What Do You Know Of

Bird Of Paradise?

Letter to the Editor SOME time ago I was sitting in a wood in the Upper Ramu area, when I saw a blue Bird of Paradise, watch ing me, through a pair of scarlet eyes.

And I thought: How little I know about you.

Recently, reading the “PIM,” I saw that an expedition has been getting specimens for Taronga Park Zoo.

I am sure many of your readers, my self included, would like to know some thing about the life of the BOP; Where they nest? Their food? Do they all have dancing trees? When does the male bird get his plumes? Are they related to the crow family? Do they breed in captivity?

I have heard that there is some island off S America, to which they were in troduced? Is this correct and what variety? How long do they live?

I read a suggestion in your paper that the Princess could have been given a fan made of “kummel grass” or “gowria grass.” Surely the killing of these birds is still illegal, even as a present for a Princess?

I am, etc.,

J. Corfield.

Samarai.