Narrator: Shape shifting.
Color shaking.
Dancing, singing, dazzling,
Sex crazed transformers.
The fabled birds of paradise.
Cut off from the modern world, virtually unknown.
Until two modern day explorers set out
On a decade-long quest.
Tim laman: We have to try to outsmart them.
Ed scholes: If we succeed in getting the moment of
Transformation that's gonna be the holy grail.
Narrator: A quest to find and photograph all
39 species of these spectacular creatures.
Tim laman: Kind of a narrow spot
To get through here.
Narrator: And to capture some never-before-seen
Firsts for science.
Tim laman: No way!
Narrator: National geographic photographer
Tim laman and cornell university ornithologist
Ed scholes have travelled the jungles of
New guinea for nearly a decade.
It's an assignment turned obsession.
A search for one of nature's holy grails,
Images of every species of this
Flamboyant family of birds.
Iridescent feathers, outlandish shapes,
Precision choreography, extreme ornamentation,
Cacophonous flapping, male birds of paradise
Whose adaptations have only one purpose,
To attract a mate.
New guinea, where birds of paradise live,
Is one of the most remote places on earth.
Tim and ed have taken over 20 expeditions to more
Than 50 field sites, suffered countless days in
The rain-soaked jungle and one burst appendix.
They've survived it all, plus dubious flights,
Perilous boat rides, grueling hikes.
Tim laman: Here's where we go left.
Narrator: And the jungle pulsing
With poisonous life.
Tim laman: You gotta keep your eye out for them.
So when you're bashing through the forest you
Gotta pay attention or you might end up with
One of these on your face.
Narrator: They've filmed a lot of birds but they
Still have a few adventures left on their
Birds of paradise bucket list.
Their first target, the wahne's parotia is a
Creature that transforms from bird to ballerina in
The blink of an eye.
They live way up in the saruwaged mountains.
Tim laman: Getting into this location has turned
Into a bit of a transportation nightmare
In the last few days.
Ed scholes: The plane that we were counting on flying
In on had a small incident at an airstrip
And had a crash landing.
Tim laman: So we decided to go with
The helicopter option.
Narrator: When they finally do take to the
Air, they'll be heading for a landing pad
They're not even sure exists.
Ed scholes: So we have no idea whether it's
Even a helipad that a helicopter can land on.
Narrator: They can only safely fly
In clear weather.
Ed scholes: Mountains here are really, really steep.
Some of these ridges are over 6,000 feet.
No pilot in papua new guinea flies
When you can't see.
Narrator: Fortunately, the next day breaks clear.
They're flying into one of the least
Explored places on earth, from the air there
Isn't a road in sight.
Tim laman: Wow, what a day compared to yesterday.
Narrator: Birds of paradise are also
Cut off from the world.
The definitive field guides have countless
Entries that read, simply "unknown."
Tim and ed are filling in the blanks.
Tim laman: It's not so much just being the first,
But just the fact that it hasn't been done.
This group of birds hadn't been
Documented in the wild.
Ed scholes: They're a biological
Wonder of the world.
It's like, "why the great pyramids?
Why machu picchu?"
It's like the avian equivalent of
Looking at animal life on another planet.
Narrator: Or perhaps from many planets,
Each species more incredible than the next.
Parotia are famous for the intricacy
Of their dancing.
Their choreography is part riverdance,
Part ocd, this one, carola's parotia,
Draws an endless "figure 8" in the air.
Strange, but the females seem to like it.
Deciphering what the male's behavior means to
The females is like learning another language;
This mission is all about cracking the code
Of the wahne's display.
Ed scholes: Real excited to be back,
To see this species of parotia.
I spent so many years studying them
And it's nice to be back.
They're kinda like old friends for me.
Narrator: On one of these ridges,
Is a field camp tim and ed will call home
For the next three weeks.
If they can land.
Ed scholes: Rory we're just looking
For a cut clearing on a ridge.
Rory: Ok.
Ed scholes: And hopefully they get
The helipad for us.
Rory: Yeah.
Ed scholes: It is the moment of truth.
Tim laman: Yeah really.
Ed scholes: Let's hope, let's hope, let's hope.
Tim laman: I see smoke dead ahead on the ridge.
Right there.
Ed scholes: Yeah, you can see the bamboo there.
Tim laman: Yes.
Ed scholes: What do you think rory?
Rory: Yeah, no problem.
Barely a challenge.
Tim laman: That's what we like to hear.
We've got a helicopter only a "sat" phone
Call away and a few thousand dollars.
Narrator: Parotia territory at last.
Ed scholes: The parotia is one of the
Quintessential shape shifting species.
Narrator: When the male displays he
Tucks his wings away and pops out
Specialized breast feathers.
Ed scholes: They're kinda funny and
Comical to watch.
You can't help but to think of them as like a
Little person in the forest,
Wearing a skirt, dancing around.
Narrator: There are five species of parotia
And tim and ed have photographed them all.
But this time they want to change it up.
They're trying to film a male parotia from above,
From the perspective of the females,
Who are the arbiters of what makes a good display.
Ed thinks the aerial view will be very
Different from anything they've ever seen.
Ed scholes: The way the females look at
'em is from above looking down.
So the females see this really distinct
Circular shape that's made by the skirt.
Alright, this is the camp;
They've already got the old tarp up.
Narrator: Ed's command of the
Local language, pidgin, comes in handy.
Ed: [speaking pidgin].
Narrator: As their porters make camp,
They strike out to scout display sites.
Ed scholes: There's a couple of old ones
Right over here in this thicket.
That's what I first noticed.
I think it's here.
There's like a sink hole and this one's a
Fresh one because look it's got fresh bird poop.
Or, as they say in pidgin, "peck peck."
Narrator: This bare patch is the male's
Display territory, it's called a court.
Parotia are neat freaks, keeping their courts
Spotless and clear.
So ed sets up a tiny camera,
Then scatters some leaves.
It's his sneaky way of telling if the
Males are using this site.
Ed scholes: Really drives them crazy to
Have those leaves down there,
They're very fastidious.
So when he comes by here and sees those he won't be
Able to help himself, he'll come right down
And toss them all off the court.
