John James Audubon
Birds of America
A Return to Pequot Library
Enter
Pequot Library Special Collections | On view through May 2, 2021
John James Audubon
Birds of America
In collaboration with the Fairfield University Art Museum and their exhibition Birds of the Northeast: Gulls to Great Auks, Pequot Library is excited for this return visit of Audubon’s Birds of America, the Bien Edition, on display in the Library's Perkin Gallery from February 4, 2021 through May 2, 2021. In 1858, John James Audubon’s youngest son, John Woodhouse Audubon, decided to re-issue his father's masterwork. Julius Bien of New York, working with the latest techniques in chromolithography, was contracted as the lithographer, and thus the resulting volume is referred to as "The Bien Edition". Audubon carried his portfolio, weighing about 100 lbs., with him as he tried to find subscribers for his work. Like his father, John Woodhouse Audubon attempted to underwrite the production with subscriber contributions. However, the onset of the Civil War ended the Bien edition, and the high costs of the production left the Audubon family with considerable debt. An estimated 75-100 copies were made, though in 1976 only 49 bound volumes of the Bien Edition were catalogued worldwide. Among the related selections on display will be Mabel Osgood Wright’s A Year with the Birds: A guide to the naming of 100 birds commonly seen in Connecticut, published in 1905. Audubon’s ornithological studies from the past shine a light on recurring ecological concerns. On display will be Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring from 1962, a rallying cry that still resonates today. A collection of bird books from Pequot’s Children’s Historical Collection are on view along with The Little White Bird or Adventures in Kensington Gardens by J. M. Barrie, written for taller children and where Barrie introduces his beloved scamp, Peter Pan. Come and enjoy the return visit of “the Audubon!" Page turnings will highlight several specimens including, among others, the Wild Turkey (a fan favorite), the American Flamingo, the Great Auk, and many more.
continue
Click to Explore
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JOHN JAMES AUDUBONBIRDS OF AMERICA
II. FEATURED IN FUAM'S BIRDS OF THE NORTHEAST
III. ADDITIONAL AUDUBON MATERIALS
I. BIEN EDITION HIGHLIGHTS
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
VI. EXTRAS
IV. CONSERVATION
Click to Explore
Click to Explore
Click to Explore
MENU
INTRODUCTION
I. Birds of America The bien Edition
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S Birds of America The bien Edition
INTRODUCTION
The Birds of America, from drawings by John James Audubon. Re-Issued by J. W. Audubon, Vol. 1 John James Audubon New York: Roe, Lockwood & Son, 1860. Chromolithography by Julius Bien. In 1858, John James Audubon’s youngest son, John Woodhouse Audubon, decided to re-issue his father's masterwork using the latest techniques in chromolithography. Roe Lockwood and Son of New York served as publisher. Julius Bien of New York, a pioneer in chromolithography, was contracted as the lithographer, and thus the resulting volume is referred to as "The Bien Edition". Like his father, John Woodhouse Audubon attempted to underwrite the production with subscriber contributions. The onset of the Civil War ended the Bien edition and the high costs of the production left the Audubon family with considerable debt.
I. BIEN EDITION
AMERICAN FLAMINGO
MENU
AMERICAN FLAMINGO
Stunningly depicted by Audubon, the American Flamingo proudly shows its colors. Audubon wanted to portray each species in its adult size. Even with the massive size of the double elephant folio, approx. 39”x26 ½”, the American Flamingo would not fit fully erect. To compensate, Audubon cleverly depicts the bird extending its elegant neck downward to dredge for food.Audubon first sighted a flock of flamingos in 1832 in the Florida Keys. His notes reveal his excitement: “Ah! reader, could you but know the emotions that then agitated my breast! I thought I had now reached the height of all my expectations, for my voyage to the Floridas was undertaken in a great measure for the purpose of studying these lovely birds in their own beautiful islands.” (https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/american-flamingo) Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #50. Also called Red Flamingo, Phoenicopterus Tuber.
I. BIEN EDITION
ARCTIC TERN
MENU
ARCTIC TERN
These terns are the only birds in the Bien Edition displayed on one page in vertical and horizontal poses. The Artic Tern is a world traveler. Audubon noted quite romantically: “Light as a sylph, the Arctic Tern dances through the air above and around you... Over many a league of ocean has it passed, regardless of the dangers and difficulties that might deter a more considerate traveller.” It nests north in Canada, Greenland, and in Siberia, Russia. Arctic Terns can also be seen on the Maine coast and as far south as Long Island. In the autumn, the Arctic Tern flies close to the Antarctic and can travel more than 20, 000 miles round trip. Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #26. Also called Sterna Arctica.
