For more than a decade, a Cornell ornithologist has been studying birds of paradise, a family of 39 species native to New Guinea, surrounding islands and Australia whose name is well known but whose biology and behaviors are largely a mystery.

"This family of birds is a biological wonder of the world," said Ed Scholes, curator of video in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library.

Scholes and Tim Laman, a National Geographic photographer, will discuss the birds' unique biology, courtship and evolution as well as the technical challenges of studying and recording them Saturday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Statler Auditorium. The talk also will feature John Francis, National Geographic vice president of research, conservation and exploration.

Scholes and Laman have been collaborating since 2003 to study, film and photograph the birds. Their photography and science book, "Birds of Paradise: Revealing the World's Most Extraordinary Birds," will be released Oct. 23.

The book is part of a collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Geographic Society, which includes an exhibition at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., opening Nov. 1; a Nov. 22 documentary on the National Geographic Channel, "Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise"; a forthcoming article in the lab's Living Bird magazine; and an article in the December issue of National Geographic magazine, which includes bonus materials in its iPad edition.

During 18 expeditions, Laman took photographs of all the widely diverse and often brightly colored birds, while Scholes made scientific observations on the species and collected video.

"At its core, this was a comprehensive scientific documentation project about aspects of these birds that have never been seen," said Scholes.

The public lecture comes on the heels of the National Geographic Young Explorers Workshop, to be held at the Statler Oct. 13, the first time at Cornell. Registration for the workshop is closed for young adults, ages 18 to 25, who will learn how to apply for grants to fund their original research, exploration and conservation-based field projects.

The workshop is hosted at Cornell with support from the National Geographic Society, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Panasonic, the Brinson Foundation, The North Face and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.