Concerned that their male red bird of paradise, Paprika, might turn off female companions by repeating human words he learned from visitors, animal keeper Patti Cooper took matters into her own hands. First she crafted a sexy female red bird of paradise puppet, dubbed "Spice Girl." Then she convinced Paprika to call Spice Girl on a 900 number. Now Paprika is engaged in the right behaviors and the Bronx Zoo is making $2.99 for the first minute and $16.99 for each additional minute.
No but for real, the bird got it on with a puppet... and is now displaying the proper courtship behaviors.
Red bird in paradise
Dude, that bird looks way psyched.
Life Science
Brain & Behavior
Comments
That's not a puppet; it's a RealBird™.
(This message brought to you by Rule 34.)
Posted by: HP | February 13, 2009 9:22 PM
Wow - the real bird looks fake in those first couple pictures. My parakeet used to do something like this with his cuttlebone.
Posted by: simsum | February 13, 2009 10:48 PM
It's a bit like giving an inflatable to a guy on Valentine's Day to encourage the "right behaviors". And you have to feel for the poor guy wondering, "Is it me? Is she just playing hard to get? Or is she just frigid?"
I mean, what if they find out Paprika just happens to be into puppets?
Posted by: not convinced | February 14, 2009 5:24 AM
Those white outer primaries in Paprika's wings mean that he is not genetically pure, he may be a hybrid or something... This species' primaries should be all brown.
Posted by: TEO | February 14, 2009 8:38 AM
I wonder if the garden hose went off at the appropriate moment?
Posted by: mark heath | February 14, 2009 10:41 AM
THANKS YOU
Posted by: chat | February 14, 2009 11:44 AM
From what I've seen of nature programs, certain birds of paradise might prefer a puppet to the real thing. It looked to me that if the female just stayed still long enough that was considered 'acceptance' and the male just hopped on top.
And I feel like I need to know what words this little guy was saying that would turn off his female companion. For my own edification mostly, but also because I'm sure that we're missing out on some serious comedy gold.
Posted by: Jenbug | February 15, 2009 12:45 AM
very good sites
Posted by: chat | February 15, 2009 8:16 AM
My specialty is sharks, not birds, so this might be a stupid question.
The goal is to teach the bird the "correct" way to interact with a member of it's species, right?
So, what does it teach the bird when the puppet doesn't respond at all?
Posted by: WhySharksMatter | February 18, 2009 6:16 PM
thanks
Posted by: bursa evden eve nakliyat | February 28, 2009 6:11 PM