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
SANDWICH TERN
The Sandwich Tern travels extensively as well but will live in wider and more southern regions of the globe. Like other terns, the Sandwich Tern will plunge diving for fish. These terns will breed in large colonies close to water and rely on the size of their colonies for protection of their young.
SANDWICH TERN
I. BIEN EDITION
Read more
MENU
BLUE JAY
BLUE JAY
Familiar to many for its loud call, the Blue Jay are known to harass cats, foxes, owls, and other prey in an effort to announce that predators, including the two-footed variety, are nearby. Native to eastern North America., the Blue Jay can also be migratory. Audubon referred to the Blue Jay as rogues and thieves: “Who could imagine that a form so graceful, arrayed by nature in a garb so resplendent, should harbour so much mischief;--that selfishness, duplicity, and malice should form the moral accompaniments of so much physical perfection!” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #11. Also called Corvus cristatus.
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
MALLARD DUCK
Unlike the terns, the Mallard does not dive for food. A dabbler rather than a diver, it feeds at the water’s surface on flora, flying insects, and critters in the mud close to the shore. The Mallard breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, parts of Siberia, and North Africa, and can be found in South America and the Antipodes. Its flying speed can exceed 60 mph.
I. BIEN EDITION
MALLARD DUCK
Read more
WILD TURKEY
MENU
Native to North America, the Wild Turkey is omnivorous, eating acorns and nuts as well as the occasional lizard and small snake. Turkeys have keen eyesight in the daytime but are quite vulnerable to predators after dark due to poor night vision. Though large in size (the male Wild Turkey can weigh on average more than 20 lbs.), turkeys can fly quite well. Audubon describes the relationships of males and females in depth and notes: “If the call of the female comes from the ground, all the males immediately fly towards the spot, and the moment they reach it, whether the hen be in sight or not, spread out and erect their tail, draw the head back on the shoulders, depress their wings with a quivering motion, and strut pompously about, emitting at the same time a succession of puffs from the lungs, and stopping now and then to listen and look.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #1. Also called Meleagris gallopavo.
WILD TURKEY
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
INTRODUCTION
II. Fairfield University Art museum Featured Birds
II. BIEN EDITIONFUAM FEATURED BIRDS
A collection from the Bien Edition that includes birds that apear in the Fairfield University Art Museum's exhibition, Birds of the Northeast: Gulls to Great Auks.
American crow
MENU
AMERICAN CROW
Found through much of North America, the American Crow is a social bird, faithful to its mate, and cooperates in the care of the young of other crows in its community. The American Crow is black with iridescent feathers; it is smaller that the American Raven (Corvus corax). Yet, the Crow has a mixed reputation. Scarecrows have been a common feature in corn fields and often appear in literature and culture with negative attributes. Audubon wondered: “The Crow devours myriads of grubs every day of the year, that might lay waste the farmer's fields; it destroys quadrupeds innumerable, every one of which is an enemy to his poultry and his flocks. Why then should the farmer be so ungrateful, when he sees such services rendered to him by a providential friend, as to persecute that friend even to the death?” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #15. Also called Corvus brachyrhynchos.
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
BARN OWL
MENU
A bird seen almost everywhere on the globe, except in deserts and polar areas, the Barn Owl mate for life; the female stays with its young while the male hunts and provides the food for its family. They work best at night. Being nocturnal, Barn Owls depend on their hearing to hunt small animals. Audubon observed that the Barn Owls live where prey is readily available: “This species is never found in the depth of the forest, but confines itself to the borders of the woods around large savannas or old abandoned fields overgrown with briars and rank grass, where its food, which consists principally of field-mice, moles, rats, and other small quadrupeds, is found in abundance, and where large beetles and bats fly in the morning and evening twilight.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #71. Also called Strix flammea.
BARN OWL
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
barn SWALLOW
MENU
Since Barn Swallows tend to use existing structures to build their nests, they have spread around the world along with mankind. Their nests are cups made out of mud and twigs, which adhere to the side of a barn or other similar surface. Barn swallows are migratory, live in open country and feed on insects. They frequently follow animals and people whose activities disturb insects, thus making them more easily available to the Barn Swallow. Audubon describes man’s appreciation of the Barn Swallow: “In spring, the Barn Swallow is welcomed by all, for she seldom appears before the final melting of the snows and the commencement of mild weather, and is looked upon as the harbinger of summer. As she never commits depredations on any thing that men consider as their own, every body loves her, and, as the child was taught by his parents, so the man teaches his offspring, to cherish her.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #41. Also called Hirundo Americana, Hirundo rustica, and Hirundo rufa.
