John James Audubon -- Celebrate International Bird Holidays

Thu, 05/04/2017 - 6:39pm by easmith

John James Audubon: Drawn from nature offers a dramatic account of renowned naturalist John James Audubon's life's work. Audubon's work illustrates the intersection of art and science, and is known for capturing and bringing to life in print the extensive and diverse population of American birds in the 19th century. The documentary raises issues surrounding his artistic practice, including his initial impact on dwindling bird populations due to hunting and capturing. Throughout the film, we see numerous species documented by Audubon that have since become extinct. Audubon became aware of the endangerment of birds as he worked on this project, becoming a proponent for preservation. In his lifetime, Audubon saw of the impact of human intervention on North American bird populations. Today, the Audubon Society actively works to conserve birds and their habitats.

With two bird holidays upcoming, there are a number of resources to learn about how and why birds are important, and ways in which we can participate in preserving and protecting them. World Bird Day will be celebrated on May 10, 2017. International Migratory Bird Day is celebrated the second Saturday in May.This year, International Migratory Bird day will stress the importance of habitats in migration and drawing awareness to preserving and protecting the environment.

If you are interested in birds, and want to practice your bird calls before the upcoming birding holidays, check out our Birdsong Scanning Wand. Or, if you'd like to get a closer look at birds in the wild, check out our Audubon BirdCam, and capture birds on video!