In our expeÂriÂence, bird lovers fall into two genÂerÂal catÂeÂgories:
KeenÂly obserÂvant catÂaÂloguers like John James Audubon …
And those of us who canÂnot resist assignÂing anthroÂpoÂmorÂphic perÂsonÂalÂiÂties and behavÂiors to the 435 stars of Audubon’s The Birds of AmerÂiÂca, a stunÂning colÂlecÂtion of prints from life-size waterÂcolÂors he proÂduced between 1827 and 1838.
Our susÂpiÂcions have litÂtle to do with biolÂoÂgy, but rather, a cerÂtain zestiÂness of expresÂsion, an overemÂphatÂic beak, a droll gleam in the eye.
The Audubon Society’s newÂly redesigned webÂsite abounds with treaÂsure for those in either camp:
Free high res downÂloads of all 435 plates.
Mp3s of each specimen’s call.
And vinÂtage comÂmenÂtary that effecÂtiveÂly splits the difÂferÂence between sciÂence and the uninÂtenÂtionÂalÂly humorÂous locuÂtions of anothÂer age.
Take for instance, the BurÂrowÂing Owl, as described by self-taught natÂuÂralÂist Thomas Say (1787–1834):
It is delightÂful, durÂing fine weathÂer, to see these liveÂly litÂtle creaÂtures sportÂing about the entrance of their burÂrows, which are always kept in the neatÂest repair, and are often inhabÂitÂed by sevÂerÂal indiÂvidÂuÂals. When alarmed, they immeÂdiÂateÂly take refuge in their subÂterÂranean chamÂbers; or, if the dreadÂed danÂger be not immeÂdiÂateÂly impendÂing, they stand near the brink of the entrance, braveÂly barkÂing and flourÂishÂing their tails, or else sit erect to reconÂnoitre the moveÂments of the eneÂmy.
The notes of ornitholÂoÂgist John Kirk Townsend (1809 – 1851) sugÂgest that not everyÂone was as takÂen with the species as Say (who was, in all fairÂness, the father of AmerÂiÂcan entoÂmolÂoÂgy):
NothÂing can be more unpleasÂant than the bagÂging of this species, on account of the fleas with which their plumage swarms, and which in all probÂaÂbilÂiÂty have been left in the burÂrow by the BadÂger or MarÂmot, at the time it was abanÂdoned by these aniÂmals. I know of no othÂer bird infestÂed by that kind of verÂmin.
The ComÂmon Gallinule, above, sugÂgests that there’s often more to these birds than meets the eye. His someÂwhat sheepÂish lookÂing counÂteÂnance belies the red hot love life Audubon recounts:
… the manÂiÂfesÂtaÂtions of their amaÂtoÂry propenÂsiÂty were quite remarkÂable. The male birds courtÂed the females, both on the land and on the water; they freÂquentÂly spread out their tail like a fan, and moved round each othÂer, emitÂting a murÂmurÂing sound for some secÂonds. The female would afterÂwards walk to the water’s edge, stand in the water up to her breast, and receive the caressÂes of the male, who immeÂdiÂateÂly after would strut on the water before her, jerkÂing with rapidÂiÂty his spread tail for awhile, after which they would both resume their ordiÂnary occuÂpaÂtions.
Being that we are firmÂly plantÂed in the secÂond type of bird lover’s camp, this ornithoÂlogÂiÂcal corÂnuÂcopia mainÂly serves to whet our appetite for more Falseknees, self-described bird nerd Joshua BarkÂman’s beauÂtiÂfulÂly renÂdered webÂcomÂic.
Yes, Audubon’s IndiÂgo Bird, aka Petit PapeÂbleu, “an active and liveÂly litÂtle felÂlow” who “posÂsessÂes much eleÂgance in his shape, and also a cerÂtain degree of firmÂness in his make” was sepÂaÂratÂed by a cenÂtuÂry or so from “Mood IndiÂgo”—we preÂsume that’s the tune stuck in Barkman’s bird’s head—but he does look rather preÂocÂcuÂpied, no?
PosÂsiÂbly just thinkÂing of mealÂworms…
Explore Audubon’s Birds of AmerÂiÂca by chronoÂlogÂiÂcal or alphaÂbetÂiÂcal order, or by state, and downÂload them all for free here.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
What Kind of Bird Is That?: A Free App From CorÂnell Will Give You the Answer
ModÂernist BirdÂhousÂes Inspired by Bauhaus, Frank Lloyd Wright and Joseph EichÂler
Ayun HalÂlÂiÂday is an author, illusÂtraÂtor, theÂater makÂer and Chief PriÂmaÂtolÂoÂgist of the East VilÂlage Inky zine. Join her in NYC on MonÂday, NovemÂber 7 for her monthÂly book-based variÂety show, NecroÂmancers of the PubÂlic Domain. FolÂlow her @AyunHalliday.