All things Audubon: John James to spring birding, San Juan style

In celebration of the spring birding season, San Juan Island's Audubon is co-sponsoring a presentation on watercolors of John James Audubon and offering a field trip on San Juan Island, Sunday, April 15.

Islanders of all birding skills are welcome to join the field trip, which is free. Meet at San Juan Community Theater parking lot at 8:30 a.m., and come prepared: binoculars, warm clothes, sturdy walking shoes or boots, and whatever you may need for possible rain. Snacks are a good idea, too.

No dogs.

Carpools are strongly advised for this three-hour birding trip. For info, contact Barbara Jensen, 378-3068.

Following the field trip, join co-sponsors San Juan Island Museum of Art and San Juan Community Theatre for a in depth presentation on the man who gavethe Audubon Society its name: A (Naturalized) American Original: John James Audubon and the Birds of America. The lecture on the life and times of John James Audubon will be lad by Dr. Annette Blaugrund, former director of the National Academy Museum and senior curator at the New York Historical Society.

Blaugrund worked directly with the watercolors for "Birds of America", Audubon's magnum opus, which now sells for millions of dollars. She will describe the process by which the Audubon Society's namesake made the many hand-colored aquatint engravings for which he is widely known, his work in the U.S. and abroad, and tell how a dashing Frenchman became the quintessential American pioneer.

With the use of numerous illustrations to compare his drawings of birds with published prints, Blaugrund will bring to life this extraordinary artist, naturalist, and entrepreneur.

Tickets are $15 Adult, $7 Student, $5 Rush, available at the door or online at http://www.sjctheatre.org.

 

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