Nature 25th Anniv: Manakin Birds Moonwalking and Darwin's Orchid

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The discussion centers around a PBS show featuring humorous segments about Manakin birds, particularly their "moonwalk" dance, which viewers found entertaining. The show is a 25th Anniversary "Best of" compilation, with the bird segment starting at 2:57 and the moonwalk at 4:13. Additionally, the show includes an intriguing segment about an orchid linked to a journal entry by Charles Darwin, highlighting the coevolution of the orchid and a giant hawk moth, which Darwin had predicted. While many enjoyed the comedic aspects of the bird footage, there were mixed feelings about other segments, which some found too graphic or depressing, particularly those depicting animal predation. Overall, the show is recommended for its captivating footage, despite its emotional intensity. Links to clips and highlights were shared for those interested in viewing.
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I watched the show on PBS the other night and the part about the Manakin birds was so funny! These birds "moonwalk" and you've just got to watch this. The show is a 25th Anniversary "Best of" film clips. The bird segment starts at 2:57 and the "moonwalk" starts at 4:13.

The clip with the orchid is very interesting and has to do with a journal entry by Charles Darwin on this previously unkown orchid. I will try to find more information. The entire show is available on the PBS site but requires that you download a special viewer like iTunes, so I am attaching the youtube link for the highlights.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ssaI-G8TLHk
 
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Thanks for the heads-up, Evo. I'll try to catch it -- Probably set up TiVo to look for it.
 
The moth captured on film was predicted by Darwin but had never actually been seen before.

"In the early twentieth century it seemed that Darwin’s prediction had been borne out. A giant hawk moth from Madagascar, Xanthopan morganii praedicta, was captured, with a proboscis that measured more than nine inches long. Although no one has actually seen the insect feeding on the flower, the discovery is still remarkable, and strongly suggestive of the coevolution of the orchid and moth."

http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/master.html?http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/0305/0305_feature.html
 
No one thinks the birds are FREEKING HYSTERICAL?

I laughed so hard when those birds started sliding. THEY'RE FUNNY! DAMNIT! :devil:
 
That was awesome! Several other parts are so depressing though! O_O!
 
moose said:
That was awesome! Several other parts are so depressing though! O_O!
I know, don't watch the other parts, they're too sad. :cry:
 
Evo said:
No one thinks the birds are FREEKING HYSTERICAL?

I laughed so hard when those birds started sliding. THEY'RE FUNNY! DAMNIT! :devil:

Oh, um......HAHAHAHHAHahAH Cuz he's doing the moonwalk HAHAHAAHAHAHA!:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :cry: :cry:

WOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. :rolleyes:


:-p
 
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Very nice clip - I hope I get to watch the PBS show on Sunday.

Incidentally, Astronuc had previously linked to a clip of the moonwalking manakin from ebaumsworld.

Edit: Found it - http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/manakin.html
 
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Oh that was so funny! But could it be 25 years already? {sighs}
 
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cyrusabdollahi said:
Oh, um......HAHAHAHHAHahAH Cuz he's doing the moonwalk HAHAHAAHAHAHA!:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :cry: :cry:

WOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. :rolleyes:


:-p
Hey that is one smooooth bird. :-p

Gokul43201 said:
Very nice clip - I hope I get to watch the PBS show on Sunday.

Incidentally, Astronuc had previously linked to a clip of the moonwalking manakin from ebaumsworld.

Edit: Found it - http://www.ebaumsworld.com/videos/manakin.html
Thanks Gokul!

The show has some excellent footage, but some pieces were a bit too graphic for me. It's well worth watching.
 
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  • #11
If I see a video of a human being killed, I don't really feel any emotion until I actually think about it. Watching an animal being killed by another, even when it's like the cheetah for food, gets me instantly. Animals just seem so innocent, and also we all see hundreds of humans die in movies allllllll the time.

I remember a video of some teenagers kicking a dog laying near a wall on some street. They were laughing about it the entire time. Even thinking about the dog's barks (the dog didn't seem angry, but it was more of a 'why are you doing this to me' kind of bark) makes me angry and sad...
 

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