Tim laman: Holy cow, man.
We can almost get the looking down
View from up here.
Ed scholes: Yeah.
Narrator: If the site proves to be active,
It's perfect for the overhead shot.
Tim laman: This distance is very safe for parotias.
I mean, I think that's a wide enough view right
There if we just clean out that vine.
Ed scholes: Yeah.
This one's totally doable.
Narrator: Capturing the female perspective on film
Would be a scientific breakthrough and
A dream come true for ed.
Ed scholes: If we succeed in especially
Getting the moment of transformation that's
Gonna be the holy grail.
Narrator: They check the spy camera and
Sure enough it doesn't take long for the
Parotia to arrive.
Ed scholes: That's the leaf we put down.
Tosses it.
Yeah!
Yeah, he's coming like right up next
To the gopro.
Narrator: He's so intent on cleaning up;
He doesn't even notice the camera!
Tim laman: No way.
Ed scholes: Are you kidding me?
Tim laman: Wow, we actually got
An awesome gopro shot of a parotia!
That's hilarious.
I can't believe that worked,
He totally didn't care at all.
Whoa, this guy is big.
Ed scholes: That tail is long.
Tim laman: That tail is long,
That's a huge bird.
I forget how much bigger.
Ed scholes: This is a lot bigger.
Tim laman: This parotia is than some of the others.
Narrator: Tim plans to position three
Synchronized cameras around the display area.
Ed will control two from his laptop,
While tim shoots the third from a
Hidden vantage point.
Tim laman: I just need to get a bunch of bush rope
And start lashing together a ladder.
Narrator: Thankfully the forest itself is
As good as a hardware store.
Ed has been studying parotia displays for
Years, their dances are the most complex
Of any bird of paradise and
He knows every move they make.
Ed scholes: In pretty much an instant,
He'll do a bow.
And he basically then fluffs out those long
Feathers of the breast and flanks and that's when he
Forms them around his body and they go back behind
His back and cover his wings and
When he comes up and he's taking these
3 long head wires from each side.
And as he starts walking forward with his skirt out
He's shaking them back and forth,
Waving them in front of his head.
Then he begins waggling his neck and
Head back and forth like that.
None of it really makes sense unless we can
Interpret it from the perspective that the
Females are seeing him.
Narrator: For birds of paradise the females are
The evolutionary decision makers.
Tim laman: Ok, it's 12:15; we're getting this all set
Up during this, sort of lull in the
Middle of the day.
So if the bird starts coming back for some
Afternoon activity we'd be ready to go.
Narrator: It's a complicated rig.
Ed scholes: Perfect ethernet hiding material.
Narrator: Custom built cables,
Specialized software and electronics.
Ed scholes: Alright I'm going back to
Set up the computer.
Narrator: And none of it very jungle-friendly.
Ed scholes: (bleep).
Slippery.
Great.
All right, so it's working,
The cameras are on.
And I think we're in business.
Narrator: Tim settles into his blind,
Hoping their camera-ready parotia
Will make another appearance.
Ed scholes: They seem to be everywhere but
On the court where we need them.
[thunder]
Tim laman: Well, I'm still sitting
Here in my blind.
Think I'm gonna call it quits pretty soon.
Hey it's getting pretty dark over here,
I think I'm gonna start packing up.
Ed scholes: Okay, let me pack this up.
Alright, calling it quits.
Tim laman: Well.
Ed scholes: Too much good luck to get it
All in the first day.
Tim laman: Yeah.
Asking a bit too much indeed.
Narrator: Early the next morning
They're back at it.
Ed scholes: I had to stop by starbucks
On my way back to work.
Narrator: Miraculously, the parotia also
Shows up for the morning shift.
Tim laman: I got it, I got it on both.
Ed scholes: Yeah, it's great.
It's going to be fun to review this.
Tim laman: Yeah great, alright.
Ed scholes: Yeah, we got one!
Narrator: The question is were all
Three cameras rolling?
Ed scholes: Alright, moment of truth here.
Lookin' left, lookin' right.
Bow.
Yeah, his tail.
Ok he's coming out of the ballerina,
Turning around.
Tim laman: It's a nice view of his wires.
Ed scholes: Oh and he goes under there.
Tim laman: Wow!
That flash is amazing.
Ed scholes: Yeah, yeah it is amazing.
Narrator: This is even bigger than ed expected.
Ed scholes: Wow, you know what,
So you can even see the flash,
So he's got this other ornament on the back of
His head that you almost never see and
It flashes right on the opposite side.
Tim laman: Oh look, he's.
Ed scholes: Yeah, he looks so different.
Tim laman: Yeah, that's nice.
Narrator: He knew the view from up top
Would be different, but these
Iridescent flashes are a shock.
It's like the male is sending out secret love
Messages that only the female above him can see.
Tim laman: Usually, we always filmed it from a
Blind on the ground so that flashing really is
Designed to face upward to flash to the females so
Now that we're really looking down
On it we're really seeing that flash flash!
That's just really cool to see it
From different angles.
Narrator: With all three cameras synched up,
They can see the top-down shot in context.
Tim laman: Nice.
Ed scholes: Man, those head wires look great.
He kind of does that tick, tick,
Tick exaggerated.
Tim laman: Ah, look at that flash,
That is like so cool.
Blue and yellow.
Ed scholes: Yeah, from this perspective you're
Kind of getting both colors at once, you know?
Tim laman: Yeah.
Ed scholes: Yeah.
That's good.
Alright nice work.
Narrator: It's the unknown that makes
Birds of paradise so fascinating.
Tim and ed were the first to discover
That one species, the arfak astrapia,
Performs its displays upside down!
Ed scholes: That's as close as you get
To a-ha moments in science anymore.
Narrator: And the arfak isn't the only one
To turn the mating dance on its head.
The blue bird of paradise, the red bird of paradise
And the emperor.
This footage of the emperor displaying
Is the first ever recorded.
But the birds rarely make it easy.
Ed once spent 80 hours waiting for just
90 seconds of magnificent riflebird display.
Tim has climbed nearly 150 trees over the years.
His highest perch was 165 feet in the air,
Getting to it was like climbing a
15 story building.