BARN SWALLOW
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
CAROLINA PARROT
MENU
Audubon talks of their eating habits: “The Parrot does not satisfy himself with cockle-burs [seeds], but eats or destroys almost every kind of fruit indiscriminately, and on this account is always an unwelcome visitor to the planter, the farmer, or the gardener. The stacks of grain put up in the field are resorted to by flocks of these birds, which frequently cover them so entirely, that they present to the eye the same effect as if a brilliantly coloured carpet had been thrown over them.” Audubon unknowingly explains the inevitable demise of this bird: “…the Parakeets are destroyed in great numbers, for whilst busily engaged in plucking off the fruits or tearing the grain from the stacks, the husbandman approaches them with perfect ease, and commits great slaughter among them. All the survivors rise, shriek, fly round about for a few minutes, and again alight on the very place of most imminent danger.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #43. Also called Psittacus Carolinensis and Conuropsis carolinensis (parakeet).
CAROINA PARROT
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
MENU
GREAT AUK
II. BIEN EDITIONFUAM FEATURED BIRDS
The Great Auk has many cousins: murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. Penguins got their name from the Latin name for the Great Auk because of their similar appearance. Great Auks live close to the ocean where they feed on fish and sometimes on small birds. Their extinction is most likely due to being hunted for their down.
GREAT AUK
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A POEM
III. AUDUBON RELATED MATERIALS
III. AUDUBON RELATED
"Love and Knowledge" Robert Penn Warren Audubon: a vision 1969
MENU
John jame's audubon'squadrupeds of north americafirst edition
INTRODUCTION
In 1843, five years after his successful edition of Birds of America, John James Audubon along with his partner the Rev. John Bachman, traveled West to explore mammals in the same way Audubon had done with his birds. Audubon had with him a letter of introduction from President John Tyler. Audubon and Bachman reached as far as Fort Union in the western Dakota Territory – upper Missouri River, Northern Plains Tribes, fur trading. Audubon went no further. After spending two months at Fort Union, Audubon lost interest in his project and became depressed. In that area, Audubon witnessed the rampant slaughter of buffalo by white hunters. “Daily we see so many that we hardly notice them more than the cattle in our pastures about our homes,” Audubon wrote in his journal. “But this cannot last; even now there is a perceptible difference in the size of the herds, and before many years the Buffalo, like the Great Auk, will have disappeared; surely this should not be permitted.” - "The Fantastic Beasts of John James Audubon’s Little-Known Book on Mammals”, William Souder, Smithsonian Magazine, March 2018. A few short months later, Audubon had returned to his home in New York. His eyesight began to fail, as Audubon began to drink heavily. Bachman was disturbed by this change in Audubon and disappointed in the paintings that Audubon had finished. Nevertheless, the Quadrupeds of North America, was sold by subscription and published in installments between 1845 and 1848. John Woodhouse Audubon continued the project where his father left off, even though Bachman considered the son’s work quite inferior. Audubon died in 1851, having suffered from dementia.
III. AUDUBON RELATED
MENU
Several editions, accessible to the general public, appeared after the publication of both Audubon editions (the original Havell and his son’s Bien edition). Additionally, interest grew in Audubon’s Quadrupeds of North America and his other works, including portraiture. These items from Pequot’s Special Collections provide a deeper look at the artistic and scientific legacy of John James Audubon.
AUDUBON'S ANIMALS
The Quadrupeds of North America Volume 1 John James Audubon, F.R.S. and the Rev. James Bachman, D.D., L.L.D Published by V. G. Audubon New York, NY, 1851 American Red Fox
III. RELATED TO AUDUBON
MENU
AUDUBON'S ANIMALS
The Quadrupeds of North America Volume 1 John James Audubon, F.R.S. and the Rev. James Bachman, D.D., L.L.D Published by V. G. Audubon New York, NY, 1851 Ground Squirrel (aka Chipmunk)
III. RELATED TO AUDUBON
MENU
Several editions, accessible to the general public, appeared after the publication of both Audubon editions (the original Havell and his son’s Bien edition). Additionally, interest grew in Audubon’s Quadrupeds of North America and his other works, including portraiture. These items from Pequot’s Special Collections provide a deeper look at the artistic and scientific legacy of John James Audubon.
AUDUBON'S ANIMALS
III. RELATED TO AUDUBON
Audubon Watercolers and DrawingsEdward H. Dwight, ed. Utica, NY: The Widtman Press, Inc., 1965.
Audubon’s Birds of America William, Vogt, ed. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1937.
