Our Audubon Gallery features a rare, complete four-folio set of The Birds of America, the culmination of John James Audubon’s quest to depict every existing bird species in North America, which he undertook beginning in 1820. Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the turning of the Audubon pages earlier this week. | North Carolina Museum of Art

Birds of America by John James Audubon is the finest ornithological book ever produced – and one of the greatest works of book art. The complete set - bound in four volumes - contains 435 portraits of North American birds, each painstakingly hand-painted and reproduced at life-size. 🦉🦅 So, it's no coincidence that it holds pride of place in our World of the Book exhibition. Principal Librarian Des Cowley reveals the intriguing stories behind this incredible work of art, including how the Libra

2.5K views · 70 reactions | The Birds of America, from Drawings made...

Naturalist and painter John James Audubon was born on this day in 1785 in San Domingue (Haiti) and came to New Orleans in 1821 while working on his “Birds of America” series. He painted game birds at the French Market and earned his livelihood painting portraits. THNOC’s acquisition of this rare, double-elephant Audubon Portfolio was made possible by the 2016 Laussat Society. | The Historic New Orleans Collection

Considered one of his John James Audubon's finest drawings, this dramatically composed image of a Fish Hawk, or Osprey, became Plate 81 of "The Birds of America." Audubon wrote, “When it plunges into the water in pursuit of a fish, it sometimes proceeds deep enough to disappear for an instant. The surge caused by its descent is so great as to make the spot around it present the appearance of a mass of foam. It mounts a few yards into the air, shakes the water from its plumage, squeezes the fish