Sometimes he gets room service for lunch.
Tim laman: Alright.
I got the full indonesian lunch here.
I got rice, I got vegetables.
I got noodles.
Quite a lunch for up in a tree, huh?
Narrator: But the next bird on their list
Could be even more challenging.
Tim laman: So we good to go?
Ed scholes: Seems like it.
Tim laman: Man it's pouring, huh?
Narrator: To reach it, tim and ed
Are heading out to sea.
They're now on the trail of the rare
Goldie's bird of paradise.
Goldie's have an incredibly limited range,
They only exist on two tiny islands off the
Eastern coast of new guinea.
Ed scholes: The genus paradisaea,
These are the ones that are on the flag and
Have the most sought after plumes for human interest,
Especially new guinea culture.
Narrator: The plume trade impacted many bird of
Paradise species at the turn of the century,
But the striking feathers of the genus
Paradisaea were particularly prized.
Their numbers have rebounded since then,
But they're still hard to find.
Tim laman: Alright, see if I can get on
This sucker without falling in.
It's like the wettest start to an expedition
That we've ever had.
Narrator: Goldie's bird of paradise
Display in the canopy.
Tim will have to build himself a camouflaged
Blind high in a tree.
He's had success in the canopy with the greater
Bird of paradise using a multi camera rig.
Tim laman: This is the main display perch.
And there's my blind over there.
And right here is my leaf camera.
We put a whole slr here inside these leaves.
Alright, let's hope this works.
Narrator: Tim monitored the leaf cam with his
Laptop, while he shot with a second
Camera from the blind.
Tim laman: Alright, so we are good to go.
Now we just need the birds.
Narrator: First the males show up and
Ruffle their plumes to attract the females.
Once the ladies get there,
The males get really excited.
Tim laman: It's actually working!
It's kind of unbelievable.
Narrator: This is called the "flower pose."
If the female likes what she sees,
她会在抖动的羽翼附近缠绵徘徊 She'll stick around for some feather tickling
直至交配 And eventually mating.
先进的针叶摄影机捕捉到了之前从未发现的 The innovative leaf cam captures a never before
之前从未发现的婚配仪式 Seen perspective of the mating ritual.
这次，它们想要竭尽所能 This time, they're hoping to combine
去取悦对方 All of their successful tactics.
他们需要把摄影机搭设在树冠上 They need to get their cameras up in the canopy
来拍摄雌性黄金鸟的生活 To capture the experience of a female goldie's.
但是第一步他们需要找到它们 But first they have to reach them.
Tim laman：我们正在赶往的地方 Tim laman: We're headed into some
的天色非常昏暗 Dark weather over there.
letim lanman：我们正在赶往一片 The letim laman: We'reremember salheaded into some
昏暗的地带 Dark weather over there.
Ed scholes：自从我们港湾出来 Ed scholes: As we came out of the mouth of the bay it
海浪就变得越来越波涛起伏 Just kept getting choppier and choppier so now we
现在天下起了倾盆大雨 Were in pretty much serious downpour rain,
就现在风雨交加海上 As well as rough seas.
旁白：我们要去寻找黄金鸟的家 Narrator: This passage to the goldie's home,
Fergusson岛是以它的死寂臭名远扬 Fergusson island is notoriously deadly.
Ed scholes和Tim laman横穿了 Ed scholes and tim laman have got to cross the open
岛屿和Fergusson的顶尖 Straight, motor between the islands and around the
然后又从一座城市到达 Tip of fergusson, then hike inland to a tiny
一个村落，那里是鸟儿的老家 Village that will be their home base.
侦察员报告这座岛屿 Scouting reports from the island have confirmed
的确有天堂鸟存活 That the birds are there.
Ed scholes：这样一来 Ed scholes: So we're not going to have to spend any
我们就不用花费时间 Time when we first get there searching for the
用来寻找天堂鸟的栖息地了 Birds and trying to find the display tree.
旁白：在新几内亚工作 Narrator: It's legendarily inconvenient to work in
真是太不方便了，但是在人迹罕至的丛林里 New guinea, but the same impenetrable jungles,
荒岛和高地 Far-flung islands and extreme elevations that
使人们几乎不可能穿过这里 Make passage nearly impossible are also what
这一点也创造了这些世隔绝的生物 Has given rise to these otherworldly creatures.
就像小侏罗纪公园，口袋花园 Little jurassic parks, pocket environments cut
在这与世隔绝的沃土 Off from each other and the outside create fertile
有很少的一群鸟类 Ground for small populations of birds to
进化出了一场特殊的个性 Evolve extraordinary characteristics.
Tim lanman：我们做到了 Tim laman: Hey we made it.
旁白：他们成功的完成了穿越 Narrator: They've survived the passage,
但是前方仍然有一条艰难的路 But there's still a rough road ahead.
他们的向导，当地的自然保护人士 Their guide, local conservationist
David mithcell，从岛上巡逻回来 David mitchell, returns from scouting
带来了坏消息 The inland trail with bad news.
David mithcell：水位上涨了很多 David mitchell: Most of the water is up to about
淹没了道路 Here on what's the walking track.
Tim laman：天堂鸟居住的地方 Tim laman: So what does that mean about
我们还能过去吗 The forest around where the birds of paradise are?
这里发洪水了吗 Is it going to be flooded there?
David mitcell：是的，发洪水了 David mitchell: It's flooded.
发洪水了 It's flooded.
但是过两天水位就会下降 But give it two days it might go down.
Tim laman：很好。 Tim laman: Great.
David mithcell：很遗憾。 David mitchell: Sorry.
Tim laman：我们最好在这里驻扎 Tim laman: Might as well camp here on the beach
在沙滩上或者什么地方 Or something.
就在这里吧 Just stay here.
Edscholes：接下来我们做什么 Ed scholes: What would we do,
干坐着等吗？ Just wait for it to go down?
Tim laman：我来看看 Tim laman: Well it's not really practical to
想把我们的装备从被水淹没的村庄 Carry all of our gear to the flooded village
背过去不太实际 Through neck deep water.
我的意思是不可能 I mean that's not going to work either.
