John James Audubon

John James Audubon, born April 26, 1785 in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), was an American ornithologist, naturalist and painter known for his detailed illustrations of birds in their natural habitat. Audubon spent most of his life studying and painting the bird species of North America. His major work, "The Birds of America," is considered one of the finest ornithological works of all time. Audubon was born into a wealthy French family but moved to America at a young age, where he discovered his passion for nature and especially birds.

Despite his contributions to science and art, Audubon had a difficult start to his professional life. He tried his hand at various business ventures but failed several times before fully devoting himself to his passion for ornithology. His work on The Birds of America was a mammoth project that took him across the wilds of America in search of birds to study and paint. Audubon's methods of painting birds in natural poses were revolutionary in his time and helped advance ornithology as a science. His influence on art and science is undisputed, and his works are still highly valued today.

Interesting fact:

Audubon was not born an American citizen and had to acquire American citizenship later in life. He was also a talented musician and was proficient in several instruments, including the violin, which he often played to entertain himself during his long hours in the wilderness. Another little-known fact is that Audubon once lost almost all of his work when rats ate much of his collection of drawings while in England.

Significant Artworks & Images by John James Audubon:

• Wild Turkey (1822)
• American Flamingo (1838)
• Snowy Owl (1829)
• American White Pelican (1828)
• Great Blue Heron (1834)
• Belted Kingfisher (1825)
• Carolina Parakeet (1825)
• Osprey and Weakfish (1829)
• Common American Swan (1838)
• Red-shouldered Hawk (1828)