS
KEEPING VIGIL FOR THE BLUE BIRD.

DAY SEVEN, AND FINALLY

A VISITOR TO PAUL'S LOG --
BUT IT'S ONLY A GROUND DOVE.

[ BIRD CALLS ]

THAT'S THE CALL OF THE SUPERB.

HE'S MAKING AN ADVERTISING CALL
FROM A HIGH POINT.

[ CALLING CONTINUES]

AND IT'S NOT FAR
FROM PAUL'S HIDE.

[ BIRD CALLING ]

Supuma: That's nearby.

Attenborough: AFTER MANY DAYS
OF SOLID RAIN,

THE BIRDS ARE QUICKLY
BECOMING ACTIVE AGAIN.

MIRIAM'S BIRD, A BLUE BIRD,

HAS COME TO THE EDGE OF
THE THICKET AND IS CALLING.

Supuma: I wonder if that's
the same bird

or two different birds.

[ BIRD CALLING ]

Attenborough: PAUL'S BIRD
IS CALLING NONSTOP.

AND THERE HE IS.

THERE'S THAT FABULOUS
GREEN-AND-BLUE BREAST SHIELD.

HE'S TRYING TO ENTICE A FEMALE
DOWN FROM THE CANOPY.

[ CALLING ]

[ SECOND BIRD CALLS ]

Attenborough:
BUT THAT'S NOT HER.

THE CALL SEEMS TO IRRITATE HIM.

AND THERE SHE IS.

HE TRANSFORMS HIMSELF.

A BLACK CAPE APPEARS
BEHIND HIS HEAD.

THEN HE MOVES INTO A TRANCE-LIKE
STATE AND HE DANCES.

SUCCESS.

AND HERE
IS THAT PERFORMANCE AGAIN.

ALL IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS.

THOSE SPOTS THAT LOOK LIKE EYES

ARE, IN FACT, FEATHERS,
REFLECTING THE DAWN LIGHT.

THAT CLICKING NOISE IS NOT HIS
WINGS STRIKING THE WOOD,

BUT QUILLS FLICKING
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER --

LIKE THE CLICKING OF FINGERS.

BIZARRE AND BEAUTIFUL.

NO WONDER HIS BREAST SHIELD IS
SO TREASURED BY HUMAN DANCERS.

IT'S DAY NINE.

MIRIAM IS STILL WAITING

FOR THE BLUE BIRD TO APPEAR
IN THE THICKET IN FRONT OF HER.

[ BIRD CALLING ]

HE CALLS FROM NEARBY TREES.

COULD THE HIDE
BE PUTTING HIM OFF?

AT LAST, HE COMES...

AND TAKES UP HIS POSITION
ON HIS FAVORITE BRANCH

IN HIS OWN SPECIAL WAY.

SU PU MA: Wow!

It's our lucky day.

I've never seen anything like
this -- this is crazy.

Attenborough: IT'S A PERFORMANCE
OF SUCH EXQUISITE BEAUTY,

IT SEEMS UNFAIR THAT NO FEMALE
IS HERE TO SEE IT.

HE'S SERENADING
LIKE A LOVE-STRUCK ROMEO,

BUT THE BALCONY ABOVE IS EMPTY.

ONE CAN ONLY SYMPATHIZE.

MALE BIRDS-OF-PARADISE HAVE
PLAYED TO EMPTY SEATS

FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF YEARS.

IT'S BEEN THEIR SPECIAL
EVOLUTIONARY DESTINY

TO SPEND THEIR LIVES
DISPLAYING THEIR BEAUTY.

IT'S WHAT MAKES THEM
SO EXTRAORDINARY.

THE NEXT MORNING,
THE MALE BLUE BIRD RETURNS.

SUDDENLY HE STOPS.

[ CALLING ]

MIRIAM HAS SEEN SOMETHING
OFF CAMERA.

THERE'S A FEMALE
IN THE TREE ABOVE.

SUPUMA: She's here, she's here!

