THE BUILDER

Here we have the magnificent specimen of a MacGregor’s bowerbird in the form of a Maxi earring. So fascinating is this family, that some ornithologists believe that birds should be divided into two groups: bowerbirds and the rest. These are the only animals on the planet that build constructions to attract females. They choose the perfect location to highlight their performance; they prune the surrounding leaves so that more natural light falls in; they build, they paint, and they decorate the walls with any object that takes their fancy. But who said mating was easy? Once finished, and after months of intense work, the crucial moment arrives: let’s dance!