The Marvel of New Guinea Birds

Explore the extraordinary avian diversity of New Guinea in this captivating lecture by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and UCLA professor Jared Diamond. Delve into the island's unique ornithological wonders, including the extravagantly plumed birds of paradise, the architecturally gifted bowerbirds, and the heat-incubating megapodes. Discover how New Guinea's equatorial location and varied topography create a range of habitats from tropical rainforests to high-altitude glaciers, fostering an unparalleled diversity of bird species. Learn about the island's geographical layout and its impact on speciation and ecological segregation. Gain insights into the wealth of avian knowledge possessed by New Guinea's indigenous people and understand why this tropical paradise is considered a living laboratory for studying biological phenomena. Through stunning photographs by David Bishop, witness the marvels that make New Guinea's avifauna truly exceptional and learn about Diamond's own explorations, including his rediscovery of the elusive Golden-fronted Bowerbird.