MENU
BABY ELEPHANT FOLIO
AUDUBON'S BIRDS OF AMERICA
This Baby Elephant Folio contains hand-colored engravings organized in a phylogenetic order for birds-in the standard scientific classification sequence. Audubon's original art was photographed for this book. Audubon's Birds of America Roger Tory & Virginia Marie Peterson New York: Abbeville Press Publishers, 1991.
III. RELATED ITEMS
MENU
INTRODUCTION
IV. conservation
III. CONSERVATION
MENU
A Year with the Birds: A guide to the naming of 100 birds commonly seen in Connecticut
MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT
A Year with the Birds: A guide to the naming of 100 birds commonly seen in Connecticut Mabel Osgood Wright Connecticut: s.n., 1905. Presented by Conn. State Board of Education. Connecticut school document, no. 4--1905. At the time of the writing of this book, Ms. Osgood Wright (1859-1934) was the President of the State Audubon Society. Wright led the effort to bring bird protection to national attention by establishing the Birdcraft Sanctuary in 1914, near her home in Fairfield. The refuge is the oldest private songbird sanctuary in the United States.
IV. CONSERVATIONISTS
MENU
RACHEL CARSON
SILENT SPRING
Silent Spring Rachel Carson Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. Rachel Carson (1907-1964), noted ecologist, scientist, and writer, worked for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and wrote pamphlets on conservation and natural resources. In 1962, with the publication of Silent Spring, she challenged government and industry to change their methods of dealing with the environment.
IV. CONSERVATIONISTS
MENU
INTRODUCTION
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICALCOLLECTION
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
MENU
LITTLE WHITE BIRD
LITTLE WHITE BIRD
The Little White Bird or Adventures in Kensington Gardens J. M. Barrie New York: The Caxton Press, 1902. Scottish novelist, J. M. Barrie (1860 – 1937) is well known as the creator of Peter Pan. In The Little White Bird, Barrie mixes fantasy, whimsy, and a bit of social commentary. Barrie's narrator equates children with birds; "the little white birds are the birds that never have a mother". Chapter XIV of the book introduces the character of Peter Pan, which Barrie later produced as a play in 1904.
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
MENU
FOUR BIRD GUIDE BOOKS
FOUR BIRD GUIDE BOOKS
Four Bird Guide Books Frank G. Ashbrook Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Co., 1931. Measuring 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" each, the Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow Birds of America series offered young aspiring bird-watchers an easy reference to carry on their bird walks. Color illustrations described a myriad of birds, among them Jays, Waxwings, Herons, Sandpipers, and Flycatchers.
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
MENU
TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS
TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS
Traveling with the Birds : A book on bird migrationRudyerd Boulton Chicago: M. A. Donohue & Company, 1933. The illustrations in vivid colors by Walter Alois Weber bring Rudyerd Boulton's stories to life. Boulton includes explanations of bird-banding efforts to track the migration of birds familiar to his young readers, such as the Scarlet Tanager and the Blue Jay.
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
MENU
II. OPENING PROGRAM
IV. WEBSITE & RELATED EVENTS
I. FUAM EXHIBIT
JOHN JAMES AUDUBONBIRDS OF AMERICA
COMING SOON
III. VIRTUAL TOUR
MENU
V. PAGE TURNINGS & OTHER EXHIBITION VIDEOS
Head to our YouTube Channel to view all of the videos created in conjunction with this exhibition, including page-turnings, presentations, and further exploration of materials.
CONTACT
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
For more information about this exhibition, or to arrange a viewing, please email specialcollections@pequotlibrary.org.