Ed scholes：要不我们先过去看看 Ed scholes: Can we walk over there and look?
David mithcell：是啊。过去看看呗 David mitchell: Yeah, come have a look.
Ed scholes：好吧，走起 Ed scholes: Yeah, let's go have a look.
Tim laman：难以相信 Tim laman: I don't believe this.
Ed scholes：是啊，雨都停了 Ed scholes: Yeah, the rain finally stops but now we
我们还是被洪水困在原地 Can't go anywhere because of the flood.
Tim laman：哦我的天 Tim laman: Oh gosh.
旁白：没时间浪费了 Narrator: With no time to waste,
他们没装备也没法干活 And no way to work without their gear,
Tim和ed起身寻找另一条路 Tim and ed set off in search of another route.
Tim laman：乌哈！ Tim laman: Whoa!
Ed scholes：是不是更深了？ Ed scholes: Is it getting deeper again?
Tim laman：没错。 Tim laman: Yeah.
旁白：当地的村民等不及了 Narrator: The local villagers eagerly pitch
在丛林中开辟了一条新的通道 In, cutting a new path through the jungle.
Ed scholes：这一切在新几内亚看来很普遍 Ed scholes: It's like a universal in new guinea;
不管去哪总能看到孩子们 Wherever you go it's always the kids
女孩帮你搬行李 And girls carrying your stuff.
而这使得你不再感到 You don't look so tough next to a 12 year old
旅途如此艰难 Girl carrying your big bag for you.
现在我们只需要一个大晴天 Now all we need is a good downpour.
Tim laman：好了 Tim laman: Alright.
旁白：最终他们到达了村子 Narrator: At long last they reach the village.
Tim laman：我们到了 Tim laman: Here we are.
Ed scholes：Fergusson岛，甜蜜的家乡 Ed scholes: Home sweet home, fergusson island.
旁白：黄金鸟就住在这附近 Narrator: The goldie's live in the forest nearby.
Tim laman：你们好！ Tim laman: Hello.
村民：你好！ Villagers: Hello!
Tim laman：你们好吗 Tim laman: How are you?
Ed scholes：这条路 Ed scholes: The patch of forest where the
距离鸟儿栖息地很近 Birds are is very close.
旁白：他们焦急的寻找着 Narrator: They're anxious to see the tree
有黄金鸟出没的树林 Where the goldie's display.
Tim laman：那的泥土很湿滑 Tim laman: Slippery mud right there.
Ed scholes：那是黄金鸟的叫声 Ed scholes: That's the goldie call,
“哇哇哇 "wah, wah, wah."
很美妙不是么？ Isn't that awesome?
这趟旅行不注意的话脚就会受伤 This could be a quick trip to foot rot.
旁白：在洪水弥漫的森林里 Narrator: In the flooded forest,
所有的动物都在忙着把自己弄干 All sorts of creatures are scrambling to stay dry.
比如这只多刺的宝石织网蛛 Some, like this spiny orb weaver are as colorful
它就像一只天堂鸟一样绚丽多彩 As a bird of paradise.
但是要到这里才看得到天堂鸟 But it's the birds they are here to see.
Ed scholes：那听上去很像 Ed scholes: That sounds more like what
它们要进行展示之前的声音 They do before they start displaying.
它们在聊天 You know, they do that chatter.
学鸟叫 [makes bird sounds].
然后它们散散步（学鸟叫） And then they would go [makes bird sounds]
然后他们跳在一起 And then they would jump right into it.
Tim laman：嗯，声音变小了 Tim laman: Well, that sounds a little.
旁白：最终，他们成功的 Narrator: Finally, they manage to find
找到了一棵有黄金鸟出没的树 An active tree.
Ed scholes：看看那棵树怎么样 Ed scholes: See how that tree that goes up
把这叉子放上去 And has got this fork in it.
这就像是一个丛林体育馆里 There's kind of like an open gap of a
分出来的一个枝杈 Bunch of little jungle gym-like sticks.
天堂鸟就在那生活 That's where the birds are.
旁白：那里没有地方搭设诱饵 Narrator: There is no place up there to build a
所以他们决定因地制宜 Blind so they have to adjust their plan.
Tim laman：主要目标就是 Tim laman: The main approach is gonna be to
用遥控操作这些相机 Try to use these remote control cameras.
所以我要爬上这棵树 So when I climb up in the tree,
把相机绑在这里，隐藏好 I'm gonna rig up this camera, hidden,
用几层叶子包裹起来 With also a layer of leaves over this.
试着把它藏在距离显示器 And try to hide it you know in the next tree
最近的那棵树上 Closest to the display site.
然后我们启动电缆 Then we'll be able to run these cables down
就可以用笔记本遥控相机 To the ground and shoot with the remote control
来进行拍摄了 Setup from our laptops.
我们认为这将是自然史上 We think it's gonna be a natural history
首次在这样高高地树冠处 Filmmaking first to film birds of paradise
拍摄天堂鸟 Like this up in the canopy.
旁白：他们需要调整好 Narrator: They just need to turn this pile
这一组摄像系统运作起来 Of gear into a working camera system.
Tim lanman：让我们来看看吧 Tim laman: This goes to that.
这将会是你的 This is going to be your number
2号笔记本连线 2 laptop connection.
Ed shcoles：嘿Tim，那有一只 Ed scholes: Hey tim, there's one of those
大千足虫爬过 Big millipedes going right by.
Tim laman：哦耶耶 Tim laman: Oh yeah, yeah.
旁白：虽然这虫子不咬人 Narrator: Though not a biter,
但是它分一种腐蚀性的酸 The millipede can secrete a caustic acid
会使人感到疼痛 That causes a painful burn.
Tim laman：我的等他爬到裤子上 Tim laman: I'm going to wait so if he decides
这样它分泌酸水时 To spray his chemicals he'll hit
就不会喷到我的腿上饿了 My clothes instead of my leg.
好了，是时候弄走它了 Alright, I'm going to get rid of this dude.
我觉得测试快要准备完毕了 I think we're about ready for this test.
Ed scholes：好了，我看着2台相机 Ed scholes: Alright, I am seeing two cameras.
