You are here

Birds of Paradise

Publish Date: 
Monday, January 12, 2015 - 1:45pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Randall Gann, Public Information Officer

505.252.6869  Email: randall.gann@state.nm.us

‘Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution’

New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Welcomes Amazing National Geographic Exhibit

 

Beginning January 24th, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science invites you to take a journey to New Guinea and the exotic world of birds-of-paradise with “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution,” a National Geographic Traveling Exhibition. Highlighting the groundbreaking research of photographer Tim Laman and Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientist Edwin Scholes, the exhibit features the extravagant plumage, crazy courtship dances and bizarre behaviors of the extraordinary birds. The exhibition will run from January 24th through August 16, 2015, and it is included with regular museum admission.

 

Interim Museum Director Gary Romero said that he is excited about this exhibit: “Birds of Paradise is a beautiful and groundbreaking exhibit, and we are very pleased that the Museum of Natural History and Science is able to bring it to Albuquerque as part of the new working relationship that has been established with National Geographic.”

 

The exhibition highlights the importance of birds-of-paradise to New Guinea. Maps and diagrams of the birds’ ranges across the country explain how the country’s environment allowed the birds to adapt and evolve over time. Legends and folklore are shared from generations past.

 

Equal parts natural history, photography, and science exhibition, “Birds of Paradise” gives visitors an in-depth look into the lives of birds-of-paradise via natural soundscapes, traditional wood carvings, and a montage of all 39 birds-of-paradise species. Photos, videos, bird specimens, and a kinetic sculpture of a riflebird (a bird-of-paradise species) also show the transformations that birds-of-paradise undergo to attract their mates and the various moves that make up their mating rituals, and interactive games such as “Dance, Dance Evolution” let people dance along with the birds to learn their signature moves.

 

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS

With a mission to inspire, illuminate and teach, the National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. The member-supported Society, which believes in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world, reaches over 600 million people each month through its media platforms, products and events. National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy. It is one of the world’s leading organizers of large-scale, traveling exhibitions. Since it launched “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs” in 2004, National Geographic has organized two more Egyptian-themed exhibitions, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” and “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.” Other traveling exhibitions include “Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology,” “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution,” “Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment” and “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul.” Since 2009, National Geographic traveling exhibitions have been seen by more than 20 million visitors.

 

###

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science preserves and interprets the distinctive natural and scientific heritage of our state through extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs designed to ignite a passion for lifelong learning.

data-href="http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/node/299" data-layout="standard" data-action="like" data-show-faces="true">