Images, bird sounds. and quotes from John Jay Audubon’s text in his Birds of America: Courtesy of the National Audubon Society, https://www.audubon.org American Flamingo: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/american-flamingo Arctic Tern: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/arctic-tern Blue Jay: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/blue-jay Mallard Duck: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/mallard-duck Sandwich Tern: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/sandwich-tern Wild Turkey: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/wild-turkey
THANK YOU
HOME
John James Audubon's Birds of America: A Return to Pequot Library was curated by Dr. Elizabeth Beaudin, Special Collections Librarian, and Jean Kaul, Education Coordinataor. The virtual and gallery exhibitions were curated and designed by Dr. Beth Beaudin, and designed and assembled by Jennifer Prat, Creative Projects Manager. John James Audubon's Birds of America: A Return to Pequot Library Copyright Pequot Library, 2021, all rights reserved. No portion of this presentation may be replicated. If you wish to use this presentation for educational purposes, please contact info@pequotlibrary.org.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S "BIRDS OF AMERICA": A RETURN TO PEQUOT LIBRARY
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John James Audubon
Birds of America
A Return to Pequot Library
Enter
Pequot Library Special Collections | On view through May 2, 2021
John James Audubon
Birds of America
In collaboration with the Fairfield University Art Museum and their exhibition Birds of the Northeast: Gulls to Great Auks, Pequot Library is excited for this return visit of Audubon’s Birds of America, the Bien Edition, on display in the Library's Perkin Gallery from February 4, 2021 through May 2, 2021. In 1858, John James Audubon’s youngest son, John Woodhouse Audubon, decided to re-issue his father's masterwork. Julius Bien of New York, working with the latest techniques in chromolithography, was contracted as the lithographer, and thus the resulting volume is referred to as "The Bien Edition". Audubon carried his portfolio, weighing about 100 lbs., with him as he tried to find subscribers for his work. Like his father, John Woodhouse Audubon attempted to underwrite the production with subscriber contributions. However, the onset of the Civil War ended the Bien edition, and the high costs of the production left the Audubon family with considerable debt. An estimated 75-100 copies were made, though in 1976 only 49 bound volumes of the Bien Edition were catalogued worldwide. Among the related selections on display will be Mabel Osgood Wright’s A Year with the Birds: A guide to the naming of 100 birds commonly seen in Connecticut, published in 1905. Audubon’s ornithological studies from the past shine a light on recurring ecological concerns. On display will be Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring from 1962, a rallying cry that still resonates today. A collection of bird books from Pequot’s Children’s Historical Collection are on view along with The Little White Bird or Adventures in Kensington Gardens by J. M. Barrie, written for taller children and where Barrie introduces his beloved scamp, Peter Pan. Come and enjoy the return visit of “the Audubon!" Page turnings will highlight several specimens including, among others, the Wild Turkey (a fan favorite), the American Flamingo, the Great Auk, and many more.
continue
Click to Explore
Click to Explore
Click to Explore
JOHN JAMES AUDUBONBIRDS OF AMERICA
II. FEATURED IN FUAM'S BIRDS OF THE NORTHEAST
III. ADDITIONAL AUDUBON MATERIALS
I. BIEN EDITION HIGHLIGHTS
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
VI. EXTRAS
IV. CONSERVATION
Click to Explore
Click to Explore
Click to Explore
MENU
INTRODUCTION
I. Birds of America The bien Edition
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON'S Birds of America The bien Edition
INTRODUCTION
The Birds of America, from drawings by John James Audubon. Re-Issued by J. W. Audubon, Vol. 1 John James Audubon New York: Roe, Lockwood & Son, 1860. Chromolithography by Julius Bien. In 1858, John James Audubon’s youngest son, John Woodhouse Audubon, decided to re-issue his father's masterwork using the latest techniques in chromolithography. Roe Lockwood and Son of New York served as publisher. Julius Bien of New York, a pioneer in chromolithography, was contracted as the lithographer, and thus the resulting volume is referred to as "The Bien Edition". Like his father, John Woodhouse Audubon attempted to underwrite the production with subscriber contributions. The onset of the Civil War ended the Bien edition and the high costs of the production left the Audubon family with considerable debt.
I. BIEN EDITION
AMERICAN FLAMINGO
MENU
AMERICAN FLAMINGO
Stunningly depicted by Audubon, the American Flamingo proudly shows its colors. Audubon wanted to portray each species in its adult size. Even with the massive size of the double elephant folio, approx. 39”x26 ½”, the American Flamingo would not fit fully erect. To compensate, Audubon cleverly depicts the bird extending its elegant neck downward to dredge for food.Audubon first sighted a flock of flamingos in 1832 in the Florida Keys. His notes reveal his excitement: “Ah! reader, could you but know the emotions that then agitated my breast! I thought I had now reached the height of all my expectations, for my voyage to the Floridas was undertaken in a great measure for the purpose of studying these lovely birds in their own beautiful islands.” (https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/american-flamingo) Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #50. Also called Red Flamingo, Phoenicopterus Tuber.
I. BIEN EDITION
ARCTIC TERN
MENU
ARCTIC TERN
These terns are the only birds in the Bien Edition displayed on one page in vertical and horizontal poses. The Artic Tern is a world traveler. Audubon noted quite romantically: “Light as a sylph, the Arctic Tern dances through the air above and around you... Over many a league of ocean has it passed, regardless of the dangers and difficulties that might deter a more considerate traveller.” It nests north in Canada, Greenland, and in Siberia, Russia. Arctic Terns can also be seen on the Maine coast and as far south as Long Island. In the autumn, the Arctic Tern flies close to the Antarctic and can travel more than 20, 000 miles round trip. Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #26. Also called Sterna Arctica.