现在我们需要一只欢乐的小鸟 Now we need a dancing bird.
走着 Here we go.
我要尽全力模仿 I'm gonna do my best imitation of a
黄金鸟的叫声 Goldie's bird of paradise.
模仿鸟叫 [imitates bird].
你感觉怎么样 Alright, you working?
Tim laman：停下吧！ Tim laman: Cut!
好吧 Ok.
来了一只 Here it comes.
Ed scholes：好的，看看他 Ed scholes: Alright, look at that guy.
我确信他会成功的 I'm pretty sure he'll be successful.
Tim laman：非常好，你成功了 Tim laman: Alright, it worked.
Ed sholes：我应该穿上红色的体恤 Ed scholes: Shoulda had my red shirt on.
Tim laman：好了，我们现在要爬树了 Tim laman: Alright now we gotta rig it up in a tree.
旁白：黄金鸟在距离地面100尺 Narrator: The goldie's display site
左右的高度出现了 Is a hundred feet up.
Ed scholes：伙计，你成功了 Ed scholes: Man, you had it,
但我想你只射中了一片树叶 But I think you hit a leaf.
Tim laman：是的，就在那里靠右的地方 Tim laman: Yeah it went right over to the right
但是又弹回来了 Spot but then it bounced back off of a.
Ed scholes：一片叶子 Ed scholes: A leaf.
Tim laman：另一支树干 Tim laman: Another branch.
David mitchell：Tim，Moses刚才说 David mitchell: Tim, moses was saying that's a
这是一种软质树，可能树枝不够坚硬 Soft wood so it's not very strong and
而且容易折断 The branches are easy to break.
Tim laman：知道了 Tim laman: Okay.
但是如果我爬到最大的那支树干上 So uh but if I go over one of the biggest branches,
应该没有问题吧？ Should be all right, yeah?
David mitchell：Moses你怎么看？ David mitchell: What do you think moses?
你认为Tim是不是太重了？ Do you think tim's too heavy, or?
Moses：是的 Moses: That's right.
David mitchell：你认为树枝 David mitchell: You don't think
不能支撑他吗？ It'll support him eh?
Moses：没错 Moses: Yeah.
David mitchell：Moses说 David mitchell: He said this is a
这些树枝太脆弱了 Soft wood so he was having reservations when
他看到你射箭的时候就想说 He saw you putting an arrow up in it.
Ed scholes：有多柔软？ Ed scholes: How soft is soft wood?
Tim laman：我想我需要拉起一条绳子 Tim laman: Well I think I'll pull a rope up
测一测到底有多柔软 And see how strong it is.
小心为上 It's good to be careful.
Ed scholes：我们可以在绳子上加2倍的重量 Ed scholes: We can put some double weight on the
看看到底能承受多重 Rope and just see how much it bends and.
Tim laman：看看是不是树枝会整个折断 Tim laman: See if the whole thing breaks off.
好了，走起 All right, here goes.
Ed scholes：有点短了 Ed scholes: A little short.
Tim laman：嗯 Tim laman: Alright.
正中红心 Got it in the right spot.
旁白：绳子很安全 Narrator: The rope is secure;
是时候来看看它能否撑住Tim的重量了 It's time to see if it will hold tim's weight.
意志力。 旁白：国家地理摄影师 Willpower. Narrator: National geographic photographer
Tim laman小心翼翼的爬上 Tim laman gingerly navigates the
这柔软的树枝 Soft wood tree.
Tim laman：好了，我到达位置了 Tim laman: Alright I'm at the level now.
Ed scholes：你还好吗？ Ed scholes: Yeah?
Tim laman：这些树很轻 Tim laman: It is pretty light wood.
Ed scholes：没有问题吗？ Ed scholes: Is it gonna be all right?
Tim laman：目前为止没有 Tim laman: As long as I stay in the middle.
我在绳子上撞了一个环以便向上爬 I put a loop in the rope and clipped it in so if
如果整棵树枝断掉的话 The whole top of the tree where I'm at actually
我的绳索可以保护我 Cracks and bends over.
不会直接摔到地面上 My rope actually will still keep me from hitting
虽然也肯定会摔的很惨 The ground, it still would be a nasty fall but it
但比直接摔到地面要好得多 Would be better than hitting the ground.
旁白：因为最近的医院都要2天路程 Narrator: With the nearest hospital
所以安全是至关重要的 Two day's journey away, safety is paramount.
Ed scholes：上面的风景怎么样？ Ed scholes: How's the view of the branch?
看得清吗？ Can you see it pretty easily?
Tim laman：这里事业非常清晰 Tim laman: I got a perfectly clear view
那只鸟就在2米开外 And it's two meters away.
Ed scholes：2米？ Ed scholes: Two?
Tim laman：是的非常好的距离。 Tim laman: That's gonna be awesome.
哦，我的脚 Oh, my feet.
在这呆久了真不舒服 This is not gonna be comfortable up here.
旁白：当Tim急忙将摄像机安设到位时 Narrator: As tim rushes to get the cameras in place,
天堂鸟开始了旋转演出 The goldie's start revving up for a display.
Ed scholes：那是开机的信号 Ed scholes: It's a call to action.
得把唱片放上了 It means it's time to get your groove on.
看上去就像是一个少年 It's like the guy standing in front
站在镜前自娱自乐 Of the mirror going uh-uh-uh.
旁白：对于大多数雄性天堂鸟来说 Narrator: For the males of most species of birds of
乱交就是终身使命 Paradise, promiscuity is a full time job.
它们挥动着翅膀 They flirt and flirt to get the
想要吸引雌性的注意 Female's attention.
Ed scholes：雄鸟会在交配季节 Ed scholes: The males would mate repeatedly
反复与同一只雌鸟 With the same females throughout the course
进行求爱 Of the display session.
并且与很多雌性交配 Would mate with multiple females,
几天或几周之后 Would mate with the same females repeatedly over
反复与雌鸟交配 Multiple days or weeks so, so yeah they're not very
并不在意数量与质量 Discriminating about who and how many.
这一切都是由雌性决定的 It's pretty much up to the female.
