THE AMERICAN WOODSMAN
THE HISTORY OF AUDUBON
John James Audubon, America's first known Naturalist, spent the early part of the 1800's capturing over four hundred images of North American Birds in their habitat, over a period of nearly twenty five years, by gathering the works to publish his book, The Birds of America.
During a time in history, before trains, engines, and photography, much of his field studies were accomplished on foot, horseback, keel boat ventures along the Mississippi, or wading through the Florida Everglades.
His wife, Lucy Bakewell Audubon, was his closest confidant in the pursuit of accomplishing his dream. Their story is one of romance, often with correspondence through letter writing.
A true frontiersman and American Hero, John James Audubon rose slowly from rags to riches and accomplished his life's dream and lived to share the fruits of his labor with his beloved Lucy.
ORIGINAL AQUATINTS BY JOHN JAMES AUDUBON
Along with his Published book, Audubon left his daily journals behind. They are now available to the public for humanity to glean what his life must have been like during that time period in the 1800s.
Today, his beautiful illustrations are appreciated in private collections, various museums, the Library of Congress and in the halls of the White House.
While we appreciate his beautiful artwork, and ornithology notes, my hope is that we also take daily notice of the fragility of the birds of North America as survival relies on their surrounding habitat, and their future lies in the balance.
As a man before his time, Mr. Audubon was an environmentalist. He witnessed the culling of Cypress trees and the extinction of the Passenger Pigeons and other species during his observations, so long ago.
If nothing more, let this story of a man who loved birds serve as an inspiration to care for our fine feathered friends and save them from extinction, "for without them, humanity could not survive."
REFERENCES
Audubon State Historic Site
See the landscape and wildlife that inspired one of America’s most famous naturalists.
ARADER GALLERIES
John James Audubon & The Double Elephant Folio; The Birds of America