| Activity | He was raised in France by his stepmother where he became interested in birds, nature and drawing. He was sent to American in 1803, partly to avoid conscription to Napoleons Army, where he hunted, studied and drew birds, during this time he conducted the first known bird banding experiments, by tying strings around birds he discovered that they returned to the same nesting sites each year. He earned a living through his dry store business and continued to draw birds as a hobby. In 1819 he was jailed briefly for bankruptcy and on his release set off on his 'epic quest' to depict America's Avifauna. In 1826 he travelled with his collection and became almost an overnight success with his 'American Woodsman' compilation of life size dramatic bird portraits. The last print of his Birds of America was in 1838 and in 1843 he made one last trip which was to be the basis for his final work on mammals. Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1827 {Source: Audubon Society] |