旁白：雌性是非常挑剔的 Narrator: Which is why it's critical to see what
她们反复斟酌哪个是真命天子 The females see, how they decide who's worthy.
Tim laman：好了我到了树冠了 Tim laman: Alright I'm up here in the canopy
旁边就有黄金天堂鸟 By the goldie's bird of paradise tree and
这是我的一二号相机遥控器 Here are my two remote control cameras #1 and #2.
旁白：Tim花了3个小时 Narrator: It's taken three hours for tim
才把相机安放好 To perfectly position the cameras.
Tim laman：我的腿开始抽筋了 Tim laman: My legs are starting to get
在树上保持诡异的姿势 Gripped up from just holding these
太久了 Weird positions for too long.
我需要休息 I need a break.
盘白：在任何一支树干上 Narrator: Unable to rest on any of the fragile
都没法休息，Tim只能在他的腿 Branches, tim has got to get down
消耗殆尽前下地 Before his legs give out.
Tim laman：那有一块很窄的 Tim laman: Kind of a narrow spot
地方需要穿过 To get through here.
哦啊 Whoa.
哦老弟，在上面真是累死人 Oh man, it's really tiring up there.
鸟儿们就在我们身后歌唱 The birds are calling just behind us.
就在那里 Just above back over here.
也就是说它们仅仅在25米远的距离 So they're only about 25 meters away.
但也许会被我们的相机吓跑 But maybe they're all spooked by my
我们并不确定 Cameras up there, we're not sure.
旁白：数码陷阱设置好了 Narrator: The digital trap is laid,
但是没有鸟进来 But no one's biting.
Ed shcoles：来吧小伙子们，水都热好了 Ed scholes: Come on in boys, the water's warm.
Tim laman：它们应该接近了 Tim laman: They're kind of closer.
它们更高了 They're up higher.
如果我们有一只雌鸟做诱饵 If we had a stuffed female bird of paradise,
放在那它们马上就回来了 Stuck her up there, they'd be down there in a second.
旁白：无意间 Narrator: Unintentionally,
Ed试图用自己的声音招来雄鸟 Ed tries to call them in himself.
Tim laman：真是不可思议的水瓶 Tim laman: That's the most ridiculous water bottle.
Ed scholes：我也不知道怎么弄出来的 Ed scholes: I don't know what to do about it.
Tim laman：干这活需要很多耐性 Tim laman: There's a lot of waiting
忍忍吧 In this business.
Ed scholes：哦，老兄 Ed scholes: Oh man.
刚才它们绝对在那 They're definitely there when they come around.
但现在就是不在 But they're just not in the right tree.
Tim laman：来吧伙计们 Tim laman: Come on dudes.
来吧。 Come on.
旁白：今天不是个好日子 Narrator: But today is not going to be the day.
Tim laman：啊 Tim laman: Ah, (bleep).
开始下雨了 It's starting to rain.
Ed shcoles：关掉它 Ed scholes: Shuttin' down.
Tim laman：它们曾经如此接近 Tim laman: I can't believe they're coming so close,
就在天要黑的时候开始下雨了 Right when it's getting dark and I have to go up
我去把相机拿下来 And get the cameras down because
相机可不防雨 It's also starting to rain.
结果它们好像却回来了 And now they're like right here.
旁白：它们无法在夜间拍摄 Narrator: They can't film at night and
相机也不是防雨的 The cameras aren't waterproof, so day one
所以第一天一无所获 On fergusson is a bust.
Tim laman：愿上帝保佑我们获得成功 Tim laman: Let's just hope we get the payoff moment
把这一些痛苦折磨都带走 To go with all the misery and suffering.
旁白：第二天早上 Narrator: The next morning,
他们在黎明前就回来了 They're back before dawn.
Tim laman：好了，我们打算尽早来这里布置 Tim laman: Alright, we're going to try to be really
因为也许现在鸟儿还在睡觉 Quiet because we think the birds are sleeping very
所以我们只要尽快弄好 Close to the tree here so we're just going to try to
鸟儿就不会注意要相机 Sneak up there and set up the cameras,
我们还要尽快下来 Get back down as fast as I can.
旁白：软木已经非常危险了 Narrator: As if the soft wood isn't dangerous
加上Tim在漆黑的环境下爬行 Enough, tim's climbing in total darkness and
树木又湿又滑 The tree is soaked and slippery.
Ed scholes：好了我要快速检查一下 Ed scholes: Alright I'm gonna do a
线缆 Quick cable check here.
确保晚上老鼠不会咬坏这些线缆 Make sure the rats didn't chew the cable overnight
那会造成很大麻烦的 Which would be a big problem.
啮齿动物就喜欢咬线缆 Rodents love this rubbery wire.
树鼠 Tree rats.
鸟类学家的软肋 The bain of every ornithologist.
Tim laman：现在是5：28 Tim laman: Alright 5:28.
计划进行得很顺利 So we're on schedule, I made it
我在五点半之前就下来了 Back down before 5:30.
Ed scholes：是啊，干得漂亮 Ed scholes: Yeah, good job.
Tim laman：还用你说 Tim laman: Yeah.
现在我们只要坐下来等待 Now we just got to sit tight and
大约一小时后就会天亮了 Wait for like an hor for it to get light.
鸟儿们还没起床 They haven't come to the display site yet.
昨晚下了一夜雨 You know, it was raining all night and it's been a
现在又湿又滑 Really wet and kind of drippy morning,
所以我们希望这是鸟儿 So we hope that that's the reason that they're not
没有早起的原因 Being active and displaying this morning.
但我们也不确定 But we don't know, it's just kind of
只能守株待兔了 A waiting game.
好像它们快要出现了 They're getting temptingly close now,
我刚才还在想它们不会来了 But I just don't think they're buying it.
旁白：天堂鸟好像在 Narrator: The goldie's seem to be
特意躲避有相机的树 Avoiding the rigged tree.
Tim laman：已经有2个好天气的早上了 Tim laman: It's been like two good mornings now and
它们还没出现，所以我可以确定 They haven't come, so I'm pretty sure that having
树上的那些相机距离活动地点太近了 Those cameras up there close to the
以至于把它们吓跑了 Display site is putting them off a bit.
