Audubon Day 2023: We have a great deal of respect for those who engage in conservation efforts, and this is reflected in our annual celebrations of Audubon Day on April 26. In addition to commemorating the birth of John James Audubon, a creative illustrator, conservationist, ornithologist, and naturalist, this day acknowledges The National Audubon Society’s vital contributions.
WHEN IS AUDUBON DAY 2023?
The remarkable work and legacy of John James Audubon are celebrated on Audubon Day, April 26.
HISTORY OF AUDUBON DAY
This day commemorates the birth of John James Audubon, a French-American ornithologist, naturalist, and painter who conducted extensive research on American birds and their habitats. Audubon was born in Saint Domingue (now Haiti) and was reared by his father and stepmother in France. After moving to America, he began researching and drawing birds; he continued to do so even after moving to Kentucky with his wife, Lucy.
After his store went bankrupt, he began devoting more time to his hobby of bird illustration, even sailing down the Mississippi River in a flatboat to locate new birds to paint. His success was so great that he moved his work to England and had it published there. “The Birds of America,” Audubon’s magnum opus, is now widely regarded as one of the most notable examples of wildlife illustration. It established the standard for future illustrations of wildlife; even today, artists are measured against its standards.
George Bird Grinnell, a student of Audubon’s widow, co-founded the National Audubon Society in John Audubon’s memory many years after his death on January 27, 1851. National Audubon Day is sponsored by this organisation, which promotes and protects the habitats that sustain the world’s wildlife. This society, based in the United States, is one of the world’s earliest organisations of its kind. Today, there are numerous branches of the National Audubon Society throughout the United States, eternally linking John Audubon to bird conservation.
International Guide Dog Day 2023: Date, History, Facts and Activities
Administrative Professionals Day 2023: Date, History, Facts and Activities
World Penguin Day 2023: Date, History, Facts and Activities
HOW TO CELEBRATE AUDUBON DAY
Observe birds by
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bird watching is a pastime cherished by approximately 45 million Americans. Step outside for a brief (and secure) stroll and observe the surrounding wildlife. On the Audubon website, you can seek up information about unfamiliar birds. You can take the enjoyment to the next level by learning their names, habitats, and migration patterns.
Develop your own bird-friendly environment.
Do you have some room in your backyard? Design your own bird-friendly environment using native vegetation, trees, pedestal birdbaths, and other elements. For a more eco-friendly effect, you can suspend bird feeders made from plastic bottles, coffee cans, or even milk jugs. If you want to attempt your hand at making bird feeders of a more professional nature, there are a variety of woodworking tutorials available online.
Birds should be drawn, painted, and sketched.
According to all accounts, John Audubon enjoyed drawing animals. Take a page from his book and immortalise the creatures in your neighbourhood as well. Drawing the birds in your bird-friendly environment requires a pencil and a notebook. Add splashes of colour by using paint or pastels.
World Penguin Day 2023: Date, History, Facts and Activities
FUN FACTS ABOUT AUDUBON DAY
Audubon introduced avian banding to North America.
Audubon was the first person in North America to affix a small tag to the wing of a wild bird to facilitate identification.
His book is VERY valuable!
In 2010, the first edition of Audubon’s book, “The Birds of America,” sold in London for a staggering $11 million.
Audubon was a distinguished taxidermist.
So that he could draw birds and, if they perished, prepare, fill, and mount them as well.
You might recognise one of his students.
Charles Darwin, the renowned naturalist, geologist, and biologist, attended one of Audubon’s demonstrations of his methodologies as a student.
Audubon made his money selling animal hides.
Audubon’s primary source of income for the majority of his life was the sale of animal skins, which even funded the publication of his book “The Birds of America.”
WHY WE LOVE AUDUBON DAY
It draws us closer to the natural world
Many of us reside in concrete landscapes where the only traces of nature are distant trees, kitchen gardens, or small shrubs. Observing Audubon Day draws humanity and nature closer together.
We can provide for the environment.
The climate crisis reminds us that the majority of us are not particularly considerate of nature or conservation. Perhaps learning about Audubon’s conservation efforts and the Audubon Society’s efforts to research and assist birds and their habitat will motivate us to make more direct contributions, beginning with being more bird-friendly.
We make some avian acquaintances.
Who would refuse to make more friends? This time, however, we’re making acquaintances with some feathered companions. All of our conservation efforts, efforts to create bird-friendly spaces, and awareness-raising efforts bring us one step closer to befriending birds and embracing nature.
AUDUBON DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 26 | Wednesday |
| 2024 | April 26 | Friday |
| 2025 | April 26 | Saturday |
| 2026 | April 26 | Sunday |
| 2027 | April 26 | Monday |
