"Birds of Paradise" Show at Acad. of Natural Sciences Includes Mating Dance Simulator
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new exhibit at the Academy of Natural Sciences takes you on a journey to the rainforest of New Guinea and the land of the exotic "birds of paradise."
A big component of the National Geographic's "Birds of Paradise" exhibit is the bizarre mating rituals of these extremely rare birds.
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One interactive display allows two visitors to compete at mimicking a courtship dance, using a system similar to a home video gaming system's motion detection feature.
"And we judge who is the best mate based on how good of a dancer they are," says Jennifer Sontchi, the senior director of exhibits and public spaces at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. "So this sort of illuminates, in a really fun and family friendly way, a very serious educational and scientific component of the show."
The Birds of Paradise exhibit runs May 3rd through September 1st at the Academy, on Logan Circle at 19th Street.