所以我们打算尝试一些其他的办法 So we're gonna have to try something different.
旁白：失望于黄金鸟的不配合 Narrator: Frustrated by the goldie's lack of
Tim和Ed起身去寻找他们听说的 Cooperation, tim and ed head off in search of a
另外一种鸟 Different bird they've been hearing.
Tim laman：极乐鸟正在附近鸣叫 Tim laman: Manucodes are calling nearby.
我打算把它们拍下来 So I'm gonna try to get that on video.
嘿，你想拍哪一只 Hey, which one do you want to chase,
那只也想要 There's one over here now, too.
Ed scholes：我们走吧，回到那棵大无花果树那里 Ed scholes: Let's go, back toward the big fig tree.
旁白：卷毛极乐鸟的叫声 Narrator: Curl crested manucodes have a
非常壮观 Spectacular call.
Ed scholes：听上去就像是一艘太空船在降落 Ed scholes: Sounds like a ufo landing.
啊，它们在那 Ah, they're right here.
但是我们站错了阳光的位置 But we're on the wrong side of the sun.
Tim laman：（学鸟叫） Tim laman: (bleep).
旁白：极乐鸟是一种反祖鸟类 Narrator: The manucode is a throwback species.
它们的外貌与祖先很接近 It looks more similar to the ancient,
鸣叫声也和祖先十分接近 Crow-like ancestor of all birds of paradise than it
而与衣着华丽的现在近亲不同 Does to its flamboyant modern-day cousins.
极乐鸟是一夫一妻制的 Manucodes are quaintly monogamous;
它们不需要华丽的羽毛来 They don't need fancy feathers to convince a
吸引异性与他们交配 Female to mate with them,
这也和其他鸟类不同 Like the males of other species.
Ed scholes：曾经有一段时期 Ed scholes: Somewhere along the way they made
它们由一夫一妻变成了一夫多妻 The shift from being monogamous to polygynous
然后由于性别选择 And then things just went crazy
一切变得混乱不堪 With sexual selection.
旁白：与保证次等基因被淘汰的自然选择不同 Narrator: Unlike natural selection which weeds out
性别选择是为了保证雄性能够保存 The weak, sexual selection ensures the survival of
最吸引雌性的体貌特征 The male traits the female finds most attractive.
当一只雌性天堂鸟选择了一只雄性交配后 When a female bird of paradise selects a male to
她就成为了他的资产 Mate with, she is endorsing his assets,
来确保基因能够传下去 Making sure those genes will live on.
Ed scholes：当一个物种越偏好 Ed scholes: The more extreme your preference
某种特定行为或者外貌时 Is for certain kinds of behaviors or ornaments,
它的后代就会越加保持这些特性 The more extreme those traits are in the
尤其是雄性后代 Offspring of the males that have them.
因此，雌鸟花费大量时间 So because of that, the females' behavior of
观察雄性配偶的行为虽然看上去奇怪 Spending time watching males and mating is sort
事实上是和雄性极力保持华美外衣 Of equally as obnoxious and extreme
是一样的 And bizarre as what the males are doing themselves.
旁白：大量的食物加上很少的天敌 Narrator: Plentiful food and few predators free up
使得天堂鸟在寻求配偶上面 Male birds of paradise to devote
花费了大量的时间与精力 Most of their energy to mating.
挑剔的雌鸟只会和最性感的 The choosy females only mate with
雄鸟交配 The sexiest males.
但是每一次偶遇都是从鸣叫开始的 But every encounter starts with an audition.
Ed scholes：它们进化出了一种个性 Ed scholes: They've created their destiny of
花费数小时来观察某一只 Spending inordinate number of hours watching
拥有祖先特征的雄性 The very males that their ancestors
这是性别选择的结果 Have created through sexual selection.
旁白：极乐鸟也不是一下子 Narrator: The manucodes never made
就进入到一夫多妻制的 The leap to polygamy.
但这并不意味着它们 But that doesn't mean they're
没有性诉求 Without sex appeal.
对它们来说声音才是最重要的 For them it's an oral thing.
Ed 记录了一直雄鸟的鸣叫并且回放 Ed records a male's call and plays it back
用来骗取一只雌鸟进入圈套 To fool a bird into revealing its position.
Ed scholes：它们来了 Ed scholes: There they go.
Tim laman：它们要去哪？ Tim laman: Where'd they go?
Ed scholes：就在那。 Ed scholes: Right there.
Tim laman：他在那吗？ Tim laman: Is that him right there?
Ed scholes：他在更低的某个位置 Ed scholes: He's low in there somewhere.
Tim laman：他在那，快看！ Tim laman: That's him, that's him.
就在树后面 Just behind the tree.
Ed scholes：他就在太阳下 Ed scholes: He's right in the sunlight.
Tim laman：是的 Tim laman: Yeah.
Ed scholes：哇哦快看他的喉咙在 Ed scholes: Wow you can really see his
上下蠕动 Throat moving now.
Tim laman：这只鸟真实太奇妙了 Tim laman: This is the bird that has this really
他的喉咙就像有狂风乱作 Crazy like windy trachea on its throat there that
借此发出惊艳的求爱声 It's using to make that crazy call.
旁白：这真是意料之外 Narrator: This is an unexpected,
却又异常重要的收获 But important catch.
Tim laman：这种行为真是太酷了 Tim laman: This is a cool behavior that nobody has
之前还没有资料显示极乐鸟 Documented the postures that these
在鸣叫时有这样的举动 Guys do while they're calling.
Ed scholes：比我们早上在黄金鸟那里 Ed scholes: Better than what we did
收获大多了 With goldie's this morning.
旁白：Tim和Ed把极乐鸟看作一个好兆头 Narrator: Taking the manucodes as a good sign,
起身回去寻找黄金鸟 Tim and ed head back to the goldie's.
Tim laman：哦耶，那有一只黄金鸟 Tim laman: Oh yeah, there's a
非常近 Bird really close.
