Culture

Long Before Pantone, This Bird-Based System for Describing Color Was a Hit
December 17, 2024 — In the early 20th century, ornithologist Robert Ridgway published a massive dictionary to categorize birds’ hues, from Peacock Blue to Duck Green. His work still resonates for artists and designers today.
News
A wooden Godwit decoy stands on the banks of a body of water with golden light cascading across a row of pine trees in the background.
This Bar-tailed Godwit Decoy Delivers Folk Art with a Contemporary Feel
December 13, 2024 — Wooden decoys long played a key role in hunting birds. Artist David Personius hopes his modern take can inspire conservation instead.
The Aviary
An embroidered scene in a round frame depicts birds perched on bamboo.
Capturing the Elusive White-bearded Antshrike—in Thread
September 20, 2024 — Artist and birdsong researcher Ana Luiza Catalano’s embroidered portrait brings a shy species—and its song—into feathery focus.
The Aviary
Portrait of Rosemary Mosco in profile looking up and smiling, overlaid with bird illustrations and a cartoon snake on her head.
Something Funny Happens When Rosemary Mosco Mixes Art and Science
September 19, 2024 — The beloved cartoonist and writer teases humor (and wonder! and poignancy!) out of the avian world (and beyond!).
News
Educating to Protect: Audubon Americas and the Exhibition on Panama’s Mangroves
August 23, 2024 — "The Mangroves: Allies Against Climate Change" traveling exhibition gives a detailed view on how mangroves store carbon and also protect biodiversity and the communities that depend on these ecosystems.
News
A large painting of a Northern Goshawk on the side of a brick building.
Bring the Audubon Mural Project to Your Town
July 15, 2024 — For the past decade, the initiative has used public art to showcase birds threatened by climate change. Now, communities are putting their own local spin on the effort—and yours could be next.
Audubon Mural Project
Illustration of a shorebird standing on a rock in water in front of a low sun.
One Team's Mission to Recover the Indigenous Names of Ontario’s Birds
May 21, 2024 — In the Anishinaabemowin language, bird names are embedded with traditional knowledge. An ongoing project is trying to document as many as possible before they are lost.
News
‘The Birds That Audubon Missed' Provides New Insights Into the Age of Avian Discovery in America
May 09, 2024 — In his latest book, bird expert Kenn Kaufman focuses on the species that evaded John James Audubon and his peers to explore an exhilarating yet knotty era in ornithology. Read on to learn more about the book and for a Q&A with the author.
Books
Portrait of Amy Tan sitting on a stone wall in a garden.
In Amy Tan's Newest Book, the Drama Is All About the Birds
March 22, 2024 — The acclaimed novelist recently started exploring a world of avian characters through nature journaling. The result is a work of art.
Field Notes
Waterfowl on a pond seen through tall grass, the end of a gun visible in the foreground.
Two New Books By Unlikely Advocates Make the Conservation Case for Hunting
May 09, 2023 — A birder and a Brooklynite examine their opposition to hunting, give it a try, and—finding a deeper sense of stewardship—urge others to reconsider.
Books