It was 225 years ago on April 26, 1785 when Jean Jacque Rabin was born near the Les Cayes area of Santo Domingo, Haiti. The infant was born to Jean Audubon, a French merchant and his Creole mistress, Jeanne Rabin. Who could know that this child would become the foremost American naturalist and artist of his time? He was educated in France and changed his name to John James Audubon in 1803 when he emigrated to America.

As a young man, John James Audubon was regarded as handsome and outgoing in personality. He fenced, danced, learned to ride and play violin and flute. Mostly he loved walking and wandering within the woods. When he found bird eggs or nests he would bring them home and draw them. Thus began his collections. Even as a child, Audubon was inclined to see birds. He felt connected with birds somehow. His father influenced this fascination with birds and offered details about the behavior and patterns for each of the different seasons. After Audubon moved to America he discovered common interests with his neighbor, Lucy Bakewell, who became his wife and the mother of his four children. Of their four children, the daughters died during infancy but the 2 sons grew into capable and strong supporters of his work

John James Audubon had a family to support. He put together a trading business based in Kentucky however in 1820 dropped the idea of running a business and responded to his true calling of becoming an artist and also a naturalist. After numerous years of travel and attempts at running a business with his brother, he focused his time to painting and illustrating birds.

Audubon was a perfectionist and always ready to improve his work. He wasn’t the first person to paint birds nor to strive to paint all of the birds of America, that was Alexander Wilson. Nevertheless, Audubon’s work was a great deal more detailed. Developing his own techniques and utilizing sketches and watercolors, Audubon created life-size images with natural habitat for background. He made use of specimens he collected in the wilderness and used wires to keep them in the position desired to make the painting. Wilson’s paintings were more stiff and formal. The fine grade of shot that Audubon used resulted in less damage to the birds during their capture and collection. As his work demanded more from his time he hired hunters to bring in particular specimens to supplement his collection.

In 1826 he traveled to England in the hope of having his drawings published, by the next year he had obtained sufficient subscribers to enable him to start the publication of his Birds of America. When this gargantuan project finally completed in 1838 this masterpiece consisted of 435 colored plates, containing 1055 figures of birds the size of life. It represented 14 years of work as well as a lifetime of experience and dedication to ornithology and art.

Audubon relentlessly advertised The Birds of America and sold subscriptions to pay for its publication. The self-taught artist and naturalist was initially scorned by ornithologists, but has since then become renowned for his paintings. Never before had so many birds been illustrated with natural backgrounds and poses. In 1886 a bird preservation organization took his name and eventually developed into the National Audubon Society.

Although specimen collection methods during Audubon’s time were lethal for the birds, the lessons learned have lasted beyond his lifetime. During his southern travels Audubon identified 39 new species of birds and always kept detailed journals of his wildlife observations as an authentic naturalist. Without a doubt if he had access to modern technology to see birds and wildlife we could have had different results Every now and then I imagine that Audubon would have really appreciated using a Swarovski spotting scope.

John James Audubon was the very first naturalist who was known to band birds to study their movements. By tying yarn to Eastern Phoebes he learned these birds did return to the identical nesting locations each year. Audubon’s life is truly fascinating and containing trials and struggles of the young artist trying to feed his family. In fact his life story reads like a pioneer adventure tale. Even today the works of John James Audubon are treasured and hallmarks of the artist’s skills and talents.

Donna Bessken shares real practical steps for bird watching at its best. Learn proven methods for rapid bird identification in the Better Birding ECourse.

Joining millions of bird lovers in creating a backyard aviary can be easy and rewarding with a little help choosing and maintaining your wild bird feeders. Begin by imagining your backyard as a birdwatching paradise and picture the desired sights and sounds that will become your goal.

Start by considering the types of birds that you wish to attract, and the ones you do not want to see. If you’re a beginner, asking neighbors or co-workers which types of birds frequent their backyards might prove useful. Understanding that your target is to attract finches or cardinals, for example, will assist you in selecting the optimal wild bird feeders and creating the right birdwatching environment.

Bird feeders are available in a number of styles. Some of these kinds include platform and ground feeders, tube, thistle, suet and wood. There are even specifically crafted feeders designed to attract a particular type of birds, such as hummingbirds. Taking the time to learn about the features of each one will increase your chance of success.

Once you have chosen the right feeders, make sure to fill them with your desired birds’ food preferences. To attract the most varieties of birds, black oil sunflower seeds are a great choice. Seasonal fruits or nuts may attract less common types of birds, especially in summer. Specific types of birds, like woodpeckers, enjoy peanuts.

Keeping to a budget with regard to bird food is easier when you choose wild bird feeders that are squirrel-resistant or unlikely to attract other furry animals. Choosing a location away from easy-to-climb landscaping or shrubby hiding places can also reduce the chance that squirrels or other creatures will gorge themselves on your newly refilled seed. If squirrels do persist, you may also try switching to thistle seed as some birdwatchers have noted that squirrels don’t like the taste.

If you’re like most birdwatchers, your desire is to attract a variety of species. Offering an array of feeders rather than one type is a way to enjoy regular backyard visits from a number of birds even throughout the seasonal changes.

When you find a spot that birds seem to frequent, setting up a bird feeding station with many feeders concentrated in one area can be exciting. Alternatively, you can position your wild bird feeders at various locations around your house and take delight in viewing the wildlife through many different windows.

Once you’ve got your yard set up, sit back and enjoy. Remember to have an identification book handy so you can enjoy your success when those exotic or unexpected species begin to arrive!

To learn more about Best Bird Feeders and birdwatching, visit my website for great deals and reviews on Droll Yankee Feeders and other top feeders.