Attenborough: AND NOW SHE'S
HERE, HIS PERFORMANCE CHANGES.

HIS PULSING GIVES WAY
TO A SUBTLE LOW BUZZING

THAT ALSO TH ROBS.

IT'S BARELY AUDIBLE
TO HUMAN EARS,

BUT THE MICROPHONE PICKS IT UP
LOUD AND CLEAR.

IT'S AN UNEARTHLY SOUND THAT HE
ONLY MAKES IN HER PRESENCE.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT
TO BE HEARD

ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE BIRD WORLD.

Supuma: THE VIBRATING MOVEMENT

AND THE PUFFING OF THE CHEST
TO EXPOSE THE BLACK PATCH

WAS SOMETHING INTIMATE,

AND IT ONLY DID THAT
WHEN THE FEMALE WAS NEXT TO HIM.

JUST LOOKING AT IT WAS --

GAVE YOU
A SENSE OF GUILTY PLEASURE

JUST LOOKING AT THEM,
IT WAS SOMETHING INTIMATE

GOING ON BETWEEN THE TWO BIRDS.

Attenborough: MOVING CLOSER,
BUT WITHOUT TOUCHING HIM,

THE FEMALE SEEMS TO BE STUDYING

EVERY FEATHER
OF HIS VIBRATING BODY.

SURELY HE'S DONE ENOUGH...

BUT NO.

Supuma:
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN

SHE JUST FLEW AWAY,

AND IT WAS LIKE, "UGH! COME ON!"

FOR THE MALE
TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT,

IT WAS EXCRUCIATING,

JUST TO PUT ALL THAT ENERGY
INTO IT.

AND I THINK FOR HIM IT WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, MAYBE WE'LL TRY

ANOTHER DAY."

YEAH.

Attenborough: YET HIS EFFORT
IS THE WHOLE POINT.

MALES CAN BUT TRY THEIR BEST.

THE REST IS UP TO THE FEMALES,
AND IT WAS EVER THUS.

[ CALLING ]

THE PLAINTIVE CALL
OF THE REJECTED MALE

ECHOES ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.

THESE DANCES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED
HERE FOR MILLENNIA,

BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER?

MIRIAM AND HER TEAM HAVE MADE
A GOOD START ON THEIR PROJECT.

BUT MUCH MORE WORK
NEEDS TO BE DONE.

Supuma: WE NEED NUMBERS.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
WE NEED TO DO RESEARCH,

SO WE NEED NUMBERS

SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW THEY ARE
FLUCTUATING WITH TIME

AND WITH
THE DIFFERENT FACTORS --

HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH,

HUNTING DISTURBANCE,
FOREST CLEARING --

SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR
CONSERVATION STATUS BETTER.

Attenborough: MEANWHILE,
TO PRESERVE THE FEATHERS

THAT THE DANCERS ALREADY HAVE,

THE TEAM ARE HANDING OUT
MOTHBALLS.

THESE CAN BE PUT INSIDE
THE BAMBOO TUBES

IN WHICH THE FEATHERS ARE STORED

AND SO SAVE THEM FROM DECAY.

THAT SHOULD REDUCE THE DEMAND
FOR FRESHLY HUNTED PLUMES.

:n-In -

IT COULD MEAN
THE LOSS OF SOMETHING

THAT PEOPLE HOLD CLOSE
TO THEIR HEARTS.

Attenborough:
PAPUA NEW GUINEANS

ARE NOW CARING FOR THEIR BIRDS
IN A NEW WAY.

THE BIRDS HAVE SURVIVED
THE TRIBAL CULTURE

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
BUT THE WORLD IS CHANGING

AND THEIR FOREST IS CHANGING.

MIRIAM AND PAUL ARE STARTING
A NEW CONSERVATION MOVEMENT

TO ENSURE
THAT GENERATIONS TO COME

WILL STILL BE ABLE TO DELIGHT
IN THESE ASTONISHING

BIRDS-OF-PARADISE.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE
SEEN ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM,

VISIT pbs.org.