Audubon Day

Audubon Day commemorates John James Audubon’s brilliant work and legacy on April 26th every year.

People always admire people working at conservation. It is an opportunity in order to commemorate John James Audubon’s birthday, an outstanding illustrator, conservationist, ornithologist and naturalist, the day also recognizes the important work done by The National Audubon Society.

History of Audubon Day

Audubon Day is a great chance in order to honor the birthday of a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter, known for his extensive study of birds in the United States and their habitat. His name is John James Audubon.  He was born in Saint Domingue, and was grown up with his father and stepmother in France. He began studying and drawing birds after moving to America, continuing to do so even when he moved to Kentucky with his wife, Lucy. He began focusing deeper on illustrating birds after his bankruptcy, even sailing down the Mississippi River in a flatboat to find new birds to paint. He was so successful that his work was brought to England and published there. This work, Audubon's greatest work, "The Birds of America," is now considered by many to be one of the most remarkable examples of wildlife illustration. It sets the tone for future wildlife illustrations; even today, artists are judged by this book's standards.

After Audubon was died on January 27th, 1851, George Bird Grinnell continously co-found the National Audubon Society in memory of John Audubon for many years. It helps to promote and protect pro-bird habitats around the world and also supports National Audubon Day. The National Audubon Society in the United States is the oldest society in the world. At present, the National Audubon Society has several of agencies throughout the United States, relating John Audubon's name to bird conservation forever.

Why Audubon Day be loved?

• It brings us closer to nature

Many of us live in concrete forests where the only places of nature are trees, kitchen gardens or small shrubs. Audubon Day brings all people be closer to nature and the world as well.

• It is possible to return to the environment

The climate crisis shows that most of people do not care anything about nature or conservation. As the result, learning about Audubon's conservation and the Audubon Association and helping birds and their habitats will inspire us to make contributions more hands-on, starting with becoming more bird-friendly.

• We make some friends feathers

Who says no to make more friends? Just this time, we're making some fluffy friends. All our efforts in creating bird-friendly spaces and raising our awareness about conservation have brought us closer to bird and Mother Nature as well.

Some interesting truths about Audubon Day

• The bird strip concept was introduced to the Americas

It was the first time in North America when Audubon introduced the process of attaching a small tag to the wings of wild birds in order to identify easily.

• His book is worth a LOT!

In 2010, it was the publication time of "The Birds of America", the first edition of Audubon's book, a whopping $11 million sold in London.

• Audubon is a special taxonomist.

So he can sketch the birds, then, if they die, prep, supplement, and mount them.

• Can you recognize a particular student?

Charles Darwin was a renowned naturalist; geologist and biologist sitting in one of Audubon's method demonstrations as a student.

• Audubon makes money selling animal skins.

Audubon said that his main source of income was from animal skins seller and even financed the printing of his book, “The Birds of America.”

How to celebrate Audubon Day

• Go bird watching

Bird watching is an interesting hobby because there are more than 45 million participants per year, according to the survey of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Come out for a quick (and safe) walk and observe the birds around you. You can look up detailed information about birds you don't recognize on the Audubon website. You will be happier by learning about their names, habitats and migration patterns.

• Create your own bird-friendly space

Got some space in your backyard? Go ahead and create your own bird-friendly locale with native shrubs, trees, pedestal birdbaths, and more. You can hang bird feeders that you have created from plastic bottles, coffee cans or even milk jugs for a better environmental impact. If you want to try your hand at more professional bird feeders, there are plenty of woodworking tutorials online for making such feeders.

• Draw, paint and sketch birds

By all accounts, John Audubon loved illustrating birds. Take a feather out of his book and immortalize the birds in your area. Grab a pencil and notebook and go to your bird-friendly backyard to draw the birds you see. Do not forget adding pops of color by using paints or crayons.