By chance, bird keeper Liz happened upon Orville, our 7-year-old male Temminck’s tragopan, performing a full courtship display!
Orville was named after Orville Redenbacher because he pops (like popcorn) straight up in the air if anyone gets too close. He’s done that ever since he was a juvenile.
For tragopans, it is the male that primarily performs these elaborate courtship displays to attract females. Here, they do so by inflating their blue and red throat lappets or bibs, and the blue, horn-like projections above the eyes to appear more vibrant. The display includes bowing, fanning tail feathers and finally, he would hide behind rocks or logs, before approaching the female. The display also includes whistles and low-booming sounds.
Quite a performance!
#BREAKING: The Trump admin. just opened a protected ocean area off New England — roughly the size of Connecticut — to commercial fishing.
This decision risks precious marine life & threatens the very economies that depend on these protected waters.
Read: https://t.co/ewWOOQZLx3