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
SANDWICH TERN
The Sandwich Tern travels extensively as well but will live in wider and more southern regions of the globe. Like other terns, the Sandwich Tern will plunge diving for fish. These terns will breed in large colonies close to water and rely on the size of their colonies for protection of their young.
SANDWICH TERN
I. BIEN EDITION
Read more
MENU
BLUE JAY
BLUE JAY
Familiar to many for its loud call, the Blue Jay are known to harass cats, foxes, owls, and other prey in an effort to announce that predators, including the two-footed variety, are nearby. Native to eastern North America., the Blue Jay can also be migratory. Audubon referred to the Blue Jay as rogues and thieves: “Who could imagine that a form so graceful, arrayed by nature in a garb so resplendent, should harbour so much mischief;--that selfishness, duplicity, and malice should form the moral accompaniments of so much physical perfection!” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #11. Also called Corvus cristatus.
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
MALLARD DUCK
Unlike the terns, the Mallard does not dive for food. A dabbler rather than a diver, it feeds at the water’s surface on flora, flying insects, and critters in the mud close to the shore. The Mallard breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, parts of Siberia, and North Africa, and can be found in South America and the Antipodes. Its flying speed can exceed 60 mph.
I. BIEN EDITION
MALLARD DUCK
Read more
WILD TURKEY
MENU
Native to North America, the Wild Turkey is omnivorous, eating acorns and nuts as well as the occasional lizard and small snake. Turkeys have keen eyesight in the daytime but are quite vulnerable to predators after dark due to poor night vision. Though large in size (the male Wild Turkey can weigh on average more than 20 lbs.), turkeys can fly quite well. Audubon describes the relationships of males and females in depth and notes: “If the call of the female comes from the ground, all the males immediately fly towards the spot, and the moment they reach it, whether the hen be in sight or not, spread out and erect their tail, draw the head back on the shoulders, depress their wings with a quivering motion, and strut pompously about, emitting at the same time a succession of puffs from the lungs, and stopping now and then to listen and look.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #1. Also called Meleagris gallopavo.
WILD TURKEY
I. BIEN EDITION
MENU
INTRODUCTION
II. Fairfield University Art museum Featured Birds
II. BIEN EDITIONFUAM FEATURED BIRDS
A collection from the Bien Edition that includes birds that apear in the Fairfield University Art Museum's exhibition, Birds of the Northeast: Gulls to Great Auks.
American crow
MENU
AMERICAN CROW
Found through much of North America, the American Crow is a social bird, faithful to its mate, and cooperates in the care of the young of other crows in its community. The American Crow is black with iridescent feathers; it is smaller that the American Raven (Corvus corax). Yet, the Crow has a mixed reputation. Scarecrows have been a common feature in corn fields and often appear in literature and culture with negative attributes. Audubon wondered: “The Crow devours myriads of grubs every day of the year, that might lay waste the farmer's fields; it destroys quadrupeds innumerable, every one of which is an enemy to his poultry and his flocks. Why then should the farmer be so ungrateful, when he sees such services rendered to him by a providential friend, as to persecute that friend even to the death?” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #15. Also called Corvus brachyrhynchos.
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
BARN OWL
MENU
A bird seen almost everywhere on the globe, except in deserts and polar areas, the Barn Owl mate for life; the female stays with its young while the male hunts and provides the food for its family. They work best at night. Being nocturnal, Barn Owls depend on their hearing to hunt small animals. Audubon observed that the Barn Owls live where prey is readily available: “This species is never found in the depth of the forest, but confines itself to the borders of the woods around large savannas or old abandoned fields overgrown with briars and rank grass, where its food, which consists principally of field-mice, moles, rats, and other small quadrupeds, is found in abundance, and where large beetles and bats fly in the morning and evening twilight.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #71. Also called Strix flammea.
BARN OWL
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
barn SWALLOW
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Since Barn Swallows tend to use existing structures to build their nests, they have spread around the world along with mankind. Their nests are cups made out of mud and twigs, which adhere to the side of a barn or other similar surface. Barn swallows are migratory, live in open country and feed on insects. They frequently follow animals and people whose activities disturb insects, thus making them more easily available to the Barn Swallow. Audubon describes man’s appreciation of the Barn Swallow: “In spring, the Barn Swallow is welcomed by all, for she seldom appears before the final melting of the snows and the commencement of mild weather, and is looked upon as the harbinger of summer. As she never commits depredations on any thing that men consider as their own, every body loves her, and, as the child was taught by his parents, so the man teaches his offspring, to cherish her.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #41. Also called Hirundo Americana, Hirundo rustica, and Hirundo rufa.