旁白：科学家与摄影师组成的团队 Narrator: Scientist/photographer
Ed和Timlaman发现了2只雄性黄金鸟 Team ed scholes and tim laman have spotted two
正在不远的树枝上展示自己 Male goldie's displaying on a branch about
距离他们设置相机的树有大约50码 50 yards from their rigged tree.
这正是他们所期待的 This is what they've been waiting for.
Tim laman：这真是太棒了 Tim laman: It's pretty good.
它们这么低 They're so low.
在这个长焦镜头后面，你会感觉 With this big lens from this far away it
你就在那里和它们一起 Feels like you're up there with them, so.
旁白：雌鸟拥有这场演出的 Narrator: The females have box seats
贵宾席 For the performance.
Ed scholes：好了，好像雌鸟要回来了 Ed scholes: Okay, it looks like the female came back
他越来越贴近雌鸟 And now he's getting closer and closer.
他成功了 There he goes.
现在它们成一对了 And now they mated.
那只雄鸟成功了 So that's one mating.
Tim laman：我用相机记录了这一切 Tim laman: I just got a mating on film.
旁白：费尽心机的前戏 Narrator: An eternity of foreplay leads up to a
最终换来的却是朝夕的温存 Hit and run transfer of sperm.
Tim laman：它们做了它们想做的 Tim laman: So they did their whole thing,
我也得到了我想要的 I got the mating and everything.
Ed scholes：是的，你在这得到了 Ed scholes: Yeah, you get a pretty
非常好的视野 Good view from here.
Tim laman：耶 Tim laman: Yeah.
Ed scholes：太棒了 Ed scholes: Nice.
这根棍子有点碍眼 The stick is in the way, but.
Tim laman：嗯 Tim laman: Yeah.
这根棍子在那对情侣旁 There's this one stick where when the two males
就像那样 Are there it's mostly like that.
我不喜欢那根树枝 I don't like that branch.
旁白：现在如果它们能从针孔摄影机 Narrator: Now if they can just get a display
拍到这些就好了 With their leaf cam.
Ed scholes：咖啡好了 Ed scholes: Coffee's on.
很好喝的样子 It's pretty good.
我们在那里得到了新几内亚巴布亚人的咖啡 We got our papua new guinea coffee with a
还有一只天堂鸟 Bird of paradise on the front there.
没有我的心碎马克杯我可不走 Can't go without my little broken heart mug.
旁白：在Tim爬上树搭设摄像机之前 Narrator: Before tim climbs up to rig the
他曾经尝试过高空拍摄 Remote camera, he attempts an aerial extraction.
Tim laman：那个主意不怎么样 Tim laman: No that was a bad one.
哦！ Oh!
是的，我想我们做到了 Yes, I think we did it.
我觉得这也是一棵软质木 I think it's one of those softwood trees.
好吧，没有枝干牵绊了 Well, the offending branch is no more.
我要上去了 Alright I gotta go up.
这是来自树冠摄像机的画面 Here's a view of the canopy camera.
它将要拍摄那棵树 It's going to be looking out on
就在那 That tree over there.
希望鸟儿会来 Hopefully the birds will come,
做些表演 Do a little displaying and
然后我们就能得到想要的 We'll get the canopy perspective.
哇喔这东西工作的很好 Wow this is working great.
现在就等鸟儿来了 Now if the birds will just come.
好了，我去搭设我的长焦镜头 Alright, I'm going to get my big lens set up.
我这有几棵小树 I got a small tree in my way.
它们看上去令人兴奋 They're starting to get excited.
他在那 He's there.
你在拍吗Ed？ Are you rolling ed?
Ed scholes：当然 Ed scholes: Yeah.
Tim laman：哥们它们来的好快 Tim laman: Boy they're coming in fast.
Ed scholes：他来了，来了 Ed scholes: There he is, there he is.
Tim laman：哦太棒了！ Tim laman: Oh awesome!
Ed scholes：两只雄鸟两只雌鸟 Ed scholes: Two males, two females.
嘿，这可是针孔摄像机第一次拍到黄金鸟 Hey, first leaf cam footage of goldie's.
Tim laman：好了我们拍下来 Tim laman: Alright we'll take it.
我们就是第一个 We'll take it.
他走了 There he goes.
旁白：在他们离开岛屿之前 Narrator: Before they leave the island,
Tim将他们开拓性的发现 Tim reveals their groundbreaking
重播了一遍 Shots for the first time.
Tim laman：这是一个快速的回顾 Tim laman: This is a rapid-fire sequence.
旁白：特殊的针孔摄影机拍摄到了 Narrator: The unique leaf cam perspective
之前从未发现过的行为 Exposes previously unknown behavior,
雌鸟好像被雄鸟展示时 The females seem to be mesmerized by the males
红色的羽毛给迷惑住了 Red feathers and during every display,
雌鸟梳理它们的尾巴 The males brush their tail wires and
然后将羽毛贴近雌鸟的胸脯 Plumes against the female's breast.
Ed scholes：太好了。真是值得庆祝的一天 Ed scholes: Well, cheers to a good day.
旁白：Tim和Ed完成了许多第一次 Narrator: Tim and ed have accomplished many firsts
这次最后的考察不虚此行 And this last expedition is no exception.
第一次卷毛极乐鸟的歌唱 The first documented curl crested manucode display.
第一次用针眼摄影机拍到极乐鸟 The first leaf-cam footage of goldie's.
第一次拍摄到雌性西六线风鸟 The first parotia female perspective shot and
以及接近一年时间的 Over nearly a decade, the first photographs
第一次有关天堂鸟的拍摄 Of every species of bird of paradise.
Tim laman：这既是我从工作以来 Tim laman: It's both sort of the most exciting
最感到兴奋的项目，又是 Project I have ever worked on and it's also the most
最令我受挫的一次项目 Frustrating project I have ever worked on.
Ed scholes：看到天堂鸟真是一次难得的体验 Ed scholes: It's one thing to see a bird of paradise
我想“这美丽的羽毛 And think, "oh its beautiful plumes
这干净的身躯。” And it's a neat bird."
但是如果你真的亲眼看到这些美丽的鸟儿 But it's mind-blowing when you really see it in
你会被它们所作所为震撼地目瞪口呆 Context of what they're doing and how it evolved.