Illustration: Eric Nyquist

The Aviary

Where birds inspire art, awe, and action

At Audubon we believe art inspires action. In this series we ask artists to explore the intersection of birds and art as a catalyst for shifting perspectives and perceptions. The Aviary is an evolution of The Illustrated Aviary, which ran from 2013-2021 and invited artists to reinterpret John James Audubon’s original watercolors through their own unique style. In its new iteration, we’ve widened the series to include artists in any medium who are motivated to educate and inspire people to take action on behalf of birds. Artwork from this series is included on the back page of every issue of the quarterly Audubon magazine. You can receive the magazine by becoming a member of Audubon today.

The Aviary

Every Bird Counts

Data artist Jer Thorp’s stunning visualization shows every individual counted on a single Brooklyn day.

Read About John James Audubon

Books

A New Graphic Novel Chronicles the Adventures of John James Audubon

The naturalist and artist is depicted like you've never seen him before. Here's an inside peek.
Kenn Kaufman's Notebook

Meet John James Audubon’s Nemesis Bird: the Chestnut-sided Warbler

Despite decades of searching, Audubon struggled to find the bird after his first sighting. But there might be some good reasons why.
News

John James Audubon Made a Mardi Gras Appearance

The Rex parade, New Orleans’ oldest Mardi Gras parade, featured the naturalist in a celebration of the city’s history.
Birds of America

John James Audubon: Confused, Wrong, or Neither?

Audubon painted a bunch of birds that no one has seen since. We explore the most likely options behind the mystery birds.

The Ghost of John James Audubon’s Past

Did Townsend's Bunting return from the dead?
Culture

Birder, Painter, Troll, and Trickster—the Secret Life of John James Audubon

Known for his famous watercolors, Audubon also had a penchant for pranking friends and possibly even making up birds.
Little Blue Heron. Illustration: John James Audubon