BARN SWALLOW
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
CAROLINA PARROT
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Audubon talks of their eating habits: “The Parrot does not satisfy himself with cockle-burs [seeds], but eats or destroys almost every kind of fruit indiscriminately, and on this account is always an unwelcome visitor to the planter, the farmer, or the gardener. The stacks of grain put up in the field are resorted to by flocks of these birds, which frequently cover them so entirely, that they present to the eye the same effect as if a brilliantly coloured carpet had been thrown over them.” Audubon unknowingly explains the inevitable demise of this bird: “…the Parakeets are destroyed in great numbers, for whilst busily engaged in plucking off the fruits or tearing the grain from the stacks, the husbandman approaches them with perfect ease, and commits great slaughter among them. All the survivors rise, shriek, fly round about for a few minutes, and again alight on the very place of most imminent danger.” Birds of America, Bien Edition, Plate #43. Also called Psittacus Carolinensis and Conuropsis carolinensis (parakeet).
CAROINA PARROT
II. BIEN EDITION FUAM FEATURED BIRDS
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GREAT AUK
II. BIEN EDITIONFUAM FEATURED BIRDS
The Great Auk has many cousins: murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. Penguins got their name from the Latin name for the Great Auk because of their similar appearance. Great Auks live close to the ocean where they feed on fish and sometimes on small birds. Their extinction is most likely due to being hunted for their down.
GREAT AUK
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A POEM
III. AUDUBON RELATED MATERIALS
III. AUDUBON RELATED
"Love and Knowledge" Robert Penn Warren Audubon: a vision 1969
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John jame's audubon'squadrupeds of north americafirst edition
INTRODUCTION
In 1843, five years after his successful edition of Birds of America, John James Audubon along with his partner the Rev. John Bachman, traveled West to explore mammals in the same way Audubon had done with his birds. Audubon had with him a letter of introduction from President John Tyler. Audubon and Bachman reached as far as Fort Union in the western Dakota Territory – upper Missouri River, Northern Plains Tribes, fur trading. Audubon went no further. After spending two months at Fort Union, Audubon lost interest in his project and became depressed. In that area, Audubon witnessed the rampant slaughter of buffalo by white hunters. “Daily we see so many that we hardly notice them more than the cattle in our pastures about our homes,” Audubon wrote in his journal. “But this cannot last; even now there is a perceptible difference in the size of the herds, and before many years the Buffalo, like the Great Auk, will have disappeared; surely this should not be permitted.” - "The Fantastic Beasts of John James Audubon’s Little-Known Book on Mammals”, William Souder, Smithsonian Magazine, March 2018. A few short months later, Audubon had returned to his home in New York. His eyesight began to fail, as Audubon began to drink heavily. Bachman was disturbed by this change in Audubon and disappointed in the paintings that Audubon had finished. Nevertheless, the Quadrupeds of North America, was sold by subscription and published in installments between 1845 and 1848. John Woodhouse Audubon continued the project where his father left off, even though Bachman considered the son’s work quite inferior. Audubon died in 1851, having suffered from dementia.
III. AUDUBON RELATED
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Several editions, accessible to the general public, appeared after the publication of both Audubon editions (the original Havell and his son’s Bien edition). Additionally, interest grew in Audubon’s Quadrupeds of North America and his other works, including portraiture. These items from Pequot’s Special Collections provide a deeper look at the artistic and scientific legacy of John James Audubon.
AUDUBON'S ANIMALS
The Quadrupeds of North America Volume 1 John James Audubon, F.R.S. and the Rev. James Bachman, D.D., L.L.D Published by V. G. Audubon New York, NY, 1851 American Red Fox
III. RELATED TO AUDUBON
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AUDUBON'S ANIMALS
The Quadrupeds of North America Volume 1 John James Audubon, F.R.S. and the Rev. James Bachman, D.D., L.L.D Published by V. G. Audubon New York, NY, 1851 Ground Squirrel (aka Chipmunk)
III. RELATED TO AUDUBON
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Several editions, accessible to the general public, appeared after the publication of both Audubon editions (the original Havell and his son’s Bien edition). Additionally, interest grew in Audubon’s Quadrupeds of North America and his other works, including portraiture. These items from Pequot’s Special Collections provide a deeper look at the artistic and scientific legacy of John James Audubon.
AUDUBON'S ANIMALS
III. RELATED TO AUDUBON
Audubon Watercolers and DrawingsEdward H. Dwight, ed. Utica, NY: The Widtman Press, Inc., 1965.
Audubon’s Birds of America William, Vogt, ed. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1937.
