2009-J4913

Commemorating the 225th Anniversary of the birth of John James Audubon, ornithologist, naturalist and painter

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2009-J4913


LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 225th Anniversary of the birth
of John James Audubon, ornithologist, naturalist and painter on April
26, 2010

WHEREAS, Born in Haiti on April 26, 1785, John James Audubon (nee Jean-
Jacques Fougere Audubon), died January 27, 1851, in his family home in
Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, In 1803, at the age of 18, he emigrated to the United States
and anglicized his name to the now famous John James Audubon; and
WHEREAS, Audubon had an affinity for birds from his earliest days,
saying "I felt an intimacy with them... bordering on frenzy which must
accompany my steps through life"; and
WHEREAS, A true Renaissance man even before his departure for America,
John Audubon exhibited his precociousness in Pennsylvania, through draw-
ing, hunting, fishing, music and nature by studying his surroundings;
and
WHEREAS, Audubon set out to study American birds to illustrate them in
a much more realistic manner than other artists; he conducted the first
known bird-banding in America by tying yarn onto bird legs, determining
that they returned to the same nesting sites every year; and
WHEREAS, Returning from France after improving his taxidermy and
scientific research skills, John Audubon resumed his bird studies and
opened his own nature museum; he lived in Kentucky, traveling with the
Shawnee and Osage on hunting expeditions; after losing all of his draw-
ings in 1812, John Audubon committed himself to finding and painting all
of the birds in America, for eventual publication; and
WHEREAS, Audubon developed his own method of painting birds, using
fine shot to kill them and propping them up with wires to display them
in natural positions set in their natural habitats, another revelation,
inspiring nearly all future ornithological works and natural history;
and
WHEREAS, Among his many accomplishments, John Audubon discovered 25
species of birds and 12 new subspecies; his magnum opus, the 1842 BIRDS
OF AMERICA, is still considered one of the greatest examples of book
art; and
WHEREAS, John Audubon bought an estate in the Hudson River Valley, now
called Audubon Park; after making excursions out West, he succumbed to
failing health and senility; he is known as an exemplary painter, orni-
thologist and pioneer conservationist; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 225th Anniversary of the birth of John James Audubon,
ornithologist, naturalist and painter on April 26, 2010, and to acknowl-
edge the artistic and scientific contributions of this ornithologist;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the National Audubon Society.

actions

  • 26 / Apr / 2010
    • ADOPTED

Resolution Details

Law Section:
Resolutions, Legislative

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