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BABY ELEPHANT FOLIO
AUDUBON'S BIRDS OF AMERICA
This Baby Elephant Folio contains hand-colored engravings organized in a phylogenetic order for birds-in the standard scientific classification sequence. Audubon's original art was photographed for this book. Audubon's Birds of America Roger Tory & Virginia Marie Peterson New York: Abbeville Press Publishers, 1991.
III. RELATED ITEMS
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INTRODUCTION
IV. conservation
III. CONSERVATION
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A Year with the Birds: A guide to the naming of 100 birds commonly seen in Connecticut
MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT
A Year with the Birds: A guide to the naming of 100 birds commonly seen in Connecticut Mabel Osgood Wright Connecticut: s.n., 1905. Presented by Conn. State Board of Education. Connecticut school document, no. 4--1905. At the time of the writing of this book, Ms. Osgood Wright (1859-1934) was the President of the State Audubon Society. Wright led the effort to bring bird protection to national attention by establishing the Birdcraft Sanctuary in 1914, near her home in Fairfield. The refuge is the oldest private songbird sanctuary in the United States.
IV. CONSERVATIONISTS
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RACHEL CARSON
SILENT SPRING
Silent Spring Rachel Carson Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962. Rachel Carson (1907-1964), noted ecologist, scientist, and writer, worked for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and wrote pamphlets on conservation and natural resources. In 1962, with the publication of Silent Spring, she challenged government and industry to change their methods of dealing with the environment.
IV. CONSERVATIONISTS
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INTRODUCTION
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICALCOLLECTION
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
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LITTLE WHITE BIRD
LITTLE WHITE BIRD
The Little White Bird or Adventures in Kensington Gardens J. M. Barrie New York: The Caxton Press, 1902. Scottish novelist, J. M. Barrie (1860 – 1937) is well known as the creator of Peter Pan. In The Little White Bird, Barrie mixes fantasy, whimsy, and a bit of social commentary. Barrie's narrator equates children with birds; "the little white birds are the birds that never have a mother". Chapter XIV of the book introduces the character of Peter Pan, which Barrie later produced as a play in 1904.
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
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FOUR BIRD GUIDE BOOKS
FOUR BIRD GUIDE BOOKS
Four Bird Guide Books Frank G. Ashbrook Racine, Wisconsin: Whitman Publishing Co., 1931. Measuring 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" each, the Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow Birds of America series offered young aspiring bird-watchers an easy reference to carry on their bird walks. Color illustrations described a myriad of birds, among them Jays, Waxwings, Herons, Sandpipers, and Flycatchers.
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
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TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS
TRAVELING WITH THE BIRDS
Traveling with the Birds : A book on bird migrationRudyerd Boulton Chicago: M. A. Donohue & Company, 1933. The illustrations in vivid colors by Walter Alois Weber bring Rudyerd Boulton's stories to life. Boulton includes explanations of bird-banding efforts to track the migration of birds familiar to his young readers, such as the Scarlet Tanager and the Blue Jay.
V. CHILDREN'S HISTORICAL
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II. OPENING PROGRAM
IV. WEBSITE & RELATED EVENTS
I. FUAM EXHIBIT
JOHN JAMES AUDUBONBIRDS OF AMERICA
COMING SOON
III. VIRTUAL TOUR
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V. PAGE TURNINGS & OTHER EXHIBITION VIDEOS
Head to our YouTube Channel to view all of the videos created in conjunction with this exhibition, including page-turnings, presentations, and further exploration of materials.
CONTACT
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
For more information about this exhibition, or to arrange a viewing, please email specialcollections@pequotlibrary.org.
Images, bird sounds. and quotes from John Jay Audubon’s text in his Birds of America: Courtesy of the National Audubon Society, https://www.audubon.org American Flamingo: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/american-flamingo Arctic Tern: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/arctic-tern Blue Jay: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/blue-jay Mallard Duck: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/mallard-duck Sandwich Tern: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/sandwich-tern Wild Turkey: https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america/wild-turkey
THANK YOU
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John James Audubon's Birds of America: A Return to Pequot Library was curated by Dr. Elizabeth Beaudin, Special Collections Librarian, and Jean Kaul, Education Coordinataor. The virtual and gallery exhibitions were curated and designed by Dr. Beth Beaudin, and designed and assembled by Jennifer Prat, Creative Projects Manager. John James Audubon's Birds of America: A Return to Pequot Library Copyright Pequot Library, 2021, all rights reserved. No portion of this presentation may be replicated. If you wish to use this presentation for educational purposes, please contact info@